Thread: Loading Scales

Whats everyone using for scales these days
I still have my Redding beam scales but for the last few years have been using a Hornady GS-350 simply for ease of use.
I still tap out every load, do not use a thrower.
It's given good service.

So what are you using that's reliable and properly priced for the features you require.

gempro 250 for me

I tried to get a gempro some time ago
could you tell me where you got it from and an approx cost
cheer.

Originally Posted by jakewire

I tried to get a gempro some time ago
could you tell me where you got it from and an approx cost
cheer.

I have one which I no longer use.

Is there a reason you no longer use it Zimmer?, I was always under the impression they were fairly good
http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...-scales-13406/

I use a Redding thrower onto a Redding beam scales and a trickler.

Sent from my GT-I8190T using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by jakewire

I tried to get a gempro some time ago
could you tell me where you got it from and an approx cost
cheer.

nelson I think. they are still available over the net. $250-$280 or so

Hornady beam scales.
Lee powder scoop ( don't laugh, when I am on form I can be very very close without any correction )
Every charge measured.
Powder trickler used if needed.

very slow but consistent method.

I know what you mean Viper by being on form with the scoop
As above I teaspoon all my loads and after awhile you can get pretty good at digging into the pudding plate and coming fairly close to the 50grs you want.

I find 2209 is cut fairly consistently and depending on how close to the 10th I am 4 granules weighs about a 10th
VVH N560 isn't nearly as neat and when looking for a tenth 4 can be 1-2.

Originally Posted by jakewire

Is there a reason you no longer use it Zimmer?, I was always under the impression they were fairly good
http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...-scales-13406/

Went silly, sold a kidney, and bought an AnD Fx300i from Julian at Workshop Ino.

Yes, the Gempro is a great wee scale for its price, probably the pick off them around that range. They get excellent reviews. You just need to be aware of their issues ie they use strain gauge technology. Biggest issue with strain gauge is the drifting off of zero - they all do it, anyone who has "cheap" electronics scales and says theirs don't are telling porkies. As long as you are aware of that and check for the same negative value each time you lift the pan, plus get into the habit of doing a regular push of the zero button they are great. I am probably decribing here how you would have operated your Hornady?

Aside from the usual issues of drafts, which affects them all, and interference they are good. With both the Gempro and now my AnD I turn them on a couple of hours b4 I need them.

The only other thing that surprised me with the Gempro was how compact they are.

If you look at that previous thread you will notice that one of the 2 sets I got died and was returned under warranty. I guess this can happen with any electronics including my expensive AnDs. Last year the scale section of my Chargemaster died after many years of stirling service and I had to shell out for new scales for that. It hurt.

Excellent Zimmer
As I am getting a little bothered about the hornady for those exact reasons. Point of the thread.
Tap and nothing happens, then tap some more and again it sits
Pour into a case, reset scale pour powder out of case back in and yip as suspected a couple of tenths over
restart.
Beginning to take longer than the beam scales.

Doing this practically as I type!

I use an RCBS 5-0-5 balance beam scale, Lee scoop until the scale comes off the bottom, trickle 0.1gr low remove pan and replace and perfect.

Kept on finding every so slight inconsistencies in my scales as I trickled up to bang on, now I find if I weigh each charge exactly the same I get repeatable results. Its all about how I put the pan down.

OCD I know but makes me feel better.

My lyman seems to go alright...it does drift occasionally but it prompts you to zero if it does,goes over most of the time without the restrictor but with it in it is bang on most of the time or stops .1 low.
Also it seems to be relatively waterproof which while not really a feature required in a powder dispenser is quite handy all the same cos mine has got quite wet twice due to plumbing issues and still goes good

I think if you absolutely must be within .1 of a grain or better then these and the chargemaster/hornady etc are probably not for you.

Originally Posted by sparky1000

Doing this practically as I type!

I use an RCBS 5-0-5 balance beam scale, Lee scoop until the scale comes off the bottom, trickle 0.1gr low remove pan and replace and perfect.

Kept on finding every so slight inconsistencies in my scales as I trickled up to bang on, now I find if I weigh each charge exactly the same I get repeatable results. Its all about how I put the pan down.

OCD I know but makes me feel better.

My old Ohaus beam scales (which I still have despite the electronic ones) are about 45 years old. They were second hand when I got them. They do exactly as you descibe. If I trickled until the pointer hit zero and then gave the pan a wee nudge they settled 1/10 over. So, I just trickled to 1/10 under, nudged, and checked they ultimately settled at zero, or made any minor adjustment required and all good. Like you say, consistancy is the name of the game. I tried cleaning the pivot points etc but they still did their 1/10 thing.
BTW, I would never part with my old Ohaus scales.