Time for scale upgrade

[Retired shooter]

Good morning Gentlemen

Looking back through all the older posts about powder scales, ( beam type, or electronic )nothing really current, seems some of the brands mentioned are now no longer being manufactured , ( also note the price increases from about 2020 till today ),once again we get the Ford vs Chevy , argument, one over the. other. That's all and good, to each there own.

Looking for information from those using digital scales, as to make and model being used. Guys the A&D. EJ & FX models look like they should be good, however the retired lifestyle says not..

Not looking to shot the fly stuff off of the pepper, not doing competition, just getting good start in ELR . What brand or model of digital scale will serve that purpose, for say $ 250.00/ $ 300.00 price range.

Thank you .!

 

[Bat Rastard]

The one from Creedmoor looks to check most of your boxes.

 

[dcali]

It's more than you want to spend, but the A&D FX120i is the gold standard easy button. I've got two of them and use them very often. I'm not totally up to speed on what's out there, but you can spend a lot less, but not really a little less. Last I checked $250-$300 is a bit of a wasteland. I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that this is because hte technology is fundamentally different between the cheap ones and the A&D-tier scales. The cheaper scales are no where near as good as the A&D, but they will get the job done. They drift more, they're slower, and not as precise.

The other upside to the A&D is you can buy an autotrickler as an upgrade in the future if you decide it makes sense for you.

Maybe you can find a used one out there. But I think this is a buy once cry once kind of situation.

All that said, you can make a cheaper scale work just fine (the ones available from the usual reloading companies - RCBS, Dillon, Hornady, etc). My personal best F-TR score (a 598) was shot with ammo loaded with a cheap digital scale. The cheapos are basically all the same in my experience.

Long story short, I'd spend $50 or $500, not $250.

 

[Retired shooter]

Thank you Guys.
Looks like more research during the evening hrs. when nothing on TV worth watching.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

For that price range and if measuring to the tenths work, why not get the RCBS Link. It will also measure your powder and works in the wind.

 

[Liven The Dream]

look at these at less$$

 

[Rocketvapor]

0.01 gram and 0.1 gram resolution?

 

[sqrlgtr]

"Long story short, I'd spend $50 or $500, not $250."

Im with damoncali on this... FWIW I use the FnD 120 with the v4 autotrickler. Just started using the v4 and really like it..... I went from RCBS 10-10, to a cheaper electronic, to gem pro250 and finally the 120. Should of went with the 120 out of the gate...

 

[dusterdave173]

just got my FX120i--it will be the trick I needed to hone my 223 loads--but it has proven to me that all the cheapos I had been using were not That bad and that if you are loading larger case capacity I think you could go cheap and never look back

 

[ShtrRdy]

If you don't need to load large quantities I would stick with a beam scale. Most electronic scales have a frustrating tendency to drift.

 

[6Creed73]

Check out US Solid. In my experience scales marketed for reloading aren't as accurate as an analytical balance/lab scale. I have this one and love it, but they have them in many price ranges.

Also, with a digital scale it's important to get a decent line conditioner so the scale gets clean power.

0.1 mg Analytical Balance – Digital Lab Science Balance, 220g x 0.0001

Responsive Page with Multiple Modules Introduction The U.S. Solid USS-DBS83 Analytical Balance offers precise 0.0001g accuracy with an electromagnetic transducer for accurate measurements. Built with durable, high-quality materials, it is easy to use and highly sensitive, allowing for quick and...

ussolid.com

 

[dcali]

If you don't need to load large quantities I would stick with a beam scale. Most electronic scales have a frustrating tendency to drift.

I would caveat that with "most *cheap* electronic scales. The higher end ones are very stable.

 

[JFrank]

Check out US Solid. In my experience scales marketed for reloading aren't as accurate as an analytical balance/lab scale. I have this one and love it, but they have them in many price ranges.

Also, with a digital scale it's important to get a decent line conditioner so the scale gets clean power.

0.1 mg Analytical Balance – Digital Lab Science Balance, 220g x 0.0001

Responsive Page with Multiple Modules Introduction The U.S. Solid USS-DBS83 Analytical Balance offers precise 0.0001g accuracy with an electromagnetic transducer for accurate measurements. Built with durable, high-quality materials, it is easy to use and highly sensitive, allowing for quick and...

ussolid.com

That’s awesome’ are they really 16 inches wide ?

 

[6Creed73]

That’s awesome’ are they really 16 inches wide ?

No, I think that the measurements of the box it ships in.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I would caveat that with "most *cheap* electronic scales. The higher end ones are very stable.

Would you mind giving us an example of a moderately priced electronic scale that has thermal drift compensation? I would consider the FX120 a high end scale.

 

[RickyK]

If you don't need to load large quantities I would stick with a beam scale. Most electronic scales have a frustrating tendency to drift.

I have 2 FX120i and never had a problem with drift ...

 

[dcali]

Would you mind giving us an example of a moderately priced electronic scale that has thermal drift compensation? I would consider the FX120 a high end scale.

The cheap ones drift. The A&D does not.

 

[Retired shooter]

That’s awesome’ are they really 16 inches wide ?
Depth would be front to back 16.34 inches.

Need to look into it, may be a option.
Thanks

 

[Shooter13]

It's more than you want to spend, but the A&D FX120i is the gold standard easy button. I've got two of them and use them very often. I'm not totally up to speed on what's out there, but you can spend a lot less, but not really a little less. Last I checked $250-$300 is a bit of a wasteland. I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that this is because hte technology is fundamentally different between the cheap ones and the A&D-tier scales. The cheaper scales are no where near as good as the A&D, but they will get the job done. They drift more, they're slower, and not as precise.

The other upside to the A&D is you can buy an autotrickler as an upgrade in the future if you decide it makes sense for you.

Maybe you can find a used one out there. But I think this is a buy once cry once kind of situation.

All that said, you can make a cheaper scale work just fine (the ones available from the usual reloading companies - RCBS, Dillon, Hornady, etc). My personal best F-TR score (a 598) was shot with ammo loaded with a cheap digital scale. The cheapos are basically all the same in my experience.

Long story short, I'd spend $50 or $500, not $250.

There was a used AD this morning for $500 that sold before I could say I'll take it!

 

[dcali]

A little more now that I'm thinking about it. A scale is a scale when you're talking about ELR, which means pretty big charges. Accuracy and precision really aren't an issue. What is an issue is ease of use and speed. If you're looking at scales as a way to upgrade precision, I think you'll be disappointed in the return on your money.