Powder scales just came in. Great deal

[FatBoy]

Don't,

How sensitive is it when you trickle in a few grains to level out a load? Will two or three sticks of VarGet register without pulling the pan off?

Chris

 

[X-Caveman]

I just ordered one. We shall see.

 

[thekriebles]

Don,

How sensitive is it when you trickle in a few grains to level out a load? Will two or three sticks of VarGet register without pulling the pan off?

Chris

It is sensitive enough to change the weight when just a few tiny WW296 pistol ball powder kernels drop in the pan.

 

[FatBoy]

Don,

How sensitive is it when you trickle in a few grains to level out a load? Will two or three sticks of VarGet register without pulling the pan off?

Chris

It is sensitive enough to change the weight when just a few tiny WW296 pistol ball powder kernels drop in the pan.

Excellent. Thank you.

 

[JabaliHunter]

When you calibrate using check weights, you always want to calibrate at the upper end of the scales capacity.

But when you want to know how accurate it is in the range where you are using it, use an accurate check weight in that range, not 100X higher. You are assuming linearity that is not necessarily present.

Most of these cheap scales do not have the ability to calibrate with anything other than the supplied weight, but that doesn't mean it isn't useful to see that when you put a 30gr accurate, certified weight on it, the scale reads 33gr.

Your lack of experience is really quite obvious ???

I see the logic, although a +/- 3.0gr linearity is perhaps stretching credulity?

 

[sonofagun231]

Could be relevant to ask: are each units individually calibrated AND TESTED before being packaged OR what kind of QC/test procedures do they go through?

Also, where is it made? :

 

[X-Caveman]

I just got mine and used it for the 1st time last night. I was able to load 50 6.5x47L cases with 40.2gr H4350 in 40 minutes flat using a Lee dipper & a coffee cup O' powder. This is about as long as my previous two scale procedure takes. I should get faster with it as I learn how it behaves. Faster is my goal. Added accuracy/ repeatability will be a bonus (if it proves to be the case).

I held the min charge at 40.18 & the max at 40.21 according to the scale, with most at 40.20gr. I don't have the patience/ see the value in taking the time to get every one right on the nut. Every 5th charge was checked on my 10/10 scale and they always agreed. Had to re-tare it 1x as it was suddenly reading .06 - .09gr with the empty pan on it. I checked the charges before and after this and they were good. Perhaps this coincided with my kids turning on the stereo in the adjacent room. I don't know.

I did lift & drop the pan slightly to expedite settling after a few kernels were added or subtracted. The scale would eventually settle without doing this, but again, I'm impatient. I also weighed the same bullet several times. It always read between 130.01gr & 130.03gr. This is both in the powder pan using the tare feature & on the naked scale without. That's pretty close by my standards - especially for an $80 scale.

I have a big fluorescent light fixture in my reloading room, so I ran an extension cord from an outlet outside the room. Less than ideal. I may try the 9V next time. The scale was leveled and left on for 24 hours before I calibrated & used it.

So far, so good.

 

[BoydAllen]

I have one, and am going to write a review. Early results reweighing the same thing multiple times show a worst case total variance of .05 gn., which works out to +-.025 gn., but I am working on some ways to improve that, and the preliminary results look hopeful. This has been with the AC adapter. Today I am going to pick up the six AAA batteries to try battery power. This is all that I will post on the scale until I have finished my testing and written my review.

 

[X-Caveman]

I have one, and am going to write a review. Early results reweighing the same thing multiple times show a worst case total variance of .05 gn., which works out to +-.025 gn., but I am working on some ways to improve that, and the preliminary results look hopeful. This has been with the AC adapter. Today I am going to pick up the six AAA batteries to try battery power. This is all that I will post on the scale until I have finished my testing and written my review.

Boyd - I didn't look at the battery compartment, but I bought two 9V batteries based on the online product description. Do I have some spares for my smoke alarms now, (meaning does it really require 6 AAA batteries)?

 

[BoydAllen]

Yes

 

[243Mendoza]

hopefully someone can test this unit for measurement stability when dribbling powder for a typical reloading session time.

 

[BoydAllen]

Revision to previous post: I went in and set the Zero Tracking Function to the smallest available value and did a repeated weighing test. The results varied by .02 gn. (+- .01) this makes this scale the best value that I have seen. I am officially impressed! Another thing that I like is its size, not too big, not too small.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Boyd, can you test it with batteries? I would like a accurate travel scale.


Thanks, Ray

 

[BoydAllen]

I have tested it with batteries and with the AC adapter and its performance is the same. It takes 6 AAAs. I purchased some by Energizer that claim a 10 year shelf life. My next project will be a traveling case that is padded, and keeps the scale upright. It will probably travel in my truck's cab on a piece of foam. No sense in banging it around unnecessarily.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Thanks for the info




Ray

 

[Raythemanroe]

Well Shiraz, I just ordered one from Grizzly on Ebay.



Ray

 

[savageshooter86]

Seems these are better than the gempro250?

 

[BoydAllen]

Based on repeated weighings of the same thing the GemPro is a good scale, but this one did as well in our (a friend and I) limited test, and the size and apparent sturdiness of the Bald Eagle give it the edge for me. There is also the matter of price. Whether you consider the sale, or regular price of the Bald Eagle, either is significantly less than the GemPro, making it a better value, on sale, a great value.

 

[jrm850]

Based on repeated weighings of the same thing the GemPro is a good scale, but this one did as well in our (a friend and I) limited test, and the size and apparent sturdiness of the Bald Eagle give it the edge for me. There is also the matter of price. Whether you consider the sale, or regular price of the Bald Eagle, either is significantly less than the GemPro, making it a better value, on sale, a great value.

Do you notice any more or less tendency to drift than the Gempro250? Have you noticed whether one settles faster than the other?

Thanks for your review.

Jeff

 

[Shiraz]

Well Shiraz, I just ordered one from Grizzly on Ebay.



Ray

Thank you, Ray! This scale is an amazing deal and they are selling fast. Have not received a single complaint, but I might jinx that by typing it

To those that are sitting on the fence, its only eighty bucks on sale !