Thread: Digital reloading scale

Hey guys,
And advice, recommendations for good value digital reloading scale?
Cheers steff.

I picked up a cheap AliExpress one for around $40 shipped to see what it could do. Now I find I still use my Lee balance scales, but weigh to just under on the budget digital ones (fast) and then tip into the Lee scales and add the last few grains. Noticeably quicker than just using the Lee scales. Not sure if that is of any use. With any precision digital scales, they can be susceptible to wandering when trying to add very light changes in weight, and also to temperature, so work best if you can keep it in the room you use it, and work at a constant temp. From what I have heard/read, the cheaper digital reloading scales, say $150-200 or less are no better than the $40 AliExpress ones I have bought. (this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...57bc1802NpcRfd)

I dont think lee reloading scales or 40$ aliexpress scales (and their 3 times as expensive "reloading" versions) should be mentioned in the same sentence as "precision".

All your cheap "electronic" scales are strain gauge based. They will always be prone to a wandering zero and many to interference from other electrical sources such as flouro lights. There is a reason that all serious scales are based on magnetic restoration force and these will never be cheap. The default preferred model over the last decade has been the AnD 120i which are over $1000. Sartorius make similar models.

It's a sad fact of life you get what you pay for in this regard. Hoards of reloaders have started out with cheapies, been disillusioned and eventually sucked up buying proper scales. Buy once, cry once..

Originally Posted by STC

I dont think lee reloading scales or 40$ aliexpress scales (and their 3 times as expensive "reloading" versions) should be mentioned in the same sentence as "precision".

Fair call! But the Lee is good enough for my hunting loads...

Originally Posted by bjp

Fair call! But the Lee is good enough for my hunting loads...

i guess that depends on the hunting one does.

I had some once... zero would wander by as much as 0.5 grains !!!!! Wy even bother weighing at that stage

Originally Posted by STC

i guess that depends on the hunting one does.

I had some once... zero would wander by as much as 0.5 grains !!!!! Wy even bother weighing at that stage

I use a check weight (one particular projectile, labelled as such) which is the same weight as my powder load. So I can zero to that. I check it at the start then several times during, mine doesn't seem to wander...

I do something similar but biff it on the digital scales between each powder weigh. Instant check for wandering zero...

One of the possible causes of wandering zero with digital scales is fluorescent lighting and other forms of RF interference such as microwave ovens.

[QUOTE=No.3;1590127]I do something similar but biff it on the digital scales between each powder weigh. Instant check for wandering zero...../QUOTE]

Buy a real scale and you don't have to think about all that.

I think the conclusion is, "good value" digital reloading scale = expensive digital reloading scale. There's no shortcut...

[QUOTE=6x47;1590172]

Originally Posted by No.3

I do something similar but biff it on the digital scales between each powder weigh. Instant check for wandering zero...../QUOTE]

Buy a real scale and you don't have to think about all that.

I have never found one short of laboratory-spec equipment that is resistant to interference from electrical equipment that generates RF energy. I have a quite expensive kitchen appliance with built in scales that has apparently been built with shielding - can't use the scales with the microwave being used as the reading wanders approx 40%. That device is worth a lot more than the expensive reloading scales, and the set of reloading scales I have here are in the $1K range. It is just the nature of the beast with them, the generated resistance value of the load cell varies with position on the device and temperature of the remainder of the unit's guts even if the load cells are temp-compensated...

CFL bulbs, LED bulbs and the like with electro switched power supplies all generate the pesky RF interference that can cause wandering zero and wandering readings - on something like reloading it pays to be aware and check. The other ones that can cause issues is static electricity build up, or even air currents moving in the work area.

I don't often have an issue with the set I have here, but I check in between each powder weighing and that way I know if I need to rezero. Takes vary little effort (a large magnum case with the exact weight written on it or even a small lead sinker will do) - plunk it on and make sure the reading matches, job done.

Just buy a half decent beam balance.
If it's slow settling add stronger magnets. They don't effect the accuracy, just speed the process.

As mentioned a couple of check weights are good.
Ensure the knife edge is sharp.
Put/brush some graphite in the V.

You will never look back.

The newer beam balances from the "reputable" suppliers nowadays sadly are all made in china with questionable (ok rather non-existent) quality control, as such they are hit and miss. They generally state +-0.1 of a grain as their repeatability. You be the judge whether that is sufficient for your (hunting) loads.

There is (was?) a guy in the us who did accurizing of those beam balances down to single kernels of propellant. As far as I know he won't touch any recent models...

If its hunt loads, I'd suggest a powder thrower & balance beam (old set of ohaus). do a few loads at 100% inspection, then send it!

An A&D+Auto trickler is ultimate but will see you ~$2500 to get setup, to throw powder a few kernels more accurate.

My experience is that the electronic scales in the RCBS chargemaster combo are stable enough.
I test a small hex nut that weighs 44.3 gr about every 20 powder throws. Perhaps 1 in 5 times it will weigh at 44.4 gr.
This is over about 5000 rounds loaded and 10+ years.
On range testing at 100m with 2 different rifles Ive found the mpi stable over ranges of +\- o.2 gr at least so for hunting this is good enough. Im not shooting long range target, where small velocity variations (ES) can be of interest.
Ive recently got a Frankford Arsenal nranded $100 digital scale and it also seems stable in my environment but I havent used it much yet.