What's your dream powder scale?

[jimmymac]

I currently use a Chargemaster. It’s been a good unit. I have high hopes for the Supertrickler and FX-120i combo that is on the way. Haven’t used a beam scale in five years.

 

[sparker]

I don't even care for the Redding No. 2 that much. There is nothing wrong with it and it is a perfectly fine scale. I have one. I just find my M5 and 10-0-5 scales easier to level and use. The No. 2 level adjuster is a bit harder to get to and the No. 2 is lighter, too light, I think, unless you customize it with weight.

Danny

I agree with #2s having little mass to them. No issues with the #1 with regard to mass. Cast iron does the job.

 

[justinp61]

The most sensitive and accurate scale I’ve owned was a D-5 Scotty tuned and sent my way, I sold that scale and several others out of my collection leaving only a M-5 out in the reloading shack and my trusty 10-10. My problem is neck strain these days so I’m afraid my beam scale days are in the rear view mirror.
Jim

I use my old laptop and a cheap web cam focused on my beam scale, it sure saves the neck.

 

[Mark W]

I use my old laptop and a cheap web cam focused on my beam scale, it sure saves the neck.

After using a camera with a beam scale, it’s the only way to fly.

 

[JFrank]

After using a camera with a beam scale, it’s the only way to fly.

Actually it’s not , but I have other constraints as well, ( tiny house) I was going to use a trickler with a photo sensor to shut it off at each perfect charge but I’m just done beating my head against the wall and moved on to an Electric Balance for loading Long range ammunition.

 

[Rocketvapor]

@SPJ.
Just love your use of the KLAS.
(Kitchen, Lab, Armory, Shop).
I moved my little bench into a corner out of the HVAC flow but it's now on a wood/elevated floor in an old house.
My scale will read me walking around (like getting up to go pee).
As long as I'm sitting in one spot everything is stable.

 

[Mark W]

I have other constraints as well, ( tiny house) I was going to use a trickler with a photo sensor to shut it off at each perfect charge but I just done beating my head against the wall and moved on to an Electric Balance for loading Long range ammunition.

Well you’re using the exact same setup as I am right now with an fx120i and a Dandy trickler.

I tried one of those older Dandy tricklers with photo sensor shut off on my tuned beam scale. I won’t say that it didn’t work, but getting it set up perfect was time consuming. Maybe if I only use one powder I would have stuck with it.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Actually it’s not , but I have other constraints as well, ( tiny house) I was going to use a trickler with a photo sensor to shut it off at each perfect charge but I’m just done beating my head against the wall and moved on to an Electric Balance for loading Long range ammunition.

Jim is the FX120i a big jump up in performance from the electronic scales you had in the past? I was just curious what all I’m missing.

 

[JFrank]

Jim is the FX120i a big jump up in performance from the electronic scales you had in the past? I was just curious what all I’m missing.

The Creedmoor trx925 will weigh inside the Fx and is a very good scale but resolves a tick slower and also has a bit of zero drift where the Fx is lightning fast, rock solid even the air conditioning doesn’t bother it near what I’ve heard from other fellas. I still use the Bald Eagle for sorting stuff but it drifts as well, - so I run it in gram mode to limit drift.
Jim

 

[Kracken McGraw]

The Creedmoor trx925 will weigh inside the Fx and is a very good scale but resolves a tick slower and also has a bit of zero drift where the Fx is lightning fast, rock solid even the air conditioning doesn’t bother it near what I’ve heard from other fellas. I still use the Bald Eagle for sorting stuff but it drifts as well.
Jim

That’s great information and I appreciate your insight.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I like beam scales.....With that being said, my dream scale would be a Prometheus. But working with the Parker-tuned Beam scales through the webcam/laptop & 1dram glass vials is working out fine for my low-volume operation.....

Regards
Rick

 

[jimmymac]

I like beam scales.....With that being said, my dream scale would be a Prometheus. But working with the Parker-tuned Beam scales through the webcam/laptop & 1dram glass vials is working out fine for my low-volume operation.....

Regards
Rick

With the amount of shooting I’m doing I don’t have the time these days to use a beam scale. My focus has been on speeding up my processes wherever I can. I have also eliminated a couple steps I thought were critical but have found out otherwise.

Those vials on the other hand are the cats meow Rick!

 

[JFrank]

I started using the vials as well, great for taking extra charges made up and ready to test, the 20 gauge shotgun boxes hold the vials well and have room for bullets in the side tray.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Like the 20g box idea.......Thanks

 

[Mark W]

Actually it’s not

I don’t think that I was clear. I wasn’t saying that a beam scale and camera was the only way to go for measuring powder. I was trying to say that if using a beam scale, a camera is the only way to go. Of course in a literal sense that’s not true either, but I won’t use a beam scale without a camera again after trying it for the first time.

 

[sparker]

I shoot conventional NRA LR prone. A match is typically 70 rnds including sighters. I typically shoot one match per month with shooting two multi-day matches a year. So, somewhere around 1200 rnds per year. I do this for myself and my son. So, 2K~2.4K rnds per year. I do all of it with a Lee powder thrower, a Dandy trickler and an oil dampened Redding scale that I have worked over. Charges are plus or minus a kernel with the bulk of them spot on.

A regularity sets in as you use the powder thrower. Likewise, you begin to recognize just from the pointer position of the beam, how many kernels are needed to get to the mark. All of this simply leads to faster loading. It just doesn’t take that long.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I’m retired so have time , Beam scale, powder thrower and hand trickler works for me

 

[JFrank]

I don’t think that I was clear. I wasn’t saying that a beam scale and camera was the only way to go for measuring powder. I was trying to say that if using a beam scale, a camera is the only way to go. Of course in a literal sense that’s not true either, but I won’t use a beam scale without a camera again after trying it for the first time.

Your good’ and the camera and laptop are really a great idea, I built a small elevated platform to get mine to viewing height but I still suffer from eye fatigue and muscle strain, that makes for a long day

 

[sparker]

Your good’ and the camera and laptop are really a great idea, I built a small elevated platform to get mine to viewing height but I still suffer from eye fatigue and muscle strain, that makes for a long day

I use a bench clamping magnifying lens. I put a small piece of blue tape on the lens to coincide with the +.5gr line on the scale body. This eliminates parallax issues.

 

[Straightshooter1]

After using a camera with a beam scale, it’s the only way to fly.

When I used a beam scale, I used a camera also and will never use my beam scale otherwise.