Best digital scale for $500

[muffo]

Ive been sifting through some info that I could find doing a search but still havent really come up with an answer. What would be the best scale I could buy for around the 500 mark. I was going to buy a Sartorius ay123 untill i read this. http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3772774.msg35993361#msg35993361

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

The A&D FX120i can weigh down to less than a single kernel of Varget and is a magnetic force restoration type digital scale. Its as good as any reloader would ever need for weighing loads. Mine works great with a Omega dual speed trickler and a Lee Perfect Powder thrower. Look here for details: http://balance.balances.com/scales/1223/

Ian

 

[muffo]

probably pushing the budget a bit unless its that much better than everything in a lower price bracket

 

[fdshuster]

Does anybody have anything bad to say about the GemPro 250?

 

[dreever]

I bought one of the first Denver Instruments MXX 123's when they became available. I have never encountered any of the problems others mention. My reloading room is below ground level, draft free, concrete floor, with all flourescent lighting, my loading bench is a super heavy wooden number, my scale sets on top of a heavy granite surface plate and I run the electrics thru a AP H10 Power Conditioner. Never had a problem. Everything enters into the equation in my opinion.

Danny

 

[jlow]

Does anybody have anything bad to say about the GemPro 250?

That is the ticket with excellent quality/price point. Have been using one now for more than 2 years. Read the review of it on the main Accurate Shooter.com website.

 

[thumper4fun]

Does anybody have anything bad to say about the GemPro 250?

I've been using a gempro250 for over a year and I'm satisfied. I leave mine plugged up and powered on all the time on my reloading bench. No issues with drift. Have florescent shop lights hanging 4 feet directly over my bench, no issues. I just have to make sure the fan is off and the AC vents are directed away from the scale. Using a Scott Parker tuned redding beam scale I check my gempro regularly and it is always spot on.

The gempro is not a great range scale. It eats batteries. Will not come close to making a weekend match if the only power source is the onboard battery supply. This is my biggest complaint about the gempro250.

For a reloading bench scale it is has been an excellent choice but for a range scale I've been disappointed due to the battery isssue. Hope this helps.

 

[muffo]

So both sugestions so far seem to be the gempro 250 which is under budget and the A&D FX-120i which is over budget. both claim .001g accuracy which is 1/50th of a grain isnt it? seems like a hell of a difference in price for the same claimed accuracy

 

[CoverDog]

Does anybody have anything bad to say about the GemPro 250?

I don't.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/gempro-250-digital-scale-review/

 

[jlow]

So both sugestions so far seem to be the gempro 250 which is under budget and the A&D FX-120i which is over budget. both claim .001g accuracy which is 1/50th of a grain isnt it? seems like a hell of a difference in price for the same claimed accuracy

The GemPro 250 can reliably and accurately measure 0.02 gr which is about the weight of one kernel of Varget which is an overkill for anything except the most OCD reloader. The reason for the price difference between the two is the market. The A&D FX-120 is more of a laboratory scale, slightly more rugged (debatable) and the GemPro is a jeweler scale and so you are going to see a difference in price. The slight degree of “ruggetness” is not going to make a significant difference to you as neither is going to survive if you drop them.

The GemPro has life time warranty and as I said I have used mine for more than 2 years which is more than most people here have used the scale. My advice is unless you have money to blow, just buy the GemPro and be done with it.

 

[waltk]

Just received my second GemPro 250. First one ran three times before it failed.
Mailed in the defective unit ( scale only) and received the new replacment in a very resonable time.
They sent a complete new unit with all the accessories.
Let's see how this one works.

 

[fdshuster]

Thanks to all for the good information. Short battery life is not a problem for me as all loading is done off the loading bench, at home, where I can control the environment, so the AC adapter will be used.

Just placed an order for one.

 

[texasleftychef]

I have also had good luck with Gempro 250. Would definitely recommend.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Nice scale! Too bad I didn't know about this when I bought my Sartorius- could have saved a couple hundred and I bet this guy is every bit as good (at least for weighing powder).

The A&D FX120i can weigh down to less than a single kernel of Varget and is a magnetic force restoration type digital scale. Its as good as any reloader would ever need for weighing loads. Mine works great with a Omega dual speed trickler and a Lee Perfect Powder thrower. Look here for details: http://balance.balances.com/scales/1223/

Ian

 

[muffo]

being a strain gauge mechanism how does it go for trickling 1 grain at a time

 

[CoverDog]

Takes about 5 seconds to respond and move up 2/100's of a grain. If you want a faster reading just lift the pan and put it back down, you get you reading almost instantly.

 

[FroggyOne2]

The scale that the OP is talking about is not a strain guage design, it is magnetic force resteration, mean it should be less prone to drifting than a strain guage design. I have the TP-153 scale, it is strain guage, the difference between it and say the XXX_123 types is that the the 123 types use plastic in the strain guage device, where as the 153 uses metal. Mine still drifts some at times, but not near as much as the 123 tyoe that I have. I use the 123 scale to weigh brass, that is about all I use it for now.

I would like to know more about the A&D scale. Shooting the 223 at 1K, everything is critical.

 

[284driver]

I have the sartorius 123 and it will drift a little. here's the cure. Weigh the pan. Take it off and zero the scales. Then take the pan weight and add your desired charge weight together. I write this number on a sticky and put it on the face of the scale. Now I throw a charge in the pan, set it on the scale and trickle up to the desired weight on postit. They wont drift when nothing is resting on the scale.
This really doesn't add to the op's discussion But might help someone with drift problems.

 

[FUBAR]

I use a sartorius and use an omega to trickle powder, drifting is only an issue when my scale is left idle, as long as I'm actively using it, no issues at all.

In other words, as long as I'm trickling it registers kernels, and does not float.

If I do leave it idle I just hit zero and go from there...

I have tried, but can't reproduce the other issues reported, and my drifting is only in hundredths....

I do zero prior to each weighing, it's extremely accurate using it in that manner and is much less involved than my beam scale, however I still use my beam scale at the range.

The gempro sounds like a well priced scale....

 

[FroggyOne2]

My TP-153 may drift prob no more than .04 grains, but still to me, that is out of my boundries for a good powder charge. May not make a diff for a drif of that much in larger cases, but with small cases, I feel that that much of a drift, will make a difference in your elevation @ 1K.