Gem Pro 250 vs beam scale?

[Clod-NC]

Hi gents

I've followed that thread more or less for quite a while and I see it even gets bigger,great!!! I've jumped the fence and ordered one of those quite a while back,it didn't come with the 20 grams weight like yours and it was quite something to clear it from customs,let me tell you,scales and balances isn't something the administration fiddle around down here in New Caledonia.I got charged 33% taxes on it,it had to travel through Hawaii(my cousin lives there) because the US dealer couldn't send it straight out to me,so I paid double shipping on it(of course the taxes here take that into account),but after 4 months of being plugged in my dining room(my reloading place),it hasn't varied a wink,so yes,to the one who still might be in doubt about the quality and reliability of this little piece of electronics,I can say go ahead mate it's a fair deal...And the funny thing about it is : it's made in China....Go figure.A Merry Xmas to all.

 

[wmdron]

I guess there's always one person whose experience does not fit the norm, this time it's me :. I bought one after reading all the good reviews awhile back and I could not get it to hold zero, sent it back to the company I ordered from. They said I got one that was "too sensitive" so they sent me another. The replacement arrived and it would not even turn on. So back it went again this time for a refund. I also found the leveling wheels hard to adjust, I guess my fingers are too big or something. Looking back on this I would advise anyone buying anything electronic especially a precision piece of equipment to order from a company that packages things well as I believe that most of the trouble I experienced was the result of inadequate and careless packing. After this aggravation I went back to my Ohaus balance beam with renewed appreciation and somehow it doesn't seem so outdated now. I am glad to hear that there are so many satisfied users of the gempro out there and this further strengthens my belief that what happened to me was the exception not the rule. Is there another electronic scale in my future ? Well maybe, but probably not a gempro because of my issue with the leveling adjusters.

 

[fdshuster]

wmdron: My results are exactly the same as yours. Over the years I've tried 4 different electronic digital scales, the last one being the GemPro 250. All were returned for a refund.

In every instance I had numerous problems, mostly in the form of drifting. Very carefully trickle one grain at a time as I approached the target weight, it reads the correct weight, pause several seconds & it then begins drifting to a higher number in the tenth's, usually stopping at the target weight plus anywhere from 2 to 4 tenth's higher. Dump the powder & start all over.

It was actually taking me twice as long to weigh the same number of charges with the electronic scales as it does with my RCBS 505. I've been using the 505 for longer than I can remember, recently felt it was not as good as when newer, and bought (on this site), a used, but never used RCBS 10-10.

What took 18 to 20 minutes to weigh 20 charges, with the 505, now takes 12 to 14 minutes with the 10-10, and without all the problems & frustrations.

 

[BigDMT]

wmdron: My results are exactly the same as yours. Over the years I've tried 4 different electronic digital scales, the last one being the GemPro 250. All were returned for a refund.

In every instance I had numerous problems, mostly in the form of drifting. Very carefully trickle one grain at a time as I approached the target weight, it reads the correct weight, pause several seconds & it then begins drifting to a higher number in the tenth's, usually stopping at the target weight plus anywhere from 2 to 4 tenth's higher. Dump the powder & start all over.

It was actually taking me twice as long to weigh the same number of charges with the electronic scales as it does with my RCBS 505. I've been using the 505 for longer than I can remember, recently felt it was not as good as when newer, and bought (on this site), a used, but never used RCBS 10-10.

What took 18 to 20 minutes to weigh 20 charges, with the 505, now takes 12 to 14 minutes with the 10-10, and without all the problems & frustrations.

Sorry to hear that fellas. I guess some of us just got the good ones Nice thing is that the GemPro250 comes with a FULL LIFETIME WARRANTY, so even if your do happen to get the "rare lemon" scale, there's nothing to worry about. You'll be taken care of.

 

[savageshooter86]

Gem Pro 250 users

All the 250 users on here. Any data to support if the scale helps bring ES/SD down? Or even group size? I have seen one or two posts online that said it helped bring them down and one saying it was same as the balance beam.

 

[BigDMT]

Re: Gem Pro 250 users

All the 250 users on here. Any data to support if the scale helps bring ES/SD down? Or even group size? I have seen one or two posts online that said it helped bring them down and one saying it was same as the balance beam.

It dropped my SD's a bit. But I think neck tension has more to do with SD's than having powder charges accurate down to the 2/100th of a grain.

The more consistent you can be with powder charges always increases accuracy, but if you already have a very accurate load in a rifle, you probably won't notice a sizeable difference in group sizes until 500-1000 yards.

If we want to nit pick this scale apart until we find flaws, I suppose we can find some. But it's not like we're talking about pulling the trigger on a $1000 scale here.....

 

[brian427cobra]

I had a very accurate load for my Rifle using a Chargemaster, my first time out at 1k I immediately shrank my group by more than 1/2 with ammo loaded from my Prometheus Gen2, super accurate charges improved a already proven load, neck tension is very important, as is seating depth, and precise charges of powder, and if your so inclined to run hot loads, a super accurate scale with a ultra high level of repeatability is a must. I hope yall enjoy your scale, my Gen2 is just as accurate, but a lot faster, I'm charging a case every 8-10 seconds, for me the accuracy is nice, the speed of the Gen2 is priceless.

 

[savageshooter86]

If we want to nit pick this scale apart until we find flaws, I suppose we can find some

All my looking online and have yet to really find any

I am gonna give it a go.

I will be competing @ 600-1000 yrds so it might help me

Appreciate all the help everyone and the OP for posting the topic

 

[Nomad47]

We're changing RV parks (a monthly ritual in the winter) the day after Christmas. And that is the day I'll be ordering one. Don't want it arriving at this park AFTER I've left.

 

[fdshuster]

savageshooter86: That was one of my first concerns: if I would see any improvement (already considered to be very good with "numbers" in the single digit) in SD & ES, and also for group sizes.

Did all the comparisons with my Magnetospeed and could not see any difference in SD & ES. Also, no changes in group sizes.

 

[savageshooter86]

Well took the plunge and the GP 250 is on it's way and my RCBS 5-0-5 is on it's way back to RCBS. Something was just not right with the scale.

 

[bullet maker]

Love my Gem Pro 250. I also have an RCBS 304 beam scale . Both scales read the same. I like the speed of the digital and the reliability of the beam.

Pete

 

[savageshooter86]

I sure am looking forward to this bad boy getting here Sat ;D Going to set it up and let it warm up for 24hrs before using it.

 

[BigDMT]

I sure am looking forward to this bad boy getting here Sat ;D Going to set it up and let it warm up for 24hrs before using it.

Excellent idea. level, warm up, calibrate...

 

[Nomad47]

I sure am looking forward to this bad boy getting here Sat ;D Going to set it up and let it warm up for 24hrs before using it.

Excellent idea. level, warm up, calibrate...

Since I don't have a dedicated reloading room, I will have to warm it up every time I use it. Do you think 30 minutes each time will be sufficient?

I'm also thinking about warming it up on AC then switching to batteries for the actual powder measurements. Your thoughts on that?

 

[BigDMT]

I sure am looking forward to this bad boy getting here Sat ;D Going to set it up and let it warm up for 24hrs before using it.

Excellent idea. level, warm up, calibrate...

Since I don't have a dedicated reloading room, I will have to warm it up every time I use it. Do you think 30 minutes each time will be sufficient?

I'm also thinking about warming it up on AC then switching to batteries for the actual powder measurements. Your thoughts on that?

It's a good idea to warm it up, but I have used mine many times in the past without warming it up and never had issues with drifting. If it does start to drift on you, then yes, I would let it warm up for a while.

Never used batteries, but every time I move a scale from its level set up or disconnect the power wire, I recalibrate.

 

[CoverDog]

I have kept mine plugged in since the day it arrived, May 25 ,2011. And shortly after it's arrival I wrote the article on this site about the GemPro 250. I also installed the batteries if for no other reason but to give it some weight. I also have the in-line non-ferrous magnets installed (double looped) at the power supply end and also at the scale plug end.

I have never had a problem with drift, and if you want the scale to weigh a little faster, once adding more powder lift and then set back down the pan and it will give you a reading in under 2 seconds.

Old Wilknot Scales is the place I purchased mine and I have had ZERO -0- problems.,.

 

[savageshooter86]

CoverDog appreciate the article you did. That and others' posts convinced me to give it a try. It is plugged in and waiting for me to calibrate it (gonna wait 24hrs)

I put the "line chokes" from RadioShak on the AC cord at the power end and at the scale end.

I am not sure how this is going to do I may have to change my setup. I reload in my garage so not sure how the scale is going to do since temp will vary in the day and night. Might be figuring out how to do the charging/weighing cases inside and all other stuff still at my bench in the garage

 

[Nomad47]

I ordered my GemPro 250 this morning and had a very pleasant surprise - The scale is on sale. Old Will Knott's price is $134.90 and with Priority Mail, my total cost comes to $140.89.

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-gempro-250.html

 

[savageshooter86]

OK GP 250 owners what mode do you weigh in? The 0001 or the 0002 weighting option? Manual says 0002 is most accurate but the other would weigh to 0.02 gr vs 0.05 gr.

Thanks