a&d ej-54d2 vs a&dfx120i powder scales

[Mt.Boy]

Ready to pull the trigger on a new scale/balance. Pretty much set on the A&D fx120i. But been reading on the new a&d ej-54d2 and it looks really good as well. Just wondered if anyone was using one or both that could give me some pros and cons Thanks

 

[piie]

To me, the deal breaker or decider would be- which is compatible with the AutoThrow/Autotrickler. If Adam supports the 54, then either would be a good choice, else, stick with the fx.

 

[Mt.Boy]

To me, the deal breaker or decider would be- which is compatible with the AutoThrow/Autotrickler. If Adam supports the 54, then either would be a good choice, else, stick with the fx.

That’s kinda what I was thinking to. Thanks

 

[Mt.Boy]

Anyone else

 

[Jager]

Well, piie said it all in the proverbial nutshell. The ability to integrate with an AutoTrickler is the elephant in the room.

The EJ-54D2 looks like an interesting scale. Its improved precision is really nice. The ability to run off of four AA batteries might make it a good candidate for portable or in-the-field operation. And its USB interface would be really handy for weighing things like brass and bullets.

On the downside, its ergonomics - placing items on the platen from the top - looks a little sketchy. That would be fine for vertically-oriented objects like a piece of brass, or a flat-base bullet. Not so much for powder. It's also notably slower than the FX-120i. And I'm not sure it has the auto drift correction feature that the FX-120i has.

Lots of handloaders use the FX-120i, and so if you have any questions about that scale you're quite likely to get plenty of help. The biggest advantage of the FX-120i, by far, though, is its integration with the AutoTrickler. Even if you've convinced yourself that you're never going to go there, why close the door? I bet if you had a nickel for every handloader who initially thought that, and bought the scale, alone, only to later change his mind... you could buy yourself a pretty nice new rifle.

We're blessed with some really sophisticated tools in our world, these days. But the FX-120i / AutoTrickler combo is, for me, the closest thing to magic in the handloading world.

As always, YMMV. Whatever you choose, best of luck!

 

[Mt.Boy]

Well, piie said it all in the proverbial nutshell. The ability to integrate with an AutoTrickler is the elephant in the room.

The EJ-54D2 looks like an interesting scale. Its improved precision is really nice. The ability to run off of four AA batteries might make it a good candidate for portable or in-the-field operation. And its USB interface would be really handy for weighing things like brass and bullets.

On the downside, its ergonomics - placing items on the platen from the top - looks a little sketchy. That would be fine for vertically-oriented objects like a piece of brass, or a flat-base bullet. Not so much for powder. It's also notably slower than the FX-120i. And I'm not sure it has the auto drift correction feature that the FX-120i has.

Lots of handloaders use the FX-120i, and so if you have any questions about that scale you're quite likely to get plenty of help. The biggest advantage of the FX-120i, by far, though, is its integration with the AutoTrickler. Even if you've convinced yourself that you're never going to go there, why close the door? I bet if you had a nickel for every handloader who initially thought that, and bought the scale, alone, only to later change his mind... you could buy yourself a pretty nice new rifle.

We're blessed with some really sophisticated tools in our world, these days. But the FX-120i / AutoTrickler combo is, for me, the closest thing to magic in the handloading world.

As always, YMMV. Whatever you choose, best of luck!

Thanks for the great input. ordering the fx120i.

 

[RegionRat]

I run both. If you are looking for one to run on the bench at home with the AutoTrickler, then the FX is the no brainer. The interface has been worked out and is supported. If you go with anything aside a Sartorius, you would have to work out the AutoTrickler interface yourself.

The EJ is also a great unit. I use it for away from the bench because it does well on battery and responds to trickling very well. It is a strain gage based scale and does well in the field.

 

[Mt.Boy]

I run both. If you are looking for one to run on the bench at home with the AutoTrickler, then the FX is the no brainer. The interface has been worked out and is supported. If you go with anything aside a Sartorius, you would have to work out the AutoTrickler interface yourself.

The EJ is also a great unit. I use it for away from the bench because it does well on battery and responds to trickling very well. It is a strain gage based scale and does well in the field.

Thanks for the info. By the videos I have watched the Ej seems to take longer to settle on a reading. Is that true

 

[Mt.Boy]

Just wondering if you all ordered from CEproduts. And if so how long did it take to get for just the scale. Thanks

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Has anyone used an Ohaus jewelers portable scale? they have them from $60-100 and up. Looks to be fairly high quality. I returned a RCBS small elect. scale a few days ago. From Cabelas. more trouble than it was worth. YA102 model Ohaus. I know this has been discussed to death, but someone throw some names out please. I am going to buy one pretty soon. thanks in advance.

 

[ronemus]

The EJ uses a load cell, though of higher quality the is used in most reloading scales; that's how they can reduce the price. The FX uses force restoration, a technology that is less subject to drift, non-linearity, and other bothersome traits; it's also the lowest-priced scale that uses force restoration. I worked as a chemist and systems engineer before I retired. All laboratory-grade balances originally used the mechanical addition and removal of physical weights (the mechanism was complex and required a lot of maintenance), but they where phased out and replaced with magnetic force restoration balances (many fewer moving parts, much less expensive to manufacture). Almost all balances used in academic and commercial labs have been force restoration for a couple of decades, but lab-grade balances still cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. The A&D FX cuts some corners to make the price, but they're vastly better than load cell balances.