New Scale wanted...
- Thread starter mikeinct
- Start date
swd
Silver $$ Contributor
A Geo Metro and a Mercedes 550 run on the same technology too. It's up to the manufacturer how they use the technology. But, yes, better use of it does drive the price up.
One of my digital scales read in .01 (one hundredth of a grain). I was going crazy seeing that last digit dance around so I put a piece of tape over it. When working up a new to me load, I'll weigh every charge and try to keep it within .1 gr of my target weight, but .01? No way. I don't think there is much need (none) for .05 grain accuracy for any powder charges (do you know how small five one-hundredths of a grain is? Some individual grains of powder will weigh that much).
powderbrake
Gold $$ Contributor
I am for a scale with an accuracy of + or - .02 grains. The fx120i is a great scale.
I tried going the cheaper route with scales and only wasted my time. I finally got the FX and cried like a little girl over the cost and cried some more when I had to buy a line conditioner to get it to work reliably in the house because of my electrical issues. I'm glad I got it and still have 4 of the 5 years on the warranty to go. Below are the scales I owned and tested (most were sent back for refunds). The 2 cheapies on the lower right were never intended to be used for reloading. #6 was an ebay $10 scale. #7 is an MTM and is useful for quick checking something to .1 GN like rounds to see if one doesn't have powder. #1 is a Hornady auto loader but is not accurate enough to be used for any precision ammo. #4 is a Veritas S63 and was the worse of the bunch. #3 is a US Solid that weighs to .0001 gram. Couldn't be set for grains and was very unstable to use. The wind cover had to be shut and give the scale time to settle but is would weigh to +/- .0004 grams most of the time. #5 is a Gempro 300. It actually works pretty well considering the $140 price and will weigh +/- .02 GN about 95% of the time and never had it go over +/- .004 GN and will run on battery power too. The FX scale, #2, if 100% level and in no breeze, will weigh the same weight to the exact same reading over and over. I haven't recalibrated it in nearly a year and it's still dead on. I wasted several months buying and trying cheaper alternatives and still had to go with the FX scale but I'm glad I did.
Where can you buy that FX? and how much are they?
T shooter
First let me say thank you for spending Your" money and saving others there's with your post.
My novice question is how do you get the powder in the pan?
Are you throwing a charge then a separate trickler or a hand dipper etc.
J
Ccrider
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a cheap Smart Weighgem20 $20 jewelry scale that seems to measure within .04 over time. It weighs .12-.16 more than my newly acquired fx120, but it is consistent.
My Pact auto thrower has been as much as .2 off and is usually around .16-.18 less.
You get to the powder pan on the Fx120 by leaving one or two of the side wind covers and the top off. They recommend putting a piece of paper on top.
My Pact auto thrower has been as much as .2 off and is usually around .16-.18 less.
You get to the powder pan on the Fx120 by leaving one or two of the side wind covers and the top off. They recommend putting a piece of paper on top.
Thx
What I was getting at is another tool /step is required?
The powder doesn't get in the pan by itself
J
Rushty
I know you can answer this -
You point out that you use the Adams Trickler but my question is what are you using for the initial charge
Do you throw it then transfer to the FX pan then trickle ?
Or a dipper ?
As I say the powder doesn't jump in the pan by itself
Jim
Exactly
There's more to it.
Myself
I use a Pact scale and a RCBS charger they talk to each other, dispense a charge then trickle up .1
Using my Beam
I'll transfer to my 1010 pan then trickle the final.01
My whole point/question is total cost of operations and preferences
$ quality thrower or charger
$ trickler
$ high quality scale
$ surge protector
$ misc.
With shipping cost sometimes tax
I'm seeing close to or over a grand
depending on scale cost and now plug in accessories.
Sorry for the long way around the barn.
Jim
I purchased a set of Lee scoops which I find do the job well.
That's what I'm talkin about keep it simple!
Jim
My total cost was less than $500:
Redding Model 3 - Close to 50 years old so it's pretty much amortized. They repaired it once at no cost.
A&D FX-300i - $378 shipped including calibration weight, no tax, after 30% rebate back in March, 2018.
Omega Trickler - Five or more years old - $70 shipped
Plugged directly into the wall outlet.
Drop charge into a pan from the Redding. Pour that into a pan on the A&D. Add a few kernels with the Omega. Quite simple really
You guys should try "instinctive" powder trickling!
That means have a separate small container of powder, I use another pan.
Throw charge from Harrel powder measure 3-4 tenths short, grab a pinch of powder between thumb and finger, sprinkle into pan on scale.
I use a SP tuned Lyman which shows one granule resolution of fine powder on the needle.
The instinctive part is just like throwing a baseball or anything like that, mind and body learn how much to grab and how much to sprinkle. It's much faster than dispensing from a trickler once you get used to doing it.
Other thing is you'll learn how the needle reacts to a granule or two, so there is no need to wait for the needle to stop every time.
I hate E scales, had three that either broke or were more hassle than they were worth.
That means have a separate small container of powder, I use another pan.
Throw charge from Harrel powder measure 3-4 tenths short, grab a pinch of powder between thumb and finger, sprinkle into pan on scale.
I use a SP tuned Lyman which shows one granule resolution of fine powder on the needle.
The instinctive part is just like throwing a baseball or anything like that, mind and body learn how much to grab and how much to sprinkle. It's much faster than dispensing from a trickler once you get used to doing it.
Other thing is you'll learn how the needle reacts to a granule or two, so there is no need to wait for the needle to stop every time.
I hate E scales, had three that either broke or were more hassle than they were worth.
When I bought that one, the FX120i wasn't available so I got an FX300i for the same price, I think $599. The 300 is the same scale only with more capacity which isn't needed for reloading. I got mine here but shop around for the best price (including shipping). https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/and-fx-120i.html
Maybe someone can tell us where the best price is right now.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.