Varying Load Data: Which is Reliable?

[BCRider]

It doesn't come with a set weight or the tray. But I've got those from other scales. Although truth be told I've not put a set weight on it to check the scale. I suppose I should. Since you don't have either I'd call the Franklin a good choice.

I ran into two scales that did have a bad wander as they warmed up to where I hated to trust them much at all. The one I actually tossed out for additional problems and one I keep around for weighing less critical stuff that isn't related to reloading. This last one was also aimed at reloading with the name "SmartReloader". So I tend to be a little gun shy on digital scales now as a result.

Please report on how you find the Franklin scale for all these factors. Others WILL benefit from your experience. Me included.

 

[ironsighter]

It doesn't come with a set weight or the tray. But I've got those from other scales. Although truth be told I've not put a set weight on it to check the scale. I suppose I should. Since you don't have either I'd call the Franklin a good choice.

I ran into two scales that did have a bad wander as they warmed up to where I hated to trust them much at all. The one I actually tossed out for additional problems and one I keep around for weighing less critical stuff that isn't related to reloading. This last one was also aimed at reloading with the name "SmartReloader". So I tend to be a little gun shy on digital scales now as a result.

Please report on how you find the Franklin scale for all these factors. Others WILL benefit from your experience. Me included.

Thanks for your reply.

I've been bouncing around from various choices on ebay and Amazon. I don't want to wait "20 to 30 business days" to get one from China and I think my safety (and that of my wife, kids, friends, etc.) justifies me spending a bit more to get something that I feel pretty confident with. I read Chuck Hawks review of the Frankford and within 2 minutes (just 5 minutes ago) I bought the Frankford on Amazon. It'll be at my door by Tuesday.

I will report back here, for sure. In the meantime, see what "Dr. Jim and Mary Clary" have to say about it. http://www.chuckhawks.com/frankford_DS750_scale.htm

 

[ironsighter]

My scale arrived on Monday, a day early. A very nice little unit. It includes a calibration weight, soft case, powder tray and instruction booklet.

The scale is dead-simple to calibrate and use.

So, last evening I broke my reloading cherry! I only worked up 16 rounds (4 x 4 different loads) but I really enjoyed the process. I like anything that requires my full attention to detail and working with my hands, so this is going to be a good hobby for me.

I used the Sierra load data to create the 4 loads listed for 85gr. HPBT + IMR4320. The Frankford scale worked very well throughout the process. Sometimes trickling wasn't "bang on" but it was still fairly easy to get the weight of powder that I needed. I always triple-checked by removing the pan and replacing it on the scale.

I didn't mind working with the Lee Loader at all. It functions perfectly except for one little issue (more on that later). I am not a high volume shooter, so I don't think I'll ever really *need* any more reloading gear than this (except a Lee Loader for my .270, of course). Adjusting the COAL is intuitive, but it is difficult to achieve extreme precision. I was aiming for a COAL of 2.650 (based on Sierra data), but ended up with 2.625 or so. I notice that almost all the 80-85-90gr loads for .243 on Hodgdon's site specify COAL of 2.625. Also, compared to some 85gr factory loads I have, my COAL is about an "RCH" shorter. I'm not worried about it. Should I be?

Now, my one issue with the Lee Loader; the powder likes to stick to the walls of the resizing die. In instructional videos, people just dump the powder down the neck of the die. I assumed the die would just act as a funnel and all the powder would end up in the case. This did not work for me. After seating the bullet, I lifted the die off the finished round and about 2 grains of powder fell out onto my bench. I pulled the bullet and started over. This time I grabbed a plastic funnel from the kitchen and used it to get the powder into the cases. That'll be the method I use from now on. Worked like a charm.

I can't wait to get out and see which load(s) (if any) shoot(s) well out the little .243.

By the way, I am using once-fired (by me) Federal blue box brass. People around here seem to *loath* this brass, but I had no issues (so far). Primers are in there *tight*. I don't plan to run hot loads - if anything they will be on the light side as long as those shoot straight - so I am hoping I will get good life out of this "crap brass".

 

[emerson]

My scale arrived on Monday, a day early. A very nice little unit. It includes a calibration weight, soft case, powder tray and instruction booklet.

The scale is dead-simple to calibrate and use.

So, last evening I broke my reloading cherry! I only worked up 16 rounds (4 x 4 different loads) but I really enjoyed the process. I like anything that requires my full attention to detail and working with my hands, so this is going to be a good hobby for me.

I used the Sierra load data to create the 4 loads listed for 85gr. HPBT + IMR4320. The Frankford scale worked very well throughout the process. Sometimes trickling wasn't "bang on" but it was still fairly easy to get the weight of powder that I needed. I always triple-checked by removing the pan and replacing it on the scale.

I didn't mind working with the Lee Loader at all. It functions perfectly except for one little issue (more on that later). I am not a high volume shooter, so I don't think I'll ever really *need* any more reloading gear than this (except a Lee Loader for my .270, of course). Adjusting the COAL is intuitive, but it is difficult to achieve extreme precision. I was aiming for a COAL of 2.650, but ended up with 2.625 or so. Compared to some 85gr factory loads I have, my COAL is about an RCH shorter. I'm not worried about it. Should I be?

Now, my one issue with the Lee Loader; the powder likes to stick to the walls of the resizing die. In instructional videos, people just dump the powder down the neck of the die. I assumed the die would just act as a funnel and all the powder would end up in the case. This did not work for me. After seating the bullet, I lifted the die off the finished round and about 2 grains of powder fell out onto my bench. I pulled the bullet and started over. This time I grabbed a plastic funnel from the kitchen and used it to get the powder into the cases. That'll be the method I use from now on. Worked like a charm.

I can't wait to get out and see which load(s) (if any) shoot(s) well out the little .243.

By the way, I am using once-fired (by me) Federal blue box brass. People around here seem to *loath* this brass, but I had no issues (so far). Primers are in there *tight*. I don't plan to run hot loads - if anything they will be on the light side as long as those shoot straight - so I am hoping I will get good life out of this "crap brass".

Welcome to the dark side! I used a funnel made from a rolled piece of copier paper for a while. The powder funnel I bought works much better, but I couldn't find a small enough one in our kitchen.

 

[ironsighter]

Welcome to the dark side! I used a funnel made from a rolled piece of copier paper for a while. The powder funnel I bought works much better, but I couldn't find a small enough one in our kitchen.

LOL

I had three sizes of funnels to choose from. The smallest one is still bigger than the neck of the cases, but only a tiny bit, so all the grains of powder end up where they are supposed to be. It's just a bit of a PITA to have to hold the funnel in the perfect position. I am guessing a proper powder funnel wouldn't set me back too much money.

Thanks again to everyone who provided feedback, advice, etc. in this thread. If I have more questions on any specific aspects of reloading, I'll do a search and/or create a new thread.