Scales

[Kevin1990]

The FX 120 I & v 4 Trickler are pricy,but well worth it,Super accurate down to 1 kernal,way faster than weighing by hand & trickling. Resulting in Lower SD's,Lower ES.1 word Awesome + a 5 Year warranty

Good info. Didn't know about the 5 year warranty. Do you have to buy it from a certain place or is it a manufacturers warranty?

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Good info. Didn't know about the 5 year warranty. Do you have to buy it from a certain place or is it a manufacturers warranty?

I bet it’s a manufacturer warranty. That ce product link I had above states it.

 

[Kevin1990]

I bet it’s a manufacturer warranty. That ce product link I had above states it.

Okay, cool. Hopefully they come back in stock soon. That's the best deal on that scale that I'm seeing.

 

[CJ6]

A shooting partner has an RCBS Matchmaster. He really likes it and his targets show it.

 

[varget204]

Good info. Didn't know about the 5 year warranty. Do you have to buy it from a certain place or is it a manufacturers warranty?

Got mine from CE Products,in canada,5 years on scale, not on V-4 trickler

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

My chargemaster drifted.

I got the v4 setup and it's so much faster and much not accurate. Takes 10 seconds per load instead of 30 for the chargemaster.

Beam scales can be very accurate but you need to use them correctly.

 

[powderbrake]

I went from a Culver type powder measure to a Chargemaster to the Fx120i with a V3 Autothrower/Autotrickler. I believe my velocities are more consistent.

Sometimes hard to compare, due to different temps, humidity and barometric pressure at each session. But I have a lot more faith in my loads now, and attribute the target quality to my abilities and/or barrel condition and cleanliness.

 

[6.5 forever]

My chargemaster drifted.

I got the v4 setup and it's so much faster and much not accurate. Takes 10 seconds per load instead of 30 for the chargemaster.

Beam scales can be very accurate but you need to use them correctly.

Beam scales still work for my low SD loads. No power required either. But I'm a old man...

 

[saunaking]

Whoever asked the question about the volumn of reloading you do is thinking like I would think. If You are loading for your deer hunting rifle or annual p-dog shoot, a beam scale if fine with a trickler. I shoot about 5k rounds per year between comps and varmint shooting. FX120i is your friend with an auto-trickler or similar. I can throw semi-accurate loads with my culver powder measure, but for comps my ocd will not let me go over .02 of a grain. To answer your other question, I have had chargemasters, and still have a 10-10 sitting on the shelf. The chargemasters are long gone and the beam scale collects dust waiting for the grid to go down.

 

[Mark W]

Beam scales still work for my low SD loads. No power required either. But I'm a old man...

Honestly, I gained nothing going from my Parker tuned beam scale to a fx 120i. I even broke down some old rounds that were loaded for rifles that I didn’t have anymore and checked them weights on the fx 120i. To say that I was surprised at the accuracy and consistency of my tuned beam scale would be an understatement.

 

[T 700]

I had the charge master and upgraded to the fx120i, it's a world of difference. Buy the fx120i you won't be sorry!

 

[Pizzadude]

That's an awesome idea to elevate the beam scale! I had a web camera hooked up to my lap top and pointed at the beam so the picture was huge. That helped, but I like your idea.

I just took a small round mirror on a folding base and set it in front of my scale and angled the mirror up so I could see it.

 

[TTE]

I have been using beam scales for over 50 years and prefer them. When reloading for accuracy It's not my beam scale I blame if my accuracy isn't what I am expecting. After 50 + years I have proven that.

^^^^
I am in the same camp.

Personally, I don't trust electronic scales. Many here will say I am in the dark ages with my thoughts on this.

But, gravity is pretty much the same all the time. I am not winning any BR matches anytime soon, so will live (and be contented) with my balance scales.

 

[TTE]

Probably around 2,000 on a good year. I see the math, but I'm not sure I would look at it that way. I also wouldn't get an auto trickler. If the current setup isn't appealing to me and there's something better, I'd rather have that. But again I see your point. Looking at it that way makes me sad. haha.

MANY world record groups were shot before electronic scales were even thought about.

Just sayin'

 

[Doom]

^^^^
I am in the same camp.

Personally, I don't trust electronic scales. Many here will say I am in the dark ages with my thoughts on this.

But, gravity is pretty much the same all the time. I am not winning any BR matches anytime soon, so will live (and be contented) with my balance scales.

Electronic scales of current vintage are a mature product and have been around for more than 50 years in one form or another. You can get a good usable scale for reloading for $25. The operation of the scale is usually the biggest problem not the scale itself. This is normally caused by not understanding the factors that affect the scale due to its inherent design.

Beam scales as a measurement device is of limited accuracy but it has one great feature. While its accuracy is not as good as electronic scales it can be very repeatable when properly constructed, maintained, and operated.

Personally, I have only used electronic scales since college (55 years ago) but when I began reloading I weighed a 40 gn bullet on a friend's beam scale and that bullet is still used to check my electronic scales on a routine basis.

 

[whatsupdoc]

LOL the comments are funny, every product you use is measured my a electronic scale. In fact everything around you is controlled, dispensed and monitored by an electronic device.

Fuel, electricity, water and every product manufactured=electronic measurement.
Why because its faster and more accurate, period.

 

[kd4avp]

Just my 2 cents worth...I have a Chargemaster, small cheap digital scale and an old Ohaus triple beam scale. Which do I prefer to set my charges? The Ohaus. Dead nuts on every time. Picked it up at a fire sale price.
I do powder drops from my Harrell's and use the Ohaus to verify. Works for me. But I am probably not at picky as some competitive shooters will be. This is just a fun relaxing hobby for myself.

 

[TTE]

The operation of the scale is usually the biggest problem not the scale itself. This is normally caused by not understanding the factors that affect the scale due to its inherent design.

Perhaps your comment is accurate.
There are far more threads about troubleshooting/issues with electronic scales on this forum than with troubleshooting/issues with balance scales.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Love my Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper.

 

[quest450]

MANY world record groups were shot before electronic scales were even thought about.

Just sayin'

and quiet few of those records were broken since electronic scales were introduced to precision handloading