Which Powder Scale?
- Thread starter Thekaiser
- Start date
One Eye Pete
Gold $$ Contributor
If you want to spend the money, approx $500, it's hard to beat the A&D fx120i.
It's fast, accurate to one kernel of Varget and compatible with the auto trickleler. I have not had any problems with it drifting like the cheaper load cell type electronic scales and it's easy to calibrate. I have never regretted spending money on quality equipment but have been burned many times when trying to buy cheap.
It's fast, accurate to one kernel of Varget and compatible with the auto trickleler. I have not had any problems with it drifting like the cheaper load cell type electronic scales and it's easy to calibrate. I have never regretted spending money on quality equipment but have been burned many times when trying to buy cheap.
Pete I have done the same thing. Tommy Mc
This. You will never go back
I bought one for $500.00 new with the $150.00 rebate. It's never been out of the box. Keeping it for now.
FX120i is the only answer
Good riddance...
coldboreshot
Silver $$ Contributor
Buy once, cry once...everything after that is just fine. I suggest the A&D and hold on a little bit for the Autotrickler 4. My A&D with the AT3 works fantastic.
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
Don't get one of these. That will leave more for me:
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Spot on!...
Wayne
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
I wouldn’t say the only answer,... I’ll put my GD 503 against it any day
Wayne
My OHaus built RCBS was also giving me fits until I got serious about charge accuracy and decided to fix the dang thing. About an hour of my time is all it took to return it to a kernel or two sensitivity. I then compared it to my recently acquired Lyman that I purchased from Scott Parker, also a kernel or two sensitivity, and both were dead on with the standard weight.
Some things I've noticed about my mechanical scales is that they don't seem to mind fluorescent lights, temperature changes, electrical failures or surges, component failures and shorts/opens or any of the other ills that make using electronic scale use a challenge. When you spend a hard days' work with an electronic scale only to learn later that a load cell went bad at some point and you have to repeat all your work...well, that was enough for me to swear off depending upon an electronic scale. If I have to use one, I double check it with a mechanical scale.
Some things I've noticed about my mechanical scales is that they don't seem to mind fluorescent lights, temperature changes, electrical failures or surges, component failures and shorts/opens or any of the other ills that make using electronic scale use a challenge. When you spend a hard days' work with an electronic scale only to learn later that a load cell went bad at some point and you have to repeat all your work...well, that was enough for me to swear off depending upon an electronic scale. If I have to use one, I double check it with a mechanical scale.
One Eye Pete
Gold $$ Contributor
Texas 10
There is nothing wrong with mechanical scales. I had my old RCBS for years. The only trouble I did have with it was the magnetic dampening. Too little damping and it takes forever to settle out too much and it can effect accuracy. My favorite mechanical scale is a real old Redding that uses a tab that dips into a little reservoir you fill with oil to dampen it. If you are a casual reloader and don't need speed or absolute accuracy then a mechanical scale is what you want. They are definitely more reliable than a cheap electronic scale.
There are two basic types of electronic scales, the ones that use strain gauge/load cell elements and the ones that use magnetic force restoration. They are two different animals. The fx-120i is magnetic force restoration. It is more expensive but well worth it, it settles out really fast and I haven't experienced any drifting problems. I don't seem to have the interference problems with it that many people have with electronic scales (I use led lighting on my loading bench). The only thing that does bother it is air flow from the A/C vents, but this will effect any highly sensitive scale. When you combine the fx-120i with an autotrickler you get both speed and accuracy. I have an old gen 2 trickler (without the auto throw) that works just fine. I drop from a standard powder measure into the pan and then place it on the scale and let the auto-trickler do the rest. I did update it to the Bluetooth electronics which makes changing load settings a breeze. The secret to autotrickler is to get the slope of the trickler tube correct. Too much down slope and it can overshoot / too much up slope and it slows down. Once you get it right it is fast and accurate. It may not be as fast as a Prometheus but then the setup i have didn't cost a couple thousand dollars but it has accuracy to one kernel of extruded powder.
Bozo 699
The Satorius GD 103 is a great scale (I believe it is also magnetic force restoration) but it isn't made anymore and the suggested Satorius replacement costs 3 x what the fx120i costs.
There is nothing wrong with mechanical scales. I had my old RCBS for years. The only trouble I did have with it was the magnetic dampening. Too little damping and it takes forever to settle out too much and it can effect accuracy. My favorite mechanical scale is a real old Redding that uses a tab that dips into a little reservoir you fill with oil to dampen it. If you are a casual reloader and don't need speed or absolute accuracy then a mechanical scale is what you want. They are definitely more reliable than a cheap electronic scale.
There are two basic types of electronic scales, the ones that use strain gauge/load cell elements and the ones that use magnetic force restoration. They are two different animals. The fx-120i is magnetic force restoration. It is more expensive but well worth it, it settles out really fast and I haven't experienced any drifting problems. I don't seem to have the interference problems with it that many people have with electronic scales (I use led lighting on my loading bench). The only thing that does bother it is air flow from the A/C vents, but this will effect any highly sensitive scale. When you combine the fx-120i with an autotrickler you get both speed and accuracy. I have an old gen 2 trickler (without the auto throw) that works just fine. I drop from a standard powder measure into the pan and then place it on the scale and let the auto-trickler do the rest. I did update it to the Bluetooth electronics which makes changing load settings a breeze. The secret to autotrickler is to get the slope of the trickler tube correct. Too much down slope and it can overshoot / too much up slope and it slows down. Once you get it right it is fast and accurate. It may not be as fast as a Prometheus but then the setup i have didn't cost a couple thousand dollars but it has accuracy to one kernel of extruded powder.
Bozo 699
The Satorius GD 103 is a great scale (I believe it is also magnetic force restoration) but it isn't made anymore and the suggested Satorius replacement costs 3 x what the fx120i costs.
I posted this on another thread, but it fits here very well.....
The scales I have used in order of precision, worst to best:
1. RCBS Chargemaster. About .2 grain accuracy
2. RCBS 10-10. Accuracy .09 grains as verified on a Sartorius Entris 124-1
3. A&D FXI-120. Accuracy .02 grains, or about one kernel
4 Sartorius Entris 124-1. Accuracy .001 grains, 20 times more than the A&D.
I suppose when I say accuracy I guess I am really saying if the scale is calibrated perfectly that is the resolution.
The Chargemaster is fine for many things, but high precision in small cases isn't it's best use.
The 10-10 is fine for most things
The A&D FXI-120 is the sweet spot for charging powder
The Sartorius is okay for powder, though it's sensitivity slows me down, but great for weighing primers and cases. The larger wind block makes it easy to put stuff in and out. I only have a Sartorius because I couldn't find an A&D three years ago when I needed to quickly load 300 perfect rounds.
The scales I have used in order of precision, worst to best:
1. RCBS Chargemaster. About .2 grain accuracy
2. RCBS 10-10. Accuracy .09 grains as verified on a Sartorius Entris 124-1
3. A&D FXI-120. Accuracy .02 grains, or about one kernel
4 Sartorius Entris 124-1. Accuracy .001 grains, 20 times more than the A&D.
I suppose when I say accuracy I guess I am really saying if the scale is calibrated perfectly that is the resolution.
The Chargemaster is fine for many things, but high precision in small cases isn't it's best use.
The 10-10 is fine for most things
The A&D FXI-120 is the sweet spot for charging powder
The Sartorius is okay for powder, though it's sensitivity slows me down, but great for weighing primers and cases. The larger wind block makes it easy to put stuff in and out. I only have a Sartorius because I couldn't find an A&D three years ago when I needed to quickly load 300 perfect rounds.
Love it!!
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