NOOB with a digi scale.. opinions

[Shawn R.]

Hey all,
A noob here for a second round with probably a dumb question.
Still havent loaded round 1 after starting to collecting almost all the reloading equipment, so please bear with me. I picked up a Lyman pocket scale 1500 from Sportmans, on a budget and its what I could afford. Weighing the included 100g check weight, it reads consistantly at 100.3-4. Went back and grabbed the only other one on the shelf to check if it was any better... it wasnt... it kept drifting so i returned it. But nor after checking both 100g check weights... both came to exact same readings. Now Im no mathematician, but 0.3-4 grams is roughly 4.62 - 6.17 grains.... but I know there is a lot more math involved that I just dont know how to achieve to see just how far off it really is, if say loading 308 at a middle of the road 47.0 grains (arbitrary number thrown out for example). If it helps, what I have on hand is CFE223, Sierra 165 gr Gameking HPBT, and WLR primers... actual load data will be obtained of course, and work up from minimum for pressure signs.
Would you trust this scale? How would you calculate the more accurate reading?
Please keep in mind im on a very tight budget and this is the ONLY scale I have and also the only one available to me locally to be found.
Thank you!

 

[gman47564]

i personally wouldnt put much faith in them cheap digital scales... everytime you look at it it will read a different number... if on a tight budget i would probably go with one of the lee beam scales...cheap as can be and pretty reliable....

 

[Bc'z]

Look in the classifieds on this forum, I believe I saw a RCBS 505 listed last week
$45
I bumped the add for you

 

[BeefyT11]

Look in the classifieds on this forum, I believe I saw a RCBS 505 listed last week
$45
I bumped the add for you

Yep

 

[Ranger188]

Look for a GEM Pro 250
You can find them here once in awhile.
They are good and under $100

Leave the scale plugged in for a couple hours before you load and keep away
from breezes and fluorescent lights.

 

[Shawn R.]

i personally wouldnt put much faith in them cheap digital scales... everytime you look at it it will read a different number... if on a tight budget i would probably go with one of the lee beam scales...cheap as can be and pretty reliable....

Agree... except this one seems to read the same numbers, every time I toy with it over the last week. So its consistent, just not spot on.

 

[Shawn R.]

Look in the classifieds on this forum, I believe I saw a RCBS 505 listed last week
$45
I bumped the add for you

Appreciate that... I never acually thought to look in the classifieds on here, nor ever looked through to begin with. Thank you for that

 

[Bc'z]

No worries.
I actually looked at it a few times and almost bought it myself to add to my collection.

Appreciate that... I never acually thought to look in the classifieds on here, nor ever looked through to begin with. Thank you for that

 

[Martin52]

Hey all,
.......Would you trust this scale? How would you calculate the more accurate reading?
Please keep in mind im on a very tight budget and this is the ONLY scale I have and also the only one available to me locally to be found.
Thank you!

Understanding you wish to work with this scale, turn it on and let it warm up for at least half an hour and place it on a firm base where it's not going to move around easily.

If you have not already done so, recalibrate the scale per the instructions using the test weight. No pan on the scale. The scale should read 1543.2 grains.

When recalibration is complete, put the pan on the scale and re-zero.

Put the test weight in the pan and check it few times, let us know what it reads.

Later on, when using the scale, rather than trickle up to your desired load, you may need to do a work around....after adding a few kernels, tap the scale platform very lightly, it should give you a more accurate weight. I used to do this years ago with a Gempro 250 before upgrading.

Lastly, if the variance is too great, just send it back. If other scales are not available locally, mail order ?

 

[338 dude]

Hey all,
A noob here for a second round with probably a dumb question.
Still havent loaded round 1 after starting to collecting almost all the reloading equipment, so please bear with me. I picked up a Lyman pocket scale 1500 from Sportmans, on a budget and its what I could afford. Weighing the included 100g check weight, it reads consistantly at 100.3-4. Went back and grabbed the only other one on the shelf to check if it was any better... it wasnt... it kept drifting so i returned it. But nor after checking both 100g check weights... both came to exact same readings. Now Im no mathematician, but 0.3-4 grams is roughly 4.62 - 6.17 grains.... but I know there is a lot more math involved that I just dont know how to achieve to see just how far off it really is, if say loading 308 at a middle of the road 47.0 grains (arbitrary number thrown out for example). If it helps, what I have on hand is CFE223, Sierra 165 gr Gameking HPBT, and WLR primers... actual load data will be obtained of course, and work up from minimum for pressure signs.
Would you trust this scale? How would you calculate the more accurate reading?
Please keep in mind im on a very tight budget and this is the ONLY scale I have and also the only one available to me locally to be found.
Thank you!

I have the Lyman Accu touch 2000 that works very well but if you already have that scale look on eBay or Amazon and find a small set of check weights to verify its accuracy

 

[Shawn R.]

Appreciate the responses everyone! Ive been doing some reading through about 100 reviews and found someone that has had the same issue... the recommendation/ fix they posted was to wipe it down with Windex to remove any static, then run through the recalibration... gonna hive that a try when I get off work and have the free moment. He said it corrected his, so im hopeful.

 

[Shawn R.]

What would everyone say/ recommend as a variance limit? What would you call acceptable vs too much?

 

[Bc'z]

+/- .1gr = .2 variation in charge
I personally weigh to the kernel on a beam scale.
If you've never seen a load work up where a grain of powder is dissected in .1 increments you might be surprised as to how much .2gr effects a load.

 

[Twoboxer]

Your scale not weighing a "100g" check weight as 100g isn't the big problem with your scale. While you should calibrate your scale as mentioned above . . . it doesn't really matter if your scale is 0.3% off. Barring unlikely severe linearity issues, that's close enough . . . some of that may even be due to the checkweight itself . . . as long as it always reads that checkweight as 100.3g.

When you are working up your load, it doesn't matter if your 5.1gr load is really 5.2gr on a lab grade scale. What matters is that your scale always delivers your tested target load.

The bigger issue with your scale may well be its fluttering and loss of zero. Those can lead to larger errors during a reloading session.

When you tare your pan, make sure you know what the scale reads when the scale is removed . . . a negative number. When you weigh out a load and remove the full pan, make sure your scale reads that same negative number. If it doesn't, you don't know when your scale lost track of things. And if the difference is significant to you, you should re-zero, re-tare, and then re-throw the charge.

ETA: Fluttering can be caused by drafts, static electricity, or RF noise. The latter can come from your cell phone, WiFi, microwaves, motors, fluorescent lights, and more. Sometimes just getting your cell phone out of the room is enough to calm down a fluttering scale.

 

[Cap'n]

If the checkweight weighs 100.3 AFTER you calibrate the scale, either you did not calibrate it properly or the scale is faulty. After calibration the checkweight must read 100.00.

 

[Shawn R.]

Your scale not weighing a "100g" check weight as 100g isn't the big problem with your scale. While you should calibrate your scale as mentioned above . . . it doesn't really matter if your scale is 0.3% off. Barring unlikely severe linearity issues, that's close enough . . . some of that may even be due to the checkweight itself . . . as long as it always reads that checkweight as 100.3g.

When you are working up your load, it doesn't matter if your 5.1gr load is really 5.2gr on a lab grade scale. What matters is that your scale always delivers your tested target load.

The bigger issue with your scale may well be its fluttering and loss of zero. Those can lead to larger errors during a reloading session.

When you tare your pan, make sure you know what the scale reads when the scale is removed . . . a negative number. When you weigh out a load and remove the full pan, make sure your scale reads that same negative number. If it doesn't, you don't know when your scale lost track of things. And if the difference is significant to you, you should re-zero, re-tare, and then re-throw the charge.

ETA: Fluttering can be caused by drafts, static electricity, or RF noise. The latter can come from your cell phone, WiFi, microwaves, motors, fluorescent lights, and more. Sometimes just getting your cell phone out of the room is enough to calm down a fluttering scale.

Thank you twoboxer

 

[BoydAllen]

Most of the affordable electronic scales that I have tried have not been as good as any of my balance scales. Notice I did not say all. Here is a link to one good source for affordable balance scales.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=Reloading+scale+&_sacat=0&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=3000

I would make sure that whichever one you choose way made by OHAUS. That would include the older RCBS scales. I have easily been able to do some tuning on my balance scales, being very careful. If you get one, I can help you do the same, as I have successfully for several others.

 

[foxguy]

When it comes to Beam Scales the Lyman M5 is suppose to be very good as well.

2 Listings on E-Bay....

LYMAN-OHAS-M5-PRECISION-SCALE/333717619698

Lyman-reloading-scale/164380930405

Both of these look to be in good to Very good condition.

I have NO affiliation with either of these ad's.
Just trying to pass on information as a possible good scale purchase.

Digital or Beam Scale. Always better to purchase Good Quality!

 

[Bc'z]

@BoydAllen had a good post a while back about keeping the digital active to help combat drift.
After calibration is complete and charge is tricked up, zero scale with the pan of powder.
After charge is dumped replace pan to keep scale active, never letting it rest on zero while idle it will always be measuring the pans weight negatively and will trickle to zero.
Dumping charge will give you a negative weight of powder and pan.
This seemed to help me with my Dillon digital.
Now I only use the digital to rough in my thrower, and trickle up on my D5.

 

[Fotheringill]

+/- .1gr = .2 variation in charge
I personally weigh to the kernel on a beam scale.
If you've never seen a load work up where a grain of powder is dissected in .1 increments you might be surprised as to how much .2gr effects a load.

I went the digital route but not spending more than the cost of a Chargemaster and then a Lyman Gen Pro ??? I also have a few of the less expensive digital scales. All were either as good or not as good as the Redding #2 beam scale I have been using for the past few years. No drift on the beam scale. Be careful of the set of check weights. Buy cheap on those and it will drive you crazy. AND, there is a relatively big difference in POA if you are +/- 1-2 tenths off between charges. Add that to the other 20 or more things to watch out for and it gets very frustrating.

BTW- the cheap Lee drop and scale, in my experience handle the drop on larger grain powders like Varget better than the drops that cost eight times as much. It is just a pain the butt to read.