Digital Scales
- Thread starter jefats
- Start date
One of the problems is that some people do not use the search function so the same topic revives itself every so often and as a result some of the responses like mine get repeated. I hope I can keep you entertained with my ramblings and if not just scroll down past them when you see my name. lol By the way, I do enjoy your numerous posts each day and always look forward to reading them. Also, when I go back to work at the FX Scale Company next week I will see if they will send you a free scale. Sorry Bill, here I am rambling about the FX Scale again.Nomad47 said:
Guess I'll weigh in on the subject.
The Fx-120i is a fine scale. I bought one after reading about it here. In all honesty, I don't see much of an advantage over the GemPro 250 it replaced. I use the same method jlow has described of slightly overweighing the GemPro when trickling. It works great! It's important to allow plenty of warm up time as well.
If I had it to do over, I would probably save the money!!!
The Fx-120i is a fine scale. I bought one after reading about it here. In all honesty, I don't see much of an advantage over the GemPro 250 it replaced. I use the same method jlow has described of slightly overweighing the GemPro when trickling. It works great! It's important to allow plenty of warm up time as well.
If I had it to do over, I would probably save the money!!!
Using the method I describe in Reply #23 and #26, I have checked my watch and it takes about 2-3 seconds to get a solid and reproducible reading on the GemPro 250. That is to me fast enough that the other reloading processes would be where the real time is spent, so it really is hard to imagine the scale being a rate limiting step and worth spending the extra cash.
Since there is so much talk about time as it comes to weighing powder, I have put together a small tutorial below. Most of you veteran reloader already knows this but perhaps it would help some of the new reloaders. This is what I came up with in terms of an efficient powder dispensing process:
1) To get the majority of the weight of powder on to the pan – I use the “right†size Lee dipper.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/943305/lee-improved-powder-measure-kit
2) Once you get there, I use the Redding #5 powder Tickler. I have found that each 180 degree twist of the knob gives you approximately 0.1 grain of powder and so if you are say 0.8 off = 8 turns. This is a very good trickler.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/487186/redding-5-powder-trickler
3) All of the above are BIG changes in powder weight and so the scale will give you fast reads. Once you get close, a few small measure twist will get you within 0.02 to 0.06 grain, this is where you use the technique I described in Reply #23 and #26. This should only take one to two adjustments.
4) Also know how much of your powder weights – for example as mentioned already, I kernel of Varget is 0.02 grains and six balls of TAC is also 0.02 grains. If you know these numbers, you can easily pick or skim the exact amount of powder off the pile if you are over.
Happy New Year and happy reloading.
Since there is so much talk about time as it comes to weighing powder, I have put together a small tutorial below. Most of you veteran reloader already knows this but perhaps it would help some of the new reloaders. This is what I came up with in terms of an efficient powder dispensing process:
1) To get the majority of the weight of powder on to the pan – I use the “right†size Lee dipper.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/943305/lee-improved-powder-measure-kit
2) Once you get there, I use the Redding #5 powder Tickler. I have found that each 180 degree twist of the knob gives you approximately 0.1 grain of powder and so if you are say 0.8 off = 8 turns. This is a very good trickler.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/487186/redding-5-powder-trickler
3) All of the above are BIG changes in powder weight and so the scale will give you fast reads. Once you get close, a few small measure twist will get you within 0.02 to 0.06 grain, this is where you use the technique I described in Reply #23 and #26. This should only take one to two adjustments.
4) Also know how much of your powder weights – for example as mentioned already, I kernel of Varget is 0.02 grains and six balls of TAC is also 0.02 grains. If you know these numbers, you can easily pick or skim the exact amount of powder off the pile if you are over.
Happy New Year and happy reloading.
I'd be lost without my Lee Powder scoops.
For topping off, I have an old Lyman electronic trickler, but they don't seem to make them anymore. A button on top vibrates the feed tube and you can bump a kernel at a time if you get it set right.
A scoop and a zzzzzzzzzt zzzzzzt zt zt - I'm done.
Raythemanroe
Bullet Whisperer
http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-gempro-500.html
http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-gempro-250.html
Prices are good though
http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-gempro-250.html
Prices are good though
Man, if you actually read my post, you will understand that using those two things has NOTHING to do with differences between the two scales. Is it really necessary to fire from the hip and go negative?Dave Berg said:
You can spatula the big portions in if you like or use these two items I mentioned, and you won’t notice any difference in response between the two scales because as already stated, the amount of powder put on the scale is large and they will both respond equally fast.
I only recommend the two because it is an efficient method to get close to the amount you need and works equally well with either scale. Just my recommendation and you don’t need to use it or resort to any suicidal maneuvers. :
I don't understand the urge to go negative if all one is trying to do is to help..........
Dave Berg wrote:
I had a GemPro 250 and it's not a bad scale, but I just bought a Fx-120i, not even close and I don't have to come up with rows of data to know this either. We can go on with this thread until next New Years and the same guy will dominate this thread praising the GemPro 250 and we'll never come to an agreement, this kinda reminds me of the RCBS Chargemaster worshipers and all the threads dedicated to the precise measuring capabilities of the Chargemaster or as I believe the lack of.
Dave T
I agree totally and I ain't going backwards either.
I had a GemPro 250 and it's not a bad scale, but I just bought a Fx-120i, not even close and I don't have to come up with rows of data to know this either. We can go on with this thread until next New Years and the same guy will dominate this thread praising the GemPro 250 and we'll never come to an agreement, this kinda reminds me of the RCBS Chargemaster worshipers and all the threads dedicated to the precise measuring capabilities of the Chargemaster or as I believe the lack of.
Dave T
Seems like the only worshipping going on is the guys who spend big bucks on the Fx-102i who can’t come up with the goods after 4 pages showing why it's worth the extra money…Dave T said:
Going off topic, and attacking things that has nothing to do with the actual topic being discussed further undermines credibility. Just saying.......
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
Dave T said:
I don't think anyone is "praising the GemPro 250" anywhere near the amount of praise a few people are bestowing on the Fx-120i. What has been stated by me and others is that the GP 250 has been performing as advertised, which in my opinion, is always refreshing.
However, if one can see the difference on the target between a load of Varget measured by an Fx-120i versus a load of Varget measured by a GP-250, I would like to hear about that. As a systems guy, I am always looking to refine and simplify my operation and I am not adverse to spending the money if doing so will get me appreciable improvements. But spending money just for bragging purposes as in "my 44.5 gr was weighed to the kernel by a ($400/$600) scale instead of a being weighed to the kernel by a $115 scale," just doesn't cut if for me.
However, after rereading the thread, maybe I do want to get an Fx-120i and have it magically get the proper amount of powder from the can without any human intervention like Dave Berg was describing. I don't know about the rest of you, but I would pay extra for that.
snakepit said:
FREE???? Gee whiz, I gladly accept AND I will pay for shipping.
But in all seriousness, if the two scales were approximately the same price I would buy the fx (based on the glowing reports by the fx users) if I was in the market for a good scale. But since I already own a GemPro and I'm happy with it.....
Raythemanroe
Bullet Whisperer
The fx looks much smoother to use watching the video
If you like your Gempro, great. If you like your FX120i, great. There is nothing wrong with using a cheaper alternative. There is also nothing wrong with liking nice, more expensive gear either. You don't have to justify either decision.
I run a Nightforce scope. I might shoot just as well, or just as lousy, with a cheaper scope. Don't really care. I like my NF scope. I might like a more expensive March. Quite frankly I'm afraid to look through one for fear of liking it. Would it make me shoot better?
I run a Nightforce scope. I might shoot just as well, or just as lousy, with a cheaper scope. Don't really care. I like my NF scope. I might like a more expensive March. Quite frankly I'm afraid to look through one for fear of liking it. Would it make me shoot better?
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