Cheap Digital Scales

[slappomatt]

such as

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7243402388&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

now Its obvious something like this wont be up to snuff with a denver or probably even a cheep relaoding scale but would it be better than straight out of the powder measure? for the money I'm going to see how it works for me. I dont really need that last degree of accuracy but I need something a little better than my super cheep lee powder measure and very drifty lees balance scale. has anyone tried anything like this with any success?

 

[Forum Boss]

I can't believe that anything with a "buy it now" price of $14.00 would be reliable in any fashion. If you can't afford a quality digital, look for a nice used beam scale. There are plenty for sale.

 

[slappomatt]

I did just look at 10-10 scales that i have heard alot of people like and they are cheep. ill probably get one of those too, to check the cheep-o against. but im not shooting benchrest, only silloete and our targets are 1.5 moa. I dont really think I need a $300 digital and I really dont want to spend the time fiddling with a beam scale. I ultamitly plan on getting a chargemaster as it would seem to suite my lazy attitude and or lack of time for reloading. I realize this scale is probably a POS but for the money I figuere ill see how it does. cant be a whole lot worse than a platic lee scale that moves every time I measure with it.

 

[Rust]

You get what you pay for.

 

[slappomatt]

thanks, I've never heard that before.

 

[Nortonics]

Regardless of the perceived quality because of price, it does look like it would be a fun review project. I think you should get one and compare it to something of known quality and write up a quick review - seriously!

I gotta' agree with the ol' cliche though, especially on such delicate device where we'd all really wish to see a perfect 1/100 grain repeatable accuracy, even while trickling powder - I think you could probably get that with a $2500+ lab quality electronic scale. In reality, with the typical digital reloading scales on the market we get typical accuracy of 1/10 grain, and is rarely perfectly repeatable, especially when trickling powder.

Okay, so we know that 1 grain = 0.0648 grams, and that cheap scale says it has an accuracy of 0.01 grams. That would be an accuracy of 0.154323584 grains - that's 1.5/10 grain accuracy, so already you'd be less accurate than a typical reloading scale. And realize that accuracy is +/-, which typically means it can slide either direction from a center point, so really it could be within a 3/10 grain 'swath' and still be considered accurate according to its specs. And again, that doesn't even begin to answer the question of how repeatable it is, or whether it can accurately increment its reading while trickling the last few kernels into the dish. That's the BIG factor in a quality scale - how well it repeats accurately and how well it measures minuscule additions of weight.

Really has everything to do with the actual mechanical measuring instrument itself,the pressure transducer) that's housed within the platform - the most expensive part. How ever well that piece is made will dictate how accurate the electronic scale as a whole can be,along with the proper electronics too of course).

 

[Caduceus]

My answer to your first question is NO. I think you'd be better off just sticking with the powder measure. It is certainly faster than weighing each charge and should perform to the accuracy standards you are demanding.

Despite warnings to check every tenth charge on a scale for consistency, I've never had a powder measure magically undo its lockscrew and alter it's internal chamber dimensions on me. If you are using the same powder each time, they will throw the same volume and approximately the same weight of powder every time.

Once again, it just depends on your accuracy demands vs proposed effort expenditure.

 

[slappomatt]

I have the cheepo already. came in the mail couple days ago. I havent really had time to play with it that much. I shot my first match without weighting each charge. it was a mess. when i started weighing the charges i noticed that it probably throws withing + or - half a grain. I still plan to get a chargemaster and im sure that will be plenty for my needs. I wish I had something good to compare it against. when i get the chargemster i can see how well the cheepo works.

 

[tenring]

Two years ago when they first came out, I bought a small Hornady digital measure. I like the wind proof design and its compact size made it ideal to carry in my range box. It measured powder OK, but not bullet weights. I returned it, and they replaced it with another that works well, but not perfect. I have checked it against my Redding balance beam, and it is right on to about 1/10th grain. But if the Harrel measure throws a few tenths short, and I trickle a few kernels in the pan, it doesn't register those. I have seriously considered buying a Denver MXX, but not sure I will gain a lot. If I throw 5 or 6 charges and they are right on the money, I will fill the remainder of cases without weighing them. The key is to get a good powder measure, but you won't find one that is accurate below a tenth of a grain.

 

[slappomatt]

yeah, getting the chargemaster would kill to birds with one credit card bill! lol! I really do like the dever scale but its about the same price as the chargmaster. if it was under 200 I would be more interested.

well I loaded up about 35 rounds last night using el cheepo scale, it does seem to be pretty repeatable, but not super accurate. it only reads to .1 grain. and theres about 5 or 6 kernals of varget before it moves one unit. I guess Ill find out how well it works this sunday.

 

[Nortonics]

You might find this article interesting. The older/original version of the Dillon D-terminator digital scale:

http://www.shootingsoftware.com/pscale.htm

It's not the same as the newer version. As I understand the newer version had some initial software/firmware problems that may have been fixed by now. But, the older ones are still available - just like this pristine one that just sold on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dillon-D-Terminator-Digital-Powder-Scale-Like-New_W0QQitemZ7243788247QQihZ015QQcategoryZ71119QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I did the same thing a couple years ago - buying one of these older D-terminators off eBay.

 

[AlexH]

Hi all,

I've been using one of these cheapo scales for the last 6 months and have been happy with it. It does give repeatable result to +/-0.2 grain.

It does come with a calibration weight, and you can always compare your results to some balance scales. Hope this helps.

AlexH
England

 

[armabill]

I use a Dillon and have not had any problems with it.

Repeats charges ok. Of course, I don't check every single one but I do check 4 charges back to back for repeatability.

The beam scale is too iffy. Doesn't seem to be too accurate, more like an estimate.

 

[Aussie_bob]

I have a dillon determinator and do not trust it you can be batching projectiles or what ever and it will come up being .2 of a grain off so you zero and the charges weighed are now different the only way to be sure is have a set weight to weigh between each load or projectile to be sure it hasent moved either way .1 of a grain dosent affect my projectiles as i only batch to .2 but in some small cases such as my 17 MachIV it can make quite a difference.

 

[Rtheurer]

I weigh every thing except primers.

I Shoot Longe Range, so for peace of mind I weight sort all components.

I have a lyman 1200 DPS that some people seem to not like, for some reason. I also have a Dillon,older model). I also have a Harrel Benchrest mesure. The 1200 DPS is way more accurate than the powder mesure when it comes to extruded powders such as H4350 or say Varget, or R15-R19 style of powders. Now Ball powders that is a difrent story. The Harrel will mesure Ball powder like a dream No more than a tenth from your target amount. That is alot closer than your brass is if you are not sorting & weighing that. I get a kick out of some folks who are concerned about a charge going .1 over on there powder but do not sort there brass by weight. Ive seen Remington & winchester brass be as much as 3.2 grains extreme spread from the same lot of brass.
I have Found these electonic scales do NOT like Floresint lights or cordless phones, I read it some where & went through my house & turned off all that stuff & walla, things began to be alot more consistant, no more wondering of digital scales and so forth. Also air current from you moving in the room also makes a difrence just sit there & pour powder. No moving over to seat bullets do that later. turn the heat register closed if you have forced air in your home.

OK here is how I do my reloading & you may do it as you see fit.
After my bullets & brass are weighed & put in order from light to heavy. I set my 1200 DPS to say 45 grains of varget. straight from the DPS to the pan on my Dillon scale. I put the empty pan back on the Lynman & hit the load button. while its dispensing another charge Im confirming the first load on the dillon if the two dont jive its back into the hopper with it, if its right on the money then its into the case & im ready for the next charge from the lynman. Ill have to agree that trickling with a digital scale works for!@%#%$. I get probably 5 loads out of 100 that dont jive. & then they are only.2 tenths out of the target weight. This 1200 DPS is the shnizel It will be way better than you need for Rams at 500 meters even without double checking it with another scale. The Chargmaster is a fine machine also now that the bugs are worked out. I would spend my money on the digital powder dispensor & make sure the room is up to the task. You will be alot happier I think. But that has been my experience so far. So why are these things on Ebay? Used or new? Hummm? Ill buy my stuff direct thank you very much.

Hope this helps you out a little. Good luck. Hope you are out banging steal very soon.
Russ T

 

[StephenPerry]

Nothing Cheap
I measure powder in 1/10 grn the same way my pappy showed me. I have had a Ohaus 505 beam since 1962. Works fine. I bought an RCBS 1010 beam this year. Works fine. I bought a Competitive Edge Dynamics electronic scale this year also. Works fine. I have an ADN electronic scale that measures in even 1/100's. Works fine.
No cheepo's in my equipment. Not saying they don't work just never offered one.
Stephen Perry