Digital scale

[rmantoo]

Just fyi - I do a fair amount of mass metrology at my work and deal with precision comparators that measure down to 100 micrograms values. those scales are always left on and stored with the scale's full scale mass on them. I always leave the highest value check weight on mine between loading sessions. It really seems to help with zero repeatability.

That is very useful info- it seems contrary to what my seat of the pants 'common sense/mechanical history' has been telling me for years.

My biggest question is, are the styles of construction/design of the precision comparators the same as our relatively cheap dillons, rcbs's, etc? And therefore, will storing ours in a like manner also be beneficial?

 

[unicom]

Just arrived today


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[bbbass]

Thanks for all the input. Sadly no matter what scale I look at there is alway a few one star reviews of them.


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I recently gave my Frankford Arsenal digital scale to my SIL. Then I went to replace it from Amazon and the reviews scared me off from buying any scale at all. Supposedly, they are ALL inaccurate and unreliable.

So then I looked for a beam scale to upgrade from my RCBS 505 and it would seem from the reviews that they are ALL plastic junk from China now. Ohaus is not making the RCBS scales.

I'm using my 5-0-5 and a digital jewelry scale for now, but that digital does not read in grains, so I have to convert from ounces. Or is it Troy ounces?

What a nightmare!!!

 

[robertc1024]

That is very useful info- it seems contrary to what my seat of the pants 'common sense/mechanical history' has been telling me for years.

My biggest question is, are the styles of construction/design of the precision comparators the same as our relatively cheap dillons, rcbs's, etc? And therefore, will storing ours in a like manner also be beneficial?

Typically, no. The precision comparators usually are a force-balanced arraignment. They have an optical sensor to measure height and vary the current in a linear-motor-ish kinda thing. By measuring the current to force the platen to come to a known height, they measure the force applied. The issue is that they have a certain amount of temperature coefficient so, the output will change as they have mass applied. Our cheapos typically have just a strain gauge that is part of a wheatstone bridge. The resistance change vs. force (mass x gravity) is pretty small, so it probably won't be a huge factor, but it's not like you're going to wear it out with a mass on it or something.

 

[rmantoo]

Typically, no. The precision comparators usually are a force-balanced arraignment. They have an optical sensor to measure height and vary the current in a linear-motor-ish kinda thing. By measuring the current to force the platen to come to a known height, they measure the force applied. The issue is that they have a certain amount of temperature coefficient so, the output will change as they have mass applied. Our cheapos typically have just a strain gauge that is part of a wheatstone bridge. The resistance change vs. force (mass x gravity) is pretty small, so it probably won't be a huge factor, but it's not like you're going to wear it out with a mass on it or something.

THANKS!

 

[mad88minute]

Mines a Pact made in America!

I miss my pact. Had the auto powder dispenser and scale combo. Worked great, sold it to a friend.

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[mad88minute]

Thanks for all the input. Sadly no matter what scale I look at there is alway a few one star reviews of them.


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I think many of those 1 star reviews are user error, people are too stupid to realize they dont know how to use a digital scale.

Gotta let it warm up. Plug it in first as you get set up.

Level surface

No drafts

No florescent lighting in proximity

A few basic steps and they will be more reliable.


I have an old lyman scale that came with a kit i bought. Nothing fancy. If i plug it in and zero it, 29 minutes later it will have walked to .5 grains. It will hold steady there. Thats how i know its ready. Zero, calibrate and load.

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[baboon]

I miss my pact. Had the auto powder dispenser and scale combo. Worked great, sold it to a friend.

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I have the auto powder dispenser. I cussed it everytime I loaded a .416 Remington mag for how long it took!

 

[Deavis]

Thanks for all the input. Sadly no matter what scale I look at there is alway a few one star reviews of them.


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That's like everything in life, some people are too stupid to own anything complicated. It's like the guy who gives one star because UPS lost the package or the one who clearly hasn't read the instructions and cant work the device.

All the of the scales in your price range are strain gages, so etimes the same between models. They are good enough if you follow the basic rules others have laid out. Remember some of the scales will try to fight drift and trickling slowly may be in the noise it is compensating for. When in doubt pick up the pan and set it down again. That is not a bug, otherwise as others have said.

Always on, line conditioner if needed, use the draft cover, rezero between breaks, calibrate daily, clean the check weight(s) BEFORE calibrating, level it, and dont overload it.

 

[DoubleDuty]

Use both

 

[redintex]

Definite +1 on the Dillon scale. Had mine for about 15 years and it performs flawlessly! Well worth the $ many times over. They are not kidding about the fan or a/c being able to affect the scale! Dead on accurate!

 

[HCS]

I have the old Pact electronic powder scale and Pact powder measure, purchased back in 2002

I wanted a second one to sped things up because it is rather slow, but apparently PACT has discontinued them,

so I just purchased two of the Hornady Auto Charge Pro scales last week, so no more waiting for a charge to dispense,

using them in harmony, I seat bullet while the other scale is dispensing, so far they have been doing fine, time will tell

 

[TxStetson]

I have had a terrible experience with this: "Hornady 050106 G2-1500 Electronic Powder Scale"
Amazon product ASIN B017S6PPNU

I wouldnt take one of these for free. I moved from that POS to a RCBS chargemaster lite and my reloading experience has greatly improved. I dont know about any other digital scale but thought I needed to post this warning

That's funny. I have been using that same scale for about 5 years now. I had to change the batteries in it once. Other than that, it's been flawless.

 

[SQLGeek]

So then I looked for a beam scale to upgrade from my RCBS 505 and it would seem from the reviews that they are ALL plastic junk from China now. Ohaus is not making the RCBS scales.

For the price range, there is no upgrading from the old RCBS / Ohaus 505. I have an older one I bought from eBay and it's been fantastic.

I also have a cheap Lyman digital that came in the kit I was given. It works OK but I keep a set of check weights around because it seems to want to drift one or two tenths on occasion. I find that zeroing frequently helps and I verify charges on my RCBS.

 

[cvgunman]

After sitting in a closet for 5 years, finally used my RCBS chargemaster. This thing is amazing. I have a small Hornady digital that works well. I just hated having to pull a handle and trickle powder...too time consuming. The RCBS does it all and no handle to pull. Granted it is pricy, but I can input several loads into the memory and with a few buttons, can bring up multiple loads.

 

[bbbass]

For the price range, there is no upgrading from the old RCBS / Ohaus 505. I have an older one I bought from eBay and it's been fantastic.

I also have a cheap Lyman digital that came in the kit I was given. It works OK but I keep a set of check weights around because it seems to want to drift one or two tenths on occasion. I find that zeroing frequently helps and I verify charges on my RCBS.

Thanx for the info!!

I finally settled on getting the Frankford Arsenal Platinum series scale despite the range of comments on Amazon. Turns out it exactly matches the readings given by my 505. Yay! How long it will stay that good is anybody's guess according to those reviews. But I had a gift cert so I won't get hurt too badly.

Yes on verifying readings... I keep both set up next to my Dillon and cross check both every 10-20 shells.

 

[MTA]

That's funny. I have been using that same scale for about 5 years now. I had to change the batteries in it once. Other than that, it's been flawless.

It must like you or something. I think I may have just gotten a bad one

 

[lightflyer1]

After sitting in a closet for 5 years, finally used my RCBS chargemaster. This thing is amazing. I have a small Hornady digital that works well. I just hated having to pull a handle and trickle powder...too time consuming. The RCBS does it all and no handle to pull. Granted it is pricy, but I can input several loads into the memory and with a few buttons, can bring up multiple loads.

I bought one of these a few years ago and just loaded some .45 Colt using it. Very nice indeed. But I never have used anything else. This came along brand new never used for a few hundred dollars. Couldn't pass it up and now during these times has been very useful.

 

[TheDan]

Just arrived today


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I have one just like that. The zero wanders a bit, but I just re-zero every two or three measures. Works fine.

 

[Deavis]

After sitting in a closet for 5 years, finally used my RCBS chargemaster. This thing is amazing. I have a small Hornady digital that works well. I just hated having to pull a handle and trickle powder...too time consuming. The RCBS does it all and no handle to pull. Granted it is pricy, but I can input several loads into the memory and with a few buttons, can bring up multiple loads.

You can modify the old one a bit. All the input codes are online to make it faster and more accurate during trickling in various ranges that you might operate in. The McDonald's straw trick is helpful as well. They are super.