New Scale wanted...

[mikeinct]

Hey Guys..I'm looking for an upgrade to my 40 year old Lyman Balance...I found this electronic wonder on ebay...Any opinions or thoughts about using this scale ??? Mike in Ct
Cole-Parmer Symmetry Compact Portable Toploading Balance 300g x 0.01g 115V......... Those are Grams .01 1/100th of a gram

 

[1066]

I'm no expert on digital scales but it looks to me as if the very best that scale can do is .15 of a grain. I think you need to be looking for a something that will read .001g

 

[Bc'z]

Prices aren't bad

 

[mikeinct]

Yeah the price is good...But I think 1066 is correct...001 of gram resolution is needed..Mike

 

[mike06]

GemPro 250

 

[madmixerman]

AnD fx120i

 

[Evlshnngns]

The upgrade is an fx120, everything else is a maybe. Keep your old beam scale at the ready. That's my conclusion from reading here. Too many dead or wondering digitals scales out there for my taste. Let us know what you end up with.

 

[mikld]

I've tried 3 digital scales but now just use one of them when double checked by my RCBS or Lyman/Ohaus beam scales. I use it mainly for weighing bullets and if I'm loading a tried any true load where .2 won't matter much. Besides the "reported" problems with power, lighting and wandering, I found trickling up to be a real PIA. Two of my digital scales take much longer to trickle up a load than my beam scales and most of the time even when being very careful, the reading will jump .2 or .3 grains up. I have to either remove and reset the pan or tap the bench to vibrate the scale a bit for trying to up a charge by .2-.3 gr or so...

I have 5 beam scales (I can't pass up a deal!) and use two most often; an RCBS 5-10 and a Lyman/Ohaus D5. These have served me very well in the many years of weighting powder and bullets (20+ for the Lyman)...

 

[mikeinct]

I pulled the trigger on a 260.00 unit..The man at prime scales says I can return & upgrade if not happy...So I'll be test driving one of these electronic wonders soon enough...Mike in ct

 

[TAJ45]

I'm no expert on digital scales but it looks to me as if the very best that scale can do is .15 of a grain. I think you need to be looking for a something that will read .001g

That's right.
15.432 grains (gr) per gram (g)

 

[JFrank]

Gents
I'm at this point going with a beam scale Vintage 1010 to be exact.
This old scale to me is reliable and accurate to the kernel. My E scale is not. +- .1
i may still use the electric for bullets or cases but rely on the beam for accurate charges
I have no experience with the FX120 although the reviews are positive they perhaps are the one scale under 1k I might try.
I am not in a hurry when loading my best potential benchrest ammunition.

I cannot really be sure of a readout that flickers or changes just as I'm reaching towards the pan"
Here's a drill - put a bullet on the E scale take a reading and write it down then come back an hour later and tell me it reads exactly the same and maybe you got a good scale.
Try the same exercise on a beam as well.
YRMV
J

 

[powderbrake]

Here's a drill - put a bullet on the E scale take a reading and write it down then come back an hour later and tell me it reads exactly the same and maybe you got a good scale.
Try the same exercise on a beam as well.
YRMV
J

Actually you have to expect it to read the weight, + or - the accuracy level of the scale each time you weigh it.

On my Fx120i , if I measure 30.00 grains, then 29.98, then 30.02, that's as good as it can measure, as it's accuracy is +or -.02 grains. So when I look at the readings my brain says, " OK 30 grains". I also know that 1 little piece of Varget weighs about .02 grains, and when I'm that close, I'm happy.

 

[JFrank]

Actually you have to expect it to read the weight, + or - the accuracy level of the scale each time you weigh it.

On my Fx120i , if I measure 30.00 grains, then 29.98, then 30.02, that's as good as it can measure, as it's accuracy is +or -.02 grains. So when I look at the readings my brain says, " OK 30 grains". I also know that 1 little piece of Varget weighs about .02 grains, and when I'm that close, I'm happy.

Are you saying you are for or against.04 accuracy?
J

 

[swd]

FX120 is all you'll ever need or want. There are better scales just like there are better cars than a Ferrari...

 

[JFrank]

FX120 is all you'll ever need or want. There are better scales just like there are better cars than a Ferrari...

I know several very good shooters that swear by thFX120 if I could afford one perhaps I would own one. Until then I'm old school.
As far as I know all the basic e scales run on the same technology
J

 

[T-shooter]

I know several very good shooters that swear by thFX120 if I could afford one perhaps I would own one. Until then I'm old school.
As far as I know all the basic e scales run on the same technology
J

There are 2 basic types. A Strain Gauge which are the less expensive scales and Magnetic Force Restoration which are much more accurate and reliable. The FX scales are the magnetic force restoration type. Here is a test on the 2 types which are not the cheap scales you find on ebay and these are both by the same manufacturer.

 

[Mozella]

AnD fx120i

This is a sad truth. Unfortunately, the cost is too high for many folks to justify even if most of us can actually afford the scale. What I did, (many other reloaders do the same thing) is to hold my nose, close my eyes, and buy the FX120 in spite of the cost. It was a good decision and I really enjoy the improvement over my GemPro 120. But the price still stings a little bit. By the way, it's worth every penny. Sometimes you do what you gotta' do.

 

[Liven The Dream]

$325 or about Old Wilt Knot Scale there is a $10 coupon out there also

 

[JFrank]

$325 or about Old Wilt Knot Scale there is a $10 coupon out there also

Don has all the good toys stashed in his loading room,

 

[Drolds72]

I just upgraded to a FX120 from a gempro 250. both are on the bench at opposite ends. the 2 scales consistently weigh within .02 grains of each other with 29.8 gr powder in an old rcbs pan- point being overall weight is several times the charge. The FX120 will register single kernel changes, while the gempro needs the pan reset after every trickle. The Gempro will noticably drift more often, and I usually re-tare it every 5 rounds and recalibrate every 50. The FX120 needs nothing except a windless environment.