Powder scales question/ BR & F Class only

[PRR1957]

I would like the opinion on powder scales preferences, and brand of Bench Rest, F Class shooters only. You folks are the crowd going for absolute accuracy. No offense to the casual ammo loader.

I know I’ll get a cornucopia of answers, so bring it on please.

 

[Terry]

Scott Parker has great balance beam scales. Very reasonable. Otherwise I like the Area 419 package $$$.

SP is on this site.

 

[rardoin]

My answer would depend on the quantity of ammunition loaded in a session. If I was loading 20 or so a tuned beam balance would suit me fine. Loading up 75 or more for matches I like an automated system capable of dispensing charges to one kernel +/- my desired charge weight (which a good tuned balance can do...just much slower).

 

[Walt Krafft]

Autotrickler. Done.

 

[Toejoe12]

F-Class you'll need 75 for a match to give you a few spare rounds. A & D FX120i or a Sartorius Practum 213 as scale choices for the utmost accuracy to measure to 1 kernel with speed and effeciency. Add Adam's trickier, he makes kits to link with either.

I've got both, give the edge to Sartorius on both consistency and finish. It has a really nice display but that in no way is a knock on the FX120i, it cost a little less and is more than capable to load consistent extremely accurate rounds from shot to shot. Both are over kill for the casual shooter but if you're looking for the most accurate with after market add ons (adam's trickier) the mouse trap is already built for you. Most F Class shooters that compete at the top have one of these set ups or equivalent used for match loads when time and efficiency both matter.

Edit: If you're really OCD like me and want complete peace of mind, get one of these to sit them on for complete stability
ref=sr_1_4

 

[gman47564]

I think everybody pulling a handle wants to load the best ammo they can.... time and money determines the out come... I don't meet the ops requirments as I only compete with myself for the most part but have the tools to compete with most folks...with that said the fx120i and auto trickler will serve you well.. take care of the other varaibles as well as the fx120i does with powder charges and you will be the limiting factor...

 

[MikeMcCasland]

At the places I shoot, I'd guess ~70-80% of shooters are using an FX120i or Sartorius with an auto-throw/auto trickle; once you're weighing to that level (and considering everyone is using extruded powders), I don't think there's much on-target difference between them.

Despite the ability to load very accurate powder charges, I still think their biggest advantage is how fast they do it.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I recently sold my A&D FX120 and went back to my RCBS 1000 beam scale. While the FX120 is the cats azz of electronic digital scales it could help make ammo way above my ability to shoot it.

 

[Falfan2017]

I like the sartorious. But I got a good deal on a used one. If I were going to buy a new one today it would be the ad 120xi with auto trickle

 

[joshb]

I’m an old school dinosaur and don’t trust those new fangled electronic things! I use a Scott Parker tuned 10-10 and am very happy with it.

 

[6MMsteve]

it's always about the Benjammins...

 

[Ranger188]

I used a Scott Parker tuned balance beam for years.
Got talked into spending the money on the FX120i and trickler.
Haven't used the balance beam since. It's a lot of money up front but well worth it.
You might not need the trickler unless you load alot at once. If your just doing 10 or so
you wouldn't need it, where it shines is loading 20+
I thought the balance beam was so accurate, you could see a 1 kernel defection
but after checking against the FX120i, I feel the balance beam is not as consistent as the FX120.
Might be putting it up for sale.

 

[JMayo]

Lab scale and sprinkle however you want to the grain.
Getting a system down that shows promise and doing it the same way every time is the real key.
(I don't trust the beam scales btw)

 

[Bc'z]

I used a Scott Parker tuned balance beam for years.
Got talked into spending the money on the FX120i and trickler.
Haven't used the balance beam since. It's a lot of money up front but well worth it.
You might not need the trickler unless you load alot at once. If your just doing 10 or so
you wouldn't need it, where it shines is loading 20+
I thought the balance beam was so accurate, you could see a 1 kernel defection
but after checking against the FX120i, I feel the balance beam is not as consistent as the FX120.
Might be putting it up for sale.

Which Scott Parker tuned balance, and how much?
Provided you decide to sell.
I might be a buyer

 

[Ned Ludd]

If I had to buy a new analytical balance today for charge weight measurement and cost was not an issue, this is the balance I would purchase:

https://www.sartorius.com/shop/us/en/usd/applications-laboratory-weighing-laboratory-balances/entris®-analytical-balance,-60g,-0-1mg,-internal-adjustment/p/ENTRIS64I-1SUS

https://www.scalesgalore.com/produc...MIsZDehaOb5gIVA77ACh3lmgAJEAQYBSABEgJxqfD_BwE


Alternatively, you can spend next to nothing (~$20.00) and purchase a small electronic balance capable of weighing powder to *approximately* +/- one kernel, the Gem20:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/remarkable-little-scale.3985753/page-4#post-37586609

In post #63 I detailed a crude analysis of the Gem20 precision/accuracy alongside a several thousand dollar Mettler-Toledo magnetic force restoration balance. For obvious reasons, unless the Mettler goes down, I don't need to use the Gem20. Nonetheless, I would certainly use it to load rounds for an F-Class match if I had to.

 

[PRR1957]

Short, medium or long range ??

I am a member of another forum and in the ammo and loading sub forum a thread was started about balance beam vs digital scales, and a bit of mela started about which was best. I thought that I would come here to get a sort of consensus, but by all means, please keep on responding.

As for what I use is a laboratory grade digital Ohaus I picked up some years ago at an auction for pennies on the dollar. It reads out out to .001 grain. That scale satisfies my OCD. Also. I precision load my ammo for the guns I had and have worthy of match prepping cases, such turning case necks, deburring flash holes, reaming primer pockets, CL trimming, and then weighing to segregate by weight/volume. Right now I am gearing up for a Sako, Vixen, single shot bolt pistol chambered in 6 PPC.

Oh yes. I am tossing a coin between getting back into IHMSA silhouette or trying F Class.

 

[R.Morehouse]

For loading your PPC I wouldn't use the AutoThrow for the powders you will end up using but the FX120 with the trickler will still work as it should. Just use a small scoop to fill the pan and trickle up to weight.......There is a bit of drifting that goes on with all electronic scales that you have to stay on top of but it is easy to do. If you go that route you would be best served to get a line conditioner, I use one made by TRIPP-LITE that works well. I have a few Parker tuned beam scales and use one to check on the FX. You can tell when the FX has drifted by looking at the weight posted when the pan is removed when you are first putting charges in the pan then trickling up......Best of luck with your new PPC.....Love shooting mine.

Regards
Rick

 

[Liven The Dream]

The second Class unit Norton AJ -123 works well slower , and your area must be Electrical Clean
I use it for F-Class and have a Dandy Trickler .

I also have a Scott Parker Back up mostly used now to sort Brass .

If I was Younger the FX Package wound be in my Room.

 

[JimSC]

theoretically if you are doing your load workup correctly a variance of .1 either way on the charge will not matter. I have a old Lyman M5 beam, a $20 Amazon Gem 20, and a A&D 120 FXi on my bench and use a throw then finger trickle with the electronics and regular trickler on the beam. All three work equally well but I normally use the A&D when loading 50 - 75 rounds. I am thinking about going with the auto trickler for my A&D for Christmas, not because I need it but because I want it

 

[jepp2]

I found this very interesting.
https://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2015/05/cortinas-corner-chargemaster-tips-the-trickle-test/