I have been in this masochistic Long range bench rest game for about 5 years now. I started weighing powder with my Fathers old oil damped scale. Then, I bought a newer Ohaus scale on ebay. Both were unsatisfactory first for their specified 0.1gn accuracy and the fact they weren't as stable as I would have liked.
So, my wonderful wife gave me a GemPro 250 for my birthday! Now we are cooking! Now I have 0.02gn accuracy. I still weigh to the grain of powder, which is about 0.02gn, but my accuracy is now 0.02gn. But, the strain gauge based GemPro must be Tare'd often, and I calibrate it often. I was pretty happy with my GemPro, warts and all. Then, I found an Ohaus TS200 on ebay for $250 or offer! The seller took my way lower offer! As I had purchased for a very low price an Ohaus TS120 a couple years ago that didn't operate and obtained the repair manual and found out why it didn't work, I was aware of the need for care when shipping them. The seller did take care and I became the owner of a working. stable TS200! This model will indicate many measurements including grains and is accurate to 0.02gn. Same accuracy as the GemPro, but with the highly stable current offset measuring method. And, the thing is stable as a rock! I rarely have to re-tare it. In fact, I un-packed it, put the pan on and plugged it in for about an hour. When I came back, it read 00.00gn! I didn't have the M1 weight set to calibrate it, but I had some small grain weights so I put 34gn on the pan (close to my 6BRX load) and it read 34gn!
I have since obtained the correct calibration weights and when I put on the 200g weight, it read 200.003g, which is the rated accuracy of the weight, +/- .003g.
So, those of you that want a superb scale and have patients, keep looking on ebay for Ohaus TS120, TS200 or TS400D balances. Do not mess with one that doesn't guarantee proper functionality or does not have the power supply or flatly doesn't work. The TS120 is 120g full scale and will weigh grains to +/- 0.01gn accuracy. The TS200 that I have is 200g full scale and has an accuracy of 0.02gn and the TS400D is a dual range unit for either 40g or 400g full scale with an accuracy on 40g of +/- 0.01gn. The TS400 is not dual range so pay attention, just the TS400D!
All three balances use roughly the same weighing mechanism and are all inherently stable and accurate. You can download the Instructions from the internet. Instructions are necessary to re-set ranges, calibrate and other things.
There are 3 of these units on ebay now, one "refurbished" for $350 or so and one from Israel without the wind screen and looking like it was ridden hard and put away wet. The going price for them used and working is $100 to $300. The fellow I bought mine from gave a money back guarantee if I wasn't satisfied. I was VERY satisfied.
So, my wonderful wife gave me a GemPro 250 for my birthday! Now we are cooking! Now I have 0.02gn accuracy. I still weigh to the grain of powder, which is about 0.02gn, but my accuracy is now 0.02gn. But, the strain gauge based GemPro must be Tare'd often, and I calibrate it often. I was pretty happy with my GemPro, warts and all. Then, I found an Ohaus TS200 on ebay for $250 or offer! The seller took my way lower offer! As I had purchased for a very low price an Ohaus TS120 a couple years ago that didn't operate and obtained the repair manual and found out why it didn't work, I was aware of the need for care when shipping them. The seller did take care and I became the owner of a working. stable TS200! This model will indicate many measurements including grains and is accurate to 0.02gn. Same accuracy as the GemPro, but with the highly stable current offset measuring method. And, the thing is stable as a rock! I rarely have to re-tare it. In fact, I un-packed it, put the pan on and plugged it in for about an hour. When I came back, it read 00.00gn! I didn't have the M1 weight set to calibrate it, but I had some small grain weights so I put 34gn on the pan (close to my 6BRX load) and it read 34gn!
I have since obtained the correct calibration weights and when I put on the 200g weight, it read 200.003g, which is the rated accuracy of the weight, +/- .003g.
So, those of you that want a superb scale and have patients, keep looking on ebay for Ohaus TS120, TS200 or TS400D balances. Do not mess with one that doesn't guarantee proper functionality or does not have the power supply or flatly doesn't work. The TS120 is 120g full scale and will weigh grains to +/- 0.01gn accuracy. The TS200 that I have is 200g full scale and has an accuracy of 0.02gn and the TS400D is a dual range unit for either 40g or 400g full scale with an accuracy on 40g of +/- 0.01gn. The TS400 is not dual range so pay attention, just the TS400D!
All three balances use roughly the same weighing mechanism and are all inherently stable and accurate. You can download the Instructions from the internet. Instructions are necessary to re-set ranges, calibrate and other things.
There are 3 of these units on ebay now, one "refurbished" for $350 or so and one from Israel without the wind screen and looking like it was ridden hard and put away wet. The going price for them used and working is $100 to $300. The fellow I bought mine from gave a money back guarantee if I wasn't satisfied. I was VERY satisfied.
