Reasonable digital scale..

[long40shot]

Any recommendations for a reasonably priced digital scale? Gempro 250? Something else?

Matt

 

[CharlieNC]

I think the Bald Eagle is on sale for $69 and it's a decent unit. But like others in this cost range not responsive to trickling. Measures .02gr resolution. For the cost it delivers what I wanted out of it.

 

[long40shot]

I think the Bald Eagle is on sale for $69 and it's a decent unit. But like others in this cost range not responsive to trickling. Measures .02gr resolution. For the cost it delivers what I wanted out of it.

What would i need to get into for a unit that responds to trickling?

 

[swd]

What would i need to get into for a unit that responds to trickling?

A&D FX120i

 

[ranger3]

A good Beam Balance, My old OHAUS 1010 not tricked out will measure very small amounts of powder trickled in. Then you can go A&DF120i, Gempro 25. Question is how much do you want to spend?

 

[jlow]

For a reasonably price digital scale, you cannot go wrong with a GemPro250. Many people on this site has it. It will respond to trickling if you know how to use it. The trick is to trickle until you are close, say 0.2-0.6 grains to the target, wait for it to settle, note the amount it is off, drop in the amount needed, place the tip of a pair of tweezers gently on the scale, immediate take it off and let it settle on the actual weight. I used this thing for 5 years with no problem and only switch to the A&D FX-120i because I use the autotrickler.

You are going to hear people say it does not work, it is either because they don't know how to use it properly or they got a bad scale, the latter always possible but that does not mean it is a bad scale - not everyone can afforded a $600 scale....

 

[TackDriv3r]

What would i need to get into for a unit that responds to trickling?

I just got the Auto Trickler, calibrated the FX 120i to work with it, damn it is only off by .02 grain ( which won't matter anyways due to many other variables that affect accuracy ) 20% of the time, mostly spot on and fast. I need to tweak my Chargemaster to dump powder faster to keep up with the Auto Trickler.

 

[long40shot]

I will just dust off my old 10-10 scale. Thank you guys.

 

[Sheldon N]

What would i need to get into for a unit that responds to trickling?

An alternative to trickling is to count kernels to hit your target weight rather than pouring them in one at a time from a trickler. Pile of kernels on a counter, use a straight edge to cut out the desired number and sweep them in the pan. You can reweigh if you aren't sure you put in the right amount, or skip the reweigh if you're confident in the result. Goes much faster than a trickler in my experience. I've got a Omega trickler I don't use anymore since I've started this approach with my Gempro 250. Takes me about 18 minutes to weigh out powder charges for a block of 50 cases to +/- 0.02gr. Keep an eye on the negative number on the scale when you lift the pan and you'll catch drift before it is a problem.

It's also faster and more accurate than trickling up with my tuned beam scale. I've tried my best to weigh out a series of precision charges on the beam then double checked them on my digital and with check weights. Not only is the beam slower, I could not hold as tight of a tolerance with the beam as I could with the digital. Not blaming the beam scale, it's just much harder for me to be precise with.

 

[long40shot]

An alternative to trickling is to count kernels to hit your target weight rather than pouring them in one at a time from a trickler. Pile of kernels on a counter, use a straight edge to cut out the desired number and sweep them in the pan. You can reweigh if you aren't sure you put in the right amount, or skip the reweigh if you're confident in the result. Goes much faster than a trickler in my experience. I've got a Omega trickler I don't use anymore since I've started this approach with my Gempro 250. Takes me about 18 minutes to weigh out powder charges for a block of 50 cases to +/- 0.02gr. Keep an eye on the negative number on the scale when you lift the pan and you'll catch drift before it is a problem.

Dude.....

 

[dmoran]

Matt -
Veritas S123 are a 100th scale and typically cost around $300 or less.
If only wanting a 10th scale, the RCBS digital are good scale for the money - IMO.
Donovan

 

[normmatzen]

A few years ago when I started long range BR I had 3 different old beam scales. None were stable and consistent enough for me.

Bought a GemPro 250 and it was very accurate per my weight set. Couldn't trickle tho.

As I didn't want to spend a fortune on a new magnetic force restoration balance I started checking out ebay.

Bunch of folks sell old used lab balances but you have to be smart.
If the ad says "could not test due to no power unit," or turns on but displays a letter-number combination only," don't even go there!
If it says it was checked out and worked as it should, you have a reason to return it is it has a problem. Many folks selling old lab balances are surplus dealers and don't know a lab balance from a hole in the ground.

Most of these old balances are pretty rugged in their own way. I have purchased 4 Ohaus TS 120-200 balances. One was sent to a friend in Australia and one was broken for parts. The two I have that work are very fine balances. When the power unit is un-plugged, the mechanical part of the balance is locked up tight as a drum for shipping.

If you are patient, you may find a very good balance for $100 +/- a bit.
All the "working" balances I have bought off ebay were very good balances once I cleaned them and set scale and linearity on them. Just make sure the guy shipping the balance packs it carefully and removes the pan before shipping and packs it carefully along with the balance.

 

[Pwhite11798]

Fwiw i have had several different electronic scales and tried with the cheap ones. They will infuriate you. I have a higher quality strain gauge scale that is accurate but still takes some patients and a stable enviroment. If finally bought a and fx700 ct and a auto trickler. It is worth the money. If you can wait and buy a setup like that. I would highley recomend it. But if price is a problem i would give you a good deal on my old scale. But from what i read you might ne netter off with some neam scales.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Try Old Will Knott Scales..

I had GEM Pro 250 for years. Great for the Money. One day the old boy died.
I ordered a new one. Never got one that worked well.
I sent it back and up-graded to the A&D EJ-123 ( this was recommended by OLd WIll ).
This a better scale for under $400 than I would think. I also have a Dandy Trickler
Like all scales needs a good clean work area and warm up time.

 

[eric n]

Dude.....

I wouldn't be too quick to knock it.
My procedure is a little different, I just push the required amount of kernels needed into my fingertip and roll them into the pan. I haven't touched my trickler in years. Really speeds things up. especially with stick powder.

OP... I have a chargemaster, stock 505, gempro 250, parker tuned m5, and fx120. Their accuracy and repeatability run in that order. The chargemaster the least, the parker scale and fx 120 running the best.
If I had known I would end up with all those scales, I would have bought the fx120 and not only been done but saved money as well.
If I had to choose one on a budget, it would be the Scott Parker tuned beam hands down because the gempro just drifts too much and slows down everything with constant re-tares and recalibrating.

 

[Twoboxer]

. . .
OP... I have a chargemaster, stock 505, gempro 250, parker tuned m5, and fx120. Their accuracy and repeatability run in that order. The chargemaster the least, the parker scale and fx 120 running the best.
If I had known I would end up with all those scales, I would have bought the fx120 and not only been done but saved money as well.. . .

Seconded.

I have 7 scales . . . Lee Safety, Hornady GS-1500, Pact Dispenser/Scale, GemPro 250, RCBS Chargemaster, RCBS 5-0-5, A&D FX120i + Autotrickler.

Why do I have that many scales? Each time I became dissatisfied, I looked on the internet. There's always someone saying their scale is accurate and repeatable. I didn't know most of them have not done what really needs to be done to make that statement.

The best they can say is their XYZ scale is accurate enough for them. I wish someone had said - or that I had listened to someone who actually said:

If you want real repeatable precision, the least expensive way to get there is the A&D FX120i. The Autotrickler add-on makes it a precision dispenser/scale that is truly good enough.

 

[Matt P]

Seconded.

I have 7 scales . . . Lee Safety, Hornady GS-1500, Pact Dispenser/Scale, GemPro 250, RCBS Chargemaster, RCBS 5-0-5, A&D FX120i + Autotrickler.

Why do I have that many scales? Each time I became dissatisfied, I looked on the internet. There's always someone saying their scale is accurate and repeatable. I didn't know most of them have not done what really needs to be done to make that statement.

The best they can say is their XYZ scale is accurate enough for them. I wish someone had said - or that I had listened to someone who actually said:

If you want real repeatable precision, the least expensive way to get there is the A&D FX120i. The Autotrickler add-on makes it a precision dispenser/scale that is truly good enough.

Agree 100% either spend up on the FX120 or similar or stick to beam scales.
Matt P

 

[ppaul]

I too am on that road. Kinda pissed at myself for trying to get by cheap! I agree with the last few posts. Save your change, sell something you don't use, and be patient. Buy once cry once. My .002.

 

[long40shot]

I ordered a Gempro 250. We'll see how it goes.