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What's your dream powder scale?

This is likely a subject that’s been dusted about more than a few times, but I’d like to approach it from a slightly different angle. Instead of asking for opinions on a specific powder scale I’d ask anybody that wants to jump into this to tell me what they consider a “really good scale” and why they like it. The point of this exercise is that I need to get a good powder scale, and I want to get the best one I can within reason. So I’d like to hear what you are using and why you like it. And if it’s not what you have right now, what’s your “dream scale”?

The beam balance scales are okay, but the selection is not all that great. Based on what I’ve heard and read the RCBS 10-10 is pretty much accepted as being the “best” of the beam scales available, so there’s not much option there.

When it comes to digital scales however, it gets much more confusing. You can get some of them for as little as $75 or you can pay up to or over $1000. Actually, you can pay way over that if you want to. So I’m wondering how much do you HAVE to pay to get one that is REALLY accurate and dependable – and what do you consider as such a scale?

As just one example I was looking at the Acculab VIC-123. It sold for around $300 and was rated as reasonably accurate. It weighed to .02 grain. The problem with that one is the company sold and it’s no longer available. Then there are scales like the A&D FX-120i for around $650 but it weighs (so they say) repeatedly and accurately to .02 of a grain.

Then of course there are the “combos” such as the RCBS Chargemaster, the Lyman 1200 DPS, and the Hornady Lock-N-Load Auto Charge. Are these units just “gimmicks”, or are the digital scales in them actually good enough to load for serious competition grade shooting. Given the cost of the powder dispenser in these units the scale portion of the rig can only be worth $150 to $175. That leaves you wondering what quality of digital scale you get for that price.

So, what’s your dream scale?
 
I have an Acculab VIC-123 but wish I could justify spending the coin for a balance that used a magnetic force restoration weight cell.

Though for my current scale I'm looking for a dual conversion ups that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. The need for clean power seems to be the root of most people's complaints about the VIC-123/MXX-123.

BTW, I read somewhere that the Sartorius (who owns the Acculab and Denver Instruments brands the scale was sold under) is reintroducing the VIC-123, only under a different name and in a different body, for about $100 more.
 
My dream scale is the one I have now. It is a Redding Model 1 balance beam. Not a hint of plastic on it. It has been all over the country as we moved from city to city, and is entering about its 45th year of service. My friend works for a precision scale company and lent me some government certified test weights last fall. I checked the thing for the first time since it was new. Near full scale it was just slighty over 0.05 grains off. I corrected it to reduce the error to zero as close as I can read the scale which is a little less than this.

The feature I like best is the oil damping. Just like changing the oil in your car, you can change the oil in the damping well and tune the response of the scale. With the right oil there is no worry about stiction error that can sometimes affect magnetically damped balance beams. And, there is the issue of intrinsic accuracy. If the scale is level and not physically damaged, it virtually has to be right. As my test showed they remain accurate over the long term without the need for test weights to keep checking and calibrating for accuracy.

I'm sure this is the only and last powder scale I will ever own.
 
Tanita model 1210n. Bought mine 6 years ago and it has weighed many thousands of charges. Discriminates to .05 grain....2 kernels of 4350 powder. Uses AAA cells or AC. Use with AAAs to avoid AC power issues.
4" x 6", great for slipping into jacket to take to range for load development.

See it at:

http://www.miniscale.us/shop/item/123-productId.184549550_123-catId.176160816_123-xsltparam-page.specifications.html

www.minisscale.us....if you can't copy and paste.



Frank B.
 
I've been using my RCBS Chargemaster 1500 for a while now, and have been contemplating the VIC123, but I like the scale that Longranger linked to. Do you have any cons about the Tanita at all?

Frank
 
I use a Gen 1 Prometheus
http://www.6mmbr.com/prometheus.html
Mine is really a Gen 1.5 because mine has some upgrades not in that article, instead of using the magnifying glass to see the needles I use my laptop, a USB Camera and a free program called FSCamView, http://www.softpedia.com/get/Windows-Widgets/Webcams/FSCamView.shtml to view the needles, with my setup once I'm loading I can charge a case every 20-25 seconds with 1 kernal accuracy over and over again.
dscf0068k.jpg


A Gen 2 Prometheus is still a balance beam scale, but on steroids, it will charge a case to 1/3 kernal accuracy(H4350) every 15 seconds, where on the Gen 1 I have to do everything, the Gen 2 is full auto.
 
Brian 427 Cobra, now that is one heck of a setup! Looks like this is about the ultimate. Very interesting.

Frank
 
I have the A&D FX-120i and have been using it for about a year now! After using this scale i will not go back to any other scale, well worth every penny spent! If the charge is slighly over weight i can pick out one kernel of H4831sc and replace it with one that is slightly smaller in size and the scale will detect the weight difference! It has a comparator feature that makes sorting bullets and brass by weight a breeze! This scale holds zero like no other i have seen, i can sort bullets for over an hour with no zero shift!
 
Only downside is location of AAA cells.....in the hinge area where the top cover and base meet. Getting the cell retainer in correct position is absolutely necessary. This makes changing cells...about once per year in my experience... somewhat fussy every time since you don't remr how you did it last time. Sigh!



Frank B.
 
I like gravity! RCBS (Ohaus) 510 or 1010.

I have to admit though that my Chargemaster 1500 gets used the most these days. The 1010 sits behind it and is used to verify the occasional load.
 
I have the A&D FX-120i and have been using it for about a year now! After using this scale i will not go back to any other scale, well worth every penny spent! If the charge is slighly over weight i can pick out one kernel of H4831sc and replace it with one that is slightly smaller in size and the scale will detect the weight difference! It has a comparator feature that makes sorting bullets and brass by weight a breeze! This scale holds zero like no other i have seen, i can sort bullets for over an hour with no zero shift!
I've had mine for a little over a month and can attest to it being sensitive to a kernel of powder. I'm mainly reloading with RL-16. And it will discern the difference in weight between a longer/shorter kernel. +1 for AD FX-120i, lg
 
I've got the A&D EJ-54D2 scale, as it's accurate to .005 grains. I like how accurate it is, and use a Dandy Trickler to get to the exact weight. I didn't have the money to buy a FX-120i and don't plan to use an Auto-Trickler so seemed like the best option a the time.
 
Other than beam scales - and the 10-10 is surely the best, there is little choice but to go for the FX120 - because -
Most other digital scales, including the powder dispensers use a strain gauge - often simply a lump or strip of piezo crystal that produces a voltage when a force is applied. The quality of the crystal and how this it measured is usually determined by the cost - the silicon chip and other components around it all have tolerances which, according to the supplier/manufacture, compound errors. The magnetic force restoration system does not use a crystal, but measures the current needed to retain a conductive mass (attached to the scale pan) between two coils, wound in opposite directions, to oppose the force applied. The dual reading allows for error checking and the higher cost reflects the quality of components used. I believe that A&D do have a lower cost scale - maybe half of the cost - but I 'm not sure of the mechanism involved. But, until an unknown relative includes me in a will, and due to the current and future cost of components - the 10-10 will have to suffice.
It should also be said that a scale does not have to be accurate. Simply consistent. If my rifle likes an indicated 46.5g on my scale It does not matter what the actual weight is, so long as the same amount is dispensed each time.

UPDATE 25/7/2023 -- I caved and bought an Auto Trickler, to take some possible variables out of the loading process I also splashed out on an AMP annealer. Those x's are hard to find.
 
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The property of Sameness, being able to produce consistent day after day after Oops, need a new scale is valuable. The precision needed to produce good down range results is often questioned. Like "who needs better than 0.1 grains". With so many things having down range impact for reloaders, making one of variables totally insignificant has to matter.
 
RCBS (Ohaus) 304 {35+years) Triple beam
RCBS Chargemaster
 
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Today's dream Scale I run a FX120i with Complete V-3 and a lot of 419 add on goodies .
Backed up by a Old RCBS 5-10 Tuned Rubbed Babied by me. Think this will last till the Estate Sale !

In the past RCBS 304 Dual Beam , many 10-10's and a Scott Parker and a few other Electronic Types.

That 304 was the scale of Dreams . I just worn out , no one would work on them .
 
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