New Scale wanted...

[T-shooter]

I tried going the cheaper route with scales and only wasted my time. I finally got the FX and cried like a little girl over the cost and cried some more when I had to buy a line conditioner to get it to work reliably in the house because of my electrical issues. I'm glad I got it and still have 4 of the 5 years on the warranty to go. Below are the scales I owned and tested (most were sent back for refunds). The 2 cheapies on the lower right were never intended to be used for reloading. #6 was an ebay $10 scale. #7 is an MTM and is useful for quick checking something to .1 GN like rounds to see if one doesn't have powder. #1 is a Hornady auto loader but is not accurate enough to be used for any precision ammo. #4 is a Veritas S63 and was the worse of the bunch. #3 is a US Solid that weighs to .0001 gram. Couldn't be set for grains and was very unstable to use. The wind cover had to be shut and give the scale time to settle but is would weigh to +/- .0004 grams most of the time. #5 is a Gempro 300. It actually works pretty well considering the $140 price and will weigh +/- .02 GN about 95% of the time and never had it go over +/- .004 GN and will run on battery power too. The FX scale, #2, if 100% level and in no breeze, will weigh the same weight to the exact same reading over and over. I haven't recalibrated it in nearly a year and it's still dead on. I wasted several months buying and trying cheaper alternatives and still had to go with the FX scale but I'm glad I did.

 

[mikeinct]

WOW !!!

 

[Performance Shooting]

I tried going the cheaper route with scales and only wasted my time. I finally got the FX and cried like a little girl over the cost and cried some more when I had to buy a line conditioner to get it to work reliably in the house because of my electrical issues. I'm glad I got it and still have 4 of the 5 years on the warranty to go. Below are the scales I owned and tested (most were sent back for refunds). The 2 cheapies on the lower right were never intended to be used for reloading. #6 was an ebay $10 scale. #7 is an MTM and is useful for quick checking something to .1 GN like rounds to see if one doesn't have powder. #1 is a Hornady auto loader but is not accurate enough to be used for any precision ammo. #4 is a Veritas S63 and was the worse of the bunch. #3 is a US Solid that weighs to .0001 gram. Couldn't be set for grains and was very unstable to use. The wind cover had to be shut and give the scale time to settle but is would weigh to +/- .0004 grams most of the time. #5 is a Gempro 300. It actually works pretty well considering the $140 price and will weigh +/- .02 GN about 95% of the time and never had it go over +/- .004 GN and will run on battery power too. The FX scale, #2, if 100% level and in no breeze, will weigh the same weight to the exact same reading over and over. I haven't recalibrated it in nearly a year and it's still dead on. I wasted several months buying and trying cheaper alternatives and still had to go with the FX scale but I'm glad I did.
View attachment 1057378

Where can you buy that FX? and how much are they?

 

[Ccrider]

I have a cheap Smart Weighgem20 $20 jewelry scale that seems to measure within .04 over time. It weighs .12-.16 more than my newly acquired fx120, but it is consistent.

My Pact auto thrower has been as much as .2 off and is usually around .16-.18 less.

You get to the powder pan on the Fx120 by leaving one or two of the side wind covers and the top off. They recommend putting a piece of paper on top.

 

[Ccrider]

I have an auto throw that plugs into the back of the fx120. Pretty neat. You can dip close or throw your charge with a charge master or pact and the auto throw will finish it off within .02. A lots faster and more accurate than using my Pact with auto dispenser.

 

[KenOath]

Rushty
I know you can answer this -
You point out that you use the Adams Trickler but my question is what are you using for the initial charge
Do you throw it then transfer to the FX pan then trickle ?
Or a dipper ?
As I say the powder doesn't jump in the pan by itself

Jim

I purchased a set of Lee scoops which I find do the job well.

 

[Dave Berg]

Exactly
There's more to it.
Myself
I use a Pact scale and a RCBS charger they talk to each other, dispense a charge then trickle up .1
Using my Beam
I'll transfer to my 1010 pan then trickle the final.01
My whole point/question is total cost of operations and preferences
$ quality thrower or charger
$ trickler
$ high quality scale
$ surge protector
$ misc.
With shipping cost sometimes tax
I'm seeing close to or over a grand
depending on scale cost and now plug in accessories.
Sorry for the long way around the barn.
Jim

My total cost was less than $500:

Redding Model 3 - Close to 50 years old so it's pretty much amortized. They repaired it once at no cost.
A&D FX-300i - $378 shipped including calibration weight, no tax, after 30% rebate back in March, 2018.
Omega Trickler - Five or more years old - $70 shipped

Plugged directly into the wall outlet.

Drop charge into a pan from the Redding. Pour that into a pan on the A&D. Add a few kernels with the Omega. Quite simple really

 

[steve123]

You guys should try "instinctive" powder trickling!

That means have a separate small container of powder, I use another pan.

Throw charge from Harrel powder measure 3-4 tenths short, grab a pinch of powder between thumb and finger, sprinkle into pan on scale.

I use a SP tuned Lyman which shows one granule resolution of fine powder on the needle.

The instinctive part is just like throwing a baseball or anything like that, mind and body learn how much to grab and how much to sprinkle. It's much faster than dispensing from a trickler once you get used to doing it.

Other thing is you'll learn how the needle reacts to a granule or two, so there is no need to wait for the needle to stop every time.

I hate E scales, had three that either broke or were more hassle than they were worth.

 

[T-shooter]

Where can you buy that FX? and how much are they?

When I bought that one, the FX120i wasn't available so I got an FX300i for the same price, I think $599. The 300 is the same scale only with more capacity which isn't needed for reloading. I got mine here but shop around for the best price (including shipping). https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/and-fx-120i.html
Maybe someone can tell us where the best price is right now.

 

[Ccrider]

You guys should try "instinctive" powder trickling!

That means have a separate small container of powder, I use another pan.

Throw charge from Harrel powder measure 3-4 tenths short, grab a pinch of powder between thumb and finger, sprinkle into pan on scale.

I use a SP tuned Lyman which shows one granule resolution of fine powder on the needle.

The instinctive part is just like throwing a baseball or anything like that, mind and body learn how much to grab and how much to sprinkle. It's much faster than dispensing from a trickler once you get used to doing it.

Other thing is you'll learn how the needle reacts to a granule or two, so there is no need to wait for the needle to stop every time.

I hate E scales, had three that either broke or were more hassle than they were worth.

Funny you mention this instinctive trickling. I could top off my loads faster with my thumb and index finger than with the Hornady trickler. Thought I was the only one doing this. Two grains of Varget measures .02. Once you do it enough you know exactly how much.

 

[T-shooter]

T shooter
First let me say thank you for spending Your" money and saving others there's with your post.
My novice question is how do you get the powder in the pan?
Are you throwing a charge then a separate trickler or a hand dipper etc.
J

There is a hole in the top of the lid/cover I use a funnel with a tube and baffles to trickle it in. I use a Lee powder spoon to get close and trickle up or the Hornady Autoloader set 1/10 lower and trickle up. The auto trickler setup is nice but I use the manual Omega/Dandy trickler which can drop an individual piece of Varget at a time. Without the baffles the powder falls too fast and can bounce out of the pan. This was made with stuff I had, an old powder funnel, a .308 case with the head cut off, a couple slots cut with a Dremmel and pieces of sheet metal inserted to no more than half way. I used a ball of epoxy to make a base so the funnel would set level. An alternative is to remove a panel from the breeze shield and drop the powder in close to the pan.


Someone on this site sells the scale and auto trickler as a package. This is the trickler I use. It vibrates the powder out and has 2 speeds and is adjustable for flow rate.

 

[Dave Berg]

When I bought that one, the FX120i wasn't available so I got an FX300i for the same price, I think $599. The 300 is the same scale only with more capacity which isn't needed for reloading. I got mine here but shop around for the best price (including shipping). https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/and-fx-120i.html
Maybe someone can tell us where the best price is right now.

Cambridge Environmental. $500 + $25 shipping. Chap by the name of Trevor, username = "CE Products" is a member here and very helpful.

Link to their Shopify page: https://ce-products.myshopify.com/collections/featured-products

 

[KenOath]

You guys should try "instinctive" powder trickling!

That means have a separate small container of powder, I use another pan.

Throw charge from Harrel powder measure 3-4 tenths short, grab a pinch of powder between thumb and finger, sprinkle into pan on scale.

I use a SP tuned Lyman which shows one granule resolution of fine powder on the needle.

The instinctive part is just like throwing a baseball or anything like that, mind and body learn how much to grab and how much to sprinkle. It's much faster than dispensing from a trickler once you get used to doing it.

Other thing is you'll learn how the needle reacts to a granule or two, so there is no need to wait for the needle to stop every time.

I hate E scales, had three that either broke or were more hassle than they were worth.

I had two electronic electronic scales before I bought the 120i... should of bought the 120 first!!

 

[KenOath]

Funny you mention this instinctive trickling. I could top off my loads faster with my thumb and index finger than with the Hornady trickler. Thought I was the only one doing this. Two grains of Varget measures .02. Once you do it enough you know exactly how much.

Are you referring to the Hornady LNL trickle/scale combo?

 

[Ccrider]

 

[T-shooter]

Cambridge Environmental. $500 + $25 shipping. Chap by the name of Trevor, username = "CE Products" is a member here and very helpful.

Link to their Shopify page: https://ce-products.myshopify.com/collections/featured-products

Thanks!

 

[JimSC]

You guys should try "instinctive" powder trickling!

That means have a separate small container of powder, I use another pan.

Throw charge from Harrel powder measure 3-4 tenths short, grab a pinch of powder between thumb and finger, sprinkle into pan on scale.

I use that method when I get a heavy throw, that is take a pinch out of the pan and dribble it back in. I never thought about bypassing the trickler altogether but am going to give it a try later on this morning. thanks for the idea

 

[eas1949]

I have a nice scale available if you are still looking. An Ohaus Explorer Pro EP114C .0001 gram. Internal calibration so you dont need calibration weights. New they cost around $2900.00.

$450.00