$200 digital scales.... are they worth the time and money?

[kd4avp]

Just my 2 cents....
I have a RCBS powder drop scale. Works great. Never had an accuracy issue.
But...it is absolutely too slow for my tastes.
I use my Harrells manual drop and a small benchtop digital scale to check the charge weights.
Also have a nice Ohaus beam scale to double check if needed. (Which is rare)
Stop and verify my drops about every 10 cases.
Seldom do I need to tweak the Harrels once its dialed in.
Just my preferred method.
If I was a champion match shooter, I may want better accuracy but this works for me!

 

[Lead Slanger]

That's exactly my plans as well. I plan on manually throwing it just shy of where i want to be and trickling up.

 

[Lead Slanger]

If I were going to get a non-A&D type scale, I'd get a GemPro - people really seem to like them.

I was talking with a fellow reloader yesterday at work. I asked him what scale he was using and he said "I can't remember right offhand, but it's been a good one. I'll take some pictures and show you tomorrow." Well, he showed me today and it was a GemPro. Lol. He said it's been good to him.

 

[LVLAaron]

I was talking with a fellow reloader yesterday at work. I asked him what scale he was using and he said "I can't remember right offhand, but it's been a good one. I'll take some pictures and show you tomorrow." Well, he showed me today and it was a GemPro. Lol. He said it's been good to him.

And dont they have a ridiculous warranty too? like 30 years?


Might be important to you, might not - the high dollar scales are not only accurate; they are fast.

 

[WileyG]

I have a GemPro 250 that I used for years but now have a FA Intellidropper that I use regularly for the convenience that it offers in bulk loading. And I have micrometer adjustable powder bars in my old Dillon 500B. Also have several Ohaus beam scales and occasionally I check 2 or 3 against one another. I don't shoot long range at quarter sized targets so any scale that I have serves it's purpose for me. YMMV

 

[varget204]

Got a Gem Pro 250 about 12 years ago, retired if for 2 FX120i scales, checked it against FX120i basically identical.

 

[JLT]

With some patience and a hundred or so more, you can find a used analytical balance on eBay. I grabbed a Mettler Toledo AG204 .1 milligram analytical balance for less than $300. It's proven reliable, acceptably fast with resolution of .001 gr. and very fast at .01 gr.

You can see the effects in the ES and SD stats.

 

[Fire Dog]

I would like to get a different scale and as the title says, are the digital scales on the $200 range worth it? Or for that price should I stay with a good beam scale? I'm not opposed to a good beam scale, but a digital would be nice.

Currently I'm using a Hornady beam scale and it's a little finicky. What scales would you recommend? Just looking for something that's reliable and consistent.

I'm sure you have heard the phrase, "You Get What You Pay For"..??
I'm sorry to say that $200 is not going to be much better than what you already have aside from having a digital display... It may also drive you crazy with weights varying up and down a 10th or more...
As many here have recommend in this thread, get an AMD scale or perhaps just up grade to a better beam scale. It will be a bit slow but most likely more accurate that a low end digital.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

When the strain gauge scales start drifting they will eat up a tremendous amount of your time.

 

[CharlieNC]

That's exactly my plans as well. I plan on manually throwing it just shy of where i want to be and trickling up.

Be aware that the low cost strain gauge based scales may not respond quickly when trickling, and may require removing the pan and putting it back onto the platten to obtain an accurate reading. I use one to double check after the Chargemaster, weigh brass, etc. For trickling a decent beam is tough to beat for the cost. Many factors to consider.......

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Be aware that the low cost strain gauge based scales may not respond quickly when trickling, and may require removing the pan and putting it back onto the platten to obtain an accurate reading. I use one to double check after the Chargemaster, weigh brass, etc. For trickling a decent beam is tough to beat for the cost. Many factors to consider.......

Yes when I was using my Grizzly scale, after each trickle I had to pick up pan and slightly tap it back down to get a new reading.

 

[padom]

As some have stated an A&D is not necessary.. Their old scales, GemPro, beams, etc work just fine. Yes, from an accuracy standpoint, Ive made excellent ammo on Chargemasters and beams.. Its not just about the accuracy, its also about the time...

I have a Scott Parker tuned Ohaus beam, 2x Chargemasters and 2x A&D's. Havent used anything but the A&D's for years for one reason. They are lightning fast at dropping super accurate charges from one to the next over and over.

As busy as I am, I dont have the time to fiddle with dropping powder charges, Id rather be shooting or doing other things.. So what your needs are may make the decision on which scale you get.

I had a GemPro and a few fellow shooters also did, drifted like crazy when loading lots of ammo. Got rid of that thing in a heartbeat..

 

[NorCalMikie]

RCBS beam scale. Never had the batteries go bad.
Electronic powder measure? Spend more time watching it trying to find ZERO than using it. Couldn't re pack it up fast enough and sell it to someone that wanted it more than I did.
Kinda like a Bore Scope. You're getting 5 shots going in the same hole but that Bore Scope keeps telling you your barrel is JUNK??

 

[Lead Slanger]

Ugh. That's the kind of mess I'm trying to get away from.

Yes when I was using my Grizzly scale, after each trickle I had to pick up pan and slightly tap it back down to get a new reading.

 

[Richard Jones]

.......I have a Parker Hale tuned Ohaus beam.......

?

 

[Stang66]

What type of shooting do you do? And what kind of volume? I have a creedmoor sports scale that is very accurate I use to shoot long range competitions ti925 it’s over your suggested price buy once cry once…. Learned the hard way and now even looking to go to an even higher level of scale.

 

[padom]

?

Scott Parker tuned beam.. Damn voice to text autocorrect just types what it wants.

 

[mtncwru]

If I were going to get a non-A&D type scale, I'd get a GemPro - people really seem to like them.

I used a GemPro 250 before I upgraded to an Autotrickler (on an A&D FX-300). Can confirm that the GemPro is one of the best scales for the money -- accurate, consistent, stable. Your challenge will be finding one, as they've been out of production for some time now.

I will say that the upgrade to the Autotrickler has been well worth the money. It's cut my reloading time for weighed charges enough that it's no longer worth it to throw, even for my shortline ammo.

 

[Andy Work]

. For trickling a decent beam is tough to beat for the cost.

I trust my old Redding #1 more than the electronic marvels.

 

[Hizself]

US SOLID has a few 100-500 gram load cell balances in the $200 range. You can select default unit display.
https://ussolid.com/products/u-s-solid-200-x-0-001g-analytical-balance-1-mg-digital-precision-lab-scale-with-2-lcd-screens-rs232-and-usb-interface-html

Worst case full scale error is +/- .002g or .03 grains -- which means it's usually much less.
The USB and rs232 outputs send printable ASCII on demand. They probably use a subset of the A&D serial command set (or I hope they do).