Hey guys,
And advice, recommendations for good value digital reloading scale?
Cheers steff. :thumbsup:
Printable View
Hey guys,
And advice, recommendations for good value digital reloading scale?
Cheers steff. :thumbsup:
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..
Fair call! But the Lee is good enough for my hunting loads...Quote:
Originally Posted by STC
i guess that depends on the hunting one does.Quote:
Originally Posted by bjp
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by STC
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]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...Quote:
Originally Posted by No.3
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.
I bought a Frankfort arsenal digi scale after a review on here. put decent batteries in it and have been happy for what it cost. I double check against the ohous beam scales when being super fussy and I might add or subtract a kernel of 2213 on the beam scales to fine tune but the little digi scales are pretty good imo.
having said that I don't have top dollar alpha gear to compare against.
seems to work though for me. the 7mm WSM shoots one ragged hole when I do my part. ( three shot group, which as we have established means diddly squat )
People have been reporting they have good luck with the G&G JJ100B with decent accuracy (0.001g) and response speed. I had one coming soon.
Picture shows the OpenTrickler on A&D FX120i and G&G JJ223BF (which isn't suitable for automatic trickling purpose for being too slow for the response over serial).
Attachment 254118
So how do you know this hex nut weighs 44.3 grains, how many sets of scales have you weighed it on?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bagheera
I have three sets of scales (Lyman auto, Hornady beam, and Frankfort) and they all give different weights.
The Frankfort has never been what I would consider suitable for fine tuning, but is handy for weighing finished rounds etc.
awesome setup!Quote:
Originally Posted by eamars
where/how did you get the gg?
Some of you get too wound up about your scales I reckon. You’re working up your own individual loads so as long as they repeatedly weigh the same weight consistently that you’ve settled on that’s good enough for most people apart from those precision shooters who use setups that rule out all human and mechanical error, which most don’t. Settle on a load weight, make a reference weight, check scale, load ammo, go shoot stuff, sleep easy at night.
Just remember the following:
Accuracy refers to how close measurements are to the true or accepted value. It’s the degree to which the result of a measurement reflects the actual value of the quantity being measured. Accuracy reflects the absence of error, both systematic and observational, in your measurement system.
Precision, on the other hand, is about the repeatability or consistency of measurements. It answers the question, “how close are measurements to each other?” Precision can exist without true accuracy; you can have measurements that are very consistent but still far from the known or accepted value.
Resolution in metrology equipment dictates the smallest change in a physical quantity that a measurement system can detect. It plays a pivotal role in determining both precision and accuracy, as higher resolution allows for finer distinctions in measurements
This will wind a few of you up but not worried. My system works well enough for my needs, others may find different. Have at it.
Imported from China. Unfortunately there is no distributor in NZ.Quote:
Originally Posted by STC
thanks! might I ask where from china? aliexpress seems to have them, but are they genuine? or did you contact a seller directly?Quote:
Originally Posted by eamars
I bought from Taobao (which is the aliexpress for chinese) and forwarded to NZ. Sorry I can't comment on whether they are genuine or not. But I guess in most cases they are.Quote:
Originally Posted by STC
Bought a RCBS Range 2000 a while ago and it is awesome. Highly recommend it.
Ill be upgrading to A&D.
I think the statement made about us getting hung up on digital scales and accuracy is valid.
As modern hi end scales that can repeatedly come within .02 of a grain, we think we must have that level of accuracy to be
"Good" I don't believe that it is necessary for most reloaders. And they are better served by a good beam and thrower.
That said a hi end scales and electronic thrower are invaluable for volume reloading and long distance shooting.
I was firmly in the beam scale corner for a long time but as my shooting went in a different direction so did my need for different gear.
I now run a AnD with a Super Trickler
Good choiceQuote:
Originally Posted by johnd
To much over thinking going on in this thread.
I doubt any body posting on here is a .1 grain shooter.
Virgil from the Houston warehouse has proven that neck tension is way more a factor than the weight of powder charge for precision shooting.
For me an amp annealer is a way better option to spend my money on than a one kernel accuracy scale.
I use a poxy old hornady auto charge and shot two of my rifles this afternoon.
Both shot enlarged holes at 100m.
My rifles shoot better than I can.
Be Carefull where you spend your money as I think range time is the most valuable place to get the best out of your weapon systems to be able to figure out what makes an accurate shooter/rifle configuration.
Sent from my SM-A556E using Tapatalk
Big secret here is consistency. The proverb of “A man who owns a watch knows the time, he who owns two watches is confused” holds water here. If the scales return consistently to zero. You can safely bet that you are getting consistent charges. Two sets of consistent scales though can give different readings. I too have gone down the rabbit hole of comparing charges across various scales and getting different results. Oddly enough, the wee cheap Lee scales are very consistent however take a bloody age to settle. What I have found is that when using beam scales parallax plays a big part, if you don’t hold your eye at exactly the same level each time that will throw you out .1 of a grain. I took to setting up a web-cam focused on the index, it gave a zoomed in view of how close I was and worked brilliantly. At the end of the day though a good resilient load will absorb any minor variances in charge with no real noticeable effect. To that end, I use a charge master with excellent results. I’ll throw short .1 of a grain and tweezer in the remainder.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yep, agree with that comment - its the repeatability that concerns us and that the number they produce on the first weigh is the same on the last weigh cycle. It's only if you have a calibrated scientific test mass that you know if they are out or wrong...
A cheap F2 class weight would do the job if you don't care about the absolute accuracy (for which you normally don't for reloading on the same scale you used for load dev). As long as the weight you loaded each time is consistent you will get the repeatability for the load.Quote:
Originally Posted by No.3
Hi Andy if you reload 25 acp .1 of a grain makes a hell of a difference Cheers
I bought the exact one a few months ago and they are awesome. Very accurate & reliable. I checked calibration and sensitivity many times against my Ohaus beam balance scale and it was more sensitive to the single kernel of powder. My previous electronic scale was 15 years old and started giving me trouble and I have retired it. It was a cheap TradeMe one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjp
