powder scale

[whiter02]

I am having trouble with my powder scale reading right. I can add powder with trickler and it doesn't seem to move right. I will get it to read even then remove the tray and place it back and it will be way to much powder. It just seems to not read consistent either. It is a rcbs im not sure wich one it came with the press. I was thinking about getting a new one maybe electronic i was just wondering what everyone else was using. I want it to be accurate but also speed up the weighing process if possible.

 

[in2deep]

Check to be sure the little arms on the beam are resting centered properly in the little v-blocks. It sounds like yours may be binding since that scale is usually pretty accurate unless you got a newer one made in Mexico (it says on the bottom).

 

[gambleone]

If I were to buy another scale, I would get a Scott Parker tuned Redding Master 2 beam scale.
For the $ you can't go wrong. Scott has an excellent reputation from scales he tuned. Many on this site.

 

[BoydAllen]

Clean the agate V blocks and sharpen the knife edges....carefully.

 

[jlow]

For a reasonable cost digital i.e. under $200, this is the best bar none. Don't buy any digital scale associated with any reloading company, they are all junk.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/gempro-250-digital-scale-review/

 

[amlevin]

Also make sure that the damping plate is not bent and dragging on the sides of the slot it travels in. There is a magnet concealed in the slot area and it can often pick up a sliver of metal that can cause the sticking you described.

I'd remove the beam from the scale, clean the damping slot, clean the knife edges on the pivot, clean the agate bearings with some rubbing alcohol, and then replace. When the beam is balanced the damper plate should be centered in the slot. May have to adjust. Moving this plate by bending GENTLY may require one to add or remove some shot from the powder pan support to get the scale "zeroed" without using up all the adjustment on the screw.

 

[amlevin]

Don't buy any digital scale associated with any reloading company, they are all junk.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/gempro-250-digital-scale-review/

I find that statement interesting. I bought two, from two different companies, and found that mine don't have any of the problems of those reviewed.

It's unfortunate but we always hear from those who have problems with a piece of equipment yet rarely from those who's so called "piece of junk" has just been working fine from them.

Reviewers are often suspect. How does anyone really know that they aren't just touting a particular product because they "induced". Also, in an industry that prides themself on not relying on small sample sizes when developing statistics (how many here would judge a load's performance on the basis of ONE shot over a chronograph?), they're willing to just eat up a poor review on a single piece of equipment. Now if that "reviewer" had examined more units, selected at random from various supplies, and then declared it "junk" I might accept the results.

Just my opinion and probably mine all alone but so be it.

 

[BoydAllen]

I have played with a lot of electronic scales, and while they have their place, for most loading chores, especially where I want to throw a light charge and trickle up to final weight, I find a tuned balance scale to be preferable. That is why I suggested that you fix your scale. If you do not feel confident doing that yourself, Look on these forums for Scott Parker's contact information. He has an excellent reputation for tuning scales to much better than new performance.

 

[whiter02]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I will try cleaning and adjusting my scale and see if i can get it working properly. If not i will look into getting it fixed by the person mentioned.

 

[jlow]

Don't buy any digital scale associated with any reloading company, they are all junk.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/gempro-250-digital-scale-review/

I find that statement interesting. I bought two, from two different companies, and found that mine don't have any of the problems of those reviewed.

It's unfortunate but we always hear from those who have problems with a piece of equipment yet rarely from those who's so called "piece of junk" has just been working fine from them.

Reviewers are often suspect. How does anyone really know that they aren't just touting a particular product because they "induced". Also, in an industry that prides themself on not relying on small sample sizes when developing statistics (how many here would judge a load's performance on the basis of ONE shot over a chronograph?), they're willing to just eat up a poor review on a single piece of equipment. Now if that "reviewer" had examined more units, selected at random from various supplies, and then declared it "junk" I might accept the results.

Just my opinion and probably mine all alone but so be it.

My comments are based on long term observation of board members writing in and complaining about problems with the balance from reloading companies and my own personal two year experience with the GemPro, they are not meant to be personal in nature and should not be taken as such even though we all have some attachment to our equipment that we brought with our hard earn money.

I would agree that the comments are not scientific or statistically significant but since we normally only use one or two scales at a time, it is very different from being able to fire off 10-30 rounds and get ES/SDEV. With that in mind, you either don't give any advice or you do your best which is to tell honestly what you know.

The unfortunate truth is this board does not have a ability to do polls (AFAIK) which even though is not as scientific as a real study would give us more information.

 

[DougMH]

I now use the MyWeigh GemPro 250. It will measure to +/- .02 grains (about 1 kernel of Varget or other stick powder). It's very stable and only costs $160.00. The next scale that will measure to that sensitivety is the AccuLab/Denver Instruments/Sartorius 123 at $350.00.

I actually have a D.I. MXX-123 and it's not as stable as the GemPro. By saying that, in tests, they've both measured exactly the same (within the +/- .02 grains), but when doing 100 rounds, the D.I. will not come back to 0 (zero) maybe 5-10 times and will be off zero by up to .08 or .10 grains. I've never had the GemPro settle off more than .02 grains. When you're doing 100 rounds, you don't want to have 5-10% rethrows.