Regarding digital scales for weighing in grains; Has anyone found some that work more efficiently or reliably than others?
I have both the Hornady Lock-N-Load Bench Scale and the Hornady Electronic Scale GS-1500. Once I turn them on and let them warm up and sit for a bit (~20 minutes), and then calibrate them, they seem to be reasonably accurate for a time, but no doubt at some point need to be recalibrated for continued use (in my experience they are never off by more than 0.1 grains), according to my Redding Model #2 Beam Scale.
I've found the Dillon digital scale to be very good. I've been using mine since about 2002 with no issues whatsoever, and would buy another immediately if this one died. They are expensive, but worth it.
I've been using a RCBS 750 and had no problems, but I bought a Dillon digital.... Reviews seems to be superior on the Dillon. We'll see....
There have been reports of drift and or interference from other electrically powdered devices causing fluctuations.
They are senisitive to small changes in voltages...the AC powdered units were said to be steadier than the battery types.
The small Frankford Arsenal digital scale I have is very accurate to the even numbered tenths of a grain (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8), but it will drift after a short period in time. It is faster at finding the unknown weights quickly.
I still rely on my RCBS 5-10 beam scale for best accuracy...
I received an RCBS chargemaster 1500 for Christmas last year. Around May when I started loading smaller caliber handgun loads in the 5 to 6 grain areas, the unit (instead of slowing down a little , then a little more and then a little more as it approaches the target weight programmed in) would go full speed right past the target weight and then stop. RCBS took it back and replaced it. Everything worked great again until last week when trying to load light handgun loads, it just speed right past. I'm not coming down on RCBS, they are great and will probably fix this, but are others having problems with their powder scale dispensing units? Considering getting a unit just for my light handgun loads....
I have a Hornady LnL Powder Dispenser and Hornady has a procedure online to change the motor speed and at which point it slows down before hitting the target.
Quote from: The_Shadow on November 24 2012 08:20:11 AM MST
The small Frankford Arsenal digital scale I have is very accurate to the even numbered tenths of a grain (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8), but it will drift after a short period in time. It is faster at finding the unknown weights quickly.
Same here. It is ideal for sorting cast bullets quickly, looking for ones that have internal voids.
Quote from: The_Shadow on November 24 2012 08:20:11 AM MST
I still rely on my RCBS 5-10 beam scale for best accuracy...
And here.
Hard to beat a balance scale for accurately measuring to a know quantity of powder. Since the beam has infinite precision, it will reflect any change in weight, no matter how small... if you have good enough eyes to see it.
Quote from: sqlbullet on November 27 2012 09:02:28 AM MSTHard to beat a balance scale for accurately measuring to a know quantity of powder. Since the beam has infinite precision, it will reflect any change in weight, no matter how small... if you have good enough eyes to see it.
I've come to learn the same. With my Redding #2 beam scale I can easily discern weights to the nearest .025 grains. Love it!