• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Best Reloading Scales Compared

There are shooters and technicians. They are often not the same person. So my thought is the actual .00001 weight for a shooter is not overly important. But like a scope holding POA. Is the value shown always the same / repearable. That is what counts reloading.
Iv'e known folks that waxed their cars once a week and swore they got better gas mileage.
 
I can resolve one kernel with a good B scale but I know I can’t shoot the difference of one kernel of any powder in my best gun.

@praticaltactical
That’s a hell of scale you got there .
The Sartorious weights powder to .oo1 gr. level. Is that necessary? The math says that it is not. A single kernel of Varget is .02 gr. That said, when my loaded ammo has the absolute least amount of variation possible, it gives me confidence in my equipment. If you think it matters, it does.
For me the FX120i is more than adequate, repeatably and reliably resolving to the grain the powders that I’m not throwing in a powder measure.
With a V3 it’s fast even for 100 grain charges.
I have noticed that several folks with V3 and V4 scale/ tricklers usually mention how fast they are.
To me, speed is not a priority, only fidelity. The more consistent and accurate my charges are, the better. When u observe ur groups at 600 or 1000yds are N they are holding elevation, that is my goal. Es and sd at the target being single digits is the mark of consistent ammunition. My scale contributes to that goal.
one thing that has not been mentioned is the volume of the case u are shooting. A 6 mm BR or 223 will be more sensitive to powder charge variations than say a 308. So the smaller the cartridge, the more sensitive it is to small variations in any component wt.
and at 1000 yds, everything matters.
 
The Sartorious weights powder to .oo1 gr. level. Is that necessary? The math says that it is not. A single kernel of Varget is .02 gr. That said, when my loaded ammo has the absolute least amount of variation possible, it gives me confidence in my equipment. If you think it matters, it does.

I have noticed that several folks with V3 and V4 scale/ tricklers usually mention how fast they are.
To me, speed is not a priority, only fidelity. The more consistent and accurate my charges are, the better. When u observe ur groups at 600 or 1000yds are N they are holding elevation, that is my goal. Es and sd at the target being single digits is the mark of consistent ammunition. My scale contributes to that goal.
one thing that has not been mentioned is the volume of the case u are shooting. A 6 mm BR or 223 will be more sensitive to powder charge variations than say a 308. So the smaller the cartridge, the more sensitive it is to small variations in any component wt.
and at 1000 yds, everything matters.
Do the analytical balance require a wind proof environment or line conditioners ? Any special considerations ?
I’ve no experience with those upper end units so I thought to ask.
 
The Sartorious weights powder to .oo1 gr. level. Is that necessary? The math says that it is not. A single kernel of Varget is .02 gr. That said, when my loaded ammo has the absolute least amount of variation possible, it gives me confidence in my equipment. If you think it matters, it does.

I have noticed that several folks with V3 and V4 scale/ tricklers usually mention how fast they are.
To me, speed is not a priority, only fidelity. The more consistent and accurate my charges are, the better. When u observe ur groups at 600 or 1000yds are N they are holding elevation, that is my goal. Es and sd at the target being single digits is the mark of consistent ammunition. My scale contributes to that goal.
one thing that has not been mentioned is the volume of the case u are shooting. A 6 mm BR or 223 will be more sensitive to powder charge variations than say a 308. So the smaller the cartridge, the more sensitive it is to small variations in any component wt.
and at 1000 yds, everything matters.
To me speed is a high priority and the ability to be fast and precise enough for my needs makes the $$ I spent on it seem quite worthwhile.
Me shooting my 6 BRA at 1525 yards,
81E16548-6794-4464-B21B-15C72D1BA762.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: MUP
Do the analytical balance require a wind proof environment or line conditioners ? Any special considerations ?
I’ve no experience with those upper end units so I thought to ask.
My Sartorious came with a five sided shielded weighing platform. I do not use a line conditioner and have no issues with drift. It is not used outside, only in a controlled environment. The shielding , for me, is basically preventing any draft created by the furnace/AC from affecting the readings. When weighing to the third decimal, even a slight draft will affect the balance.
 
My Sartorious came with a five sided shielded weighing platform. I do not use a line conditioner and have no issues with drift. It is not used outside, only in a controlled environment. The shielding , for me, is basically preventing any draft created by the furnace/AC from affecting the readings. When weighing to the third decimal, even a slight draft will affect the balance.
Sounds awesome, wouldn’t work for my environment, hell I can only weigh to the single kernel so your one up on me.
Thx
Jim
 
A milligram is likely as accurate as you need.
A repeatable milligram in results, not a milligram in scale resolution.

Zero can be almost a count off from load to load and you won't see it.
Any reading can be off almost a count and you won't see it.
Many digital scales are calibrated at full scale and unless you use accurate check weights near your target you also have additional calibration and linearity errors you won't see. Using the same check weights day after day after year might help with consistency.
Having +/- one count of Noise in your readings, which you can only see with an evaluation of your scale, environment, and weighing practice with check weights.
With a milligram being 0.0154 grains (almost a kernel of VARGET) any errors might show up on long range targets.

For small cartridges and ball powder a true milligram is still likely good enough.
To get that milligram you might need another digit to absorb those small errors.
What is the resolution of a scale like the AND FX120? A milligram?
In Grain mode, about a kernel of VARGET?
Obviously Good Enough.

I worked down a couple US nickels for a member here and sent them gratis for use with his beam scale.
One was 5.000 grams, the other HALF a milligram LIGHT. IF he can tell the difference, it will be a good test of scale sensitivity. I expect a good beam scale to find the heavy one 6 out of 10 times.
A milligram digital to find the heavy one 5 (or less) times out of 10.
NOTE: I did not compensate for the 8.9g/cc density of the material of the nickle.
 
Last edited:
If you're weighing to the third decimal, then to keep weight accurate, you're splitting kernels. To much work and money for me.
I don’t split kernels, just rethrow a charge. Varget has third decimal variations in the weight of a single kernel, so u just dump the one out of ur range and throw n trickle another one.
u do need to keep ur powder in a sealed container/ hopper to prevent moisture absorbs ion. That will cause variations in per kernel weight.
It takes a bit more time, but being retired, I have the time to craft my ammo for a match.
 
I don’t split kernels, just rethrow a charge. Varget has third decimal variations in the weight of a single kernel, so u just dump the one out of ur range and throw n trickle another one.
u do need to keep ur powder in a sealed container/ hopper to prevent moisture absorbs ion. That will cause variations in per kernel weight.
It takes a bit more time, but being retired, I have the time to craft my ammo for a match.
I don’t recognize you by your handle but what 1000 yard range do you shoot at ?
 
Iv'e known folks that waxed their cars once a week and swore they got better gas mileage.

This may have merit.


Also everyone knows that your car rides smoother after you wash it.;)

:D
 
I don’t recognize you by your handle but what 1000 yard range do you shoot at ?
Have shot at Camp Perry, Lodi Wisc. , Oak Ridge Tn. , Ft. Benning, Rivoli. Il.

Shoot mostly 600 as I don’t travel as much as I used to. Looking to shoot Attebury In. , just have not gotten there yet.
 

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.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,941
Messages
2,206,437
Members
79,220
Latest member
Sccrcut8
Back
Top