auto trickler can still be "on budget" if you are moderately handy.
My home made diy auto trickler cost less than 25 bucks and a bit of time to put together.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...ler-project-(hooked-up-to-balance-beam-scale)
Best Reloading Scale
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
auto trickler can still be "on budget" if you are moderately handy.
My home made diy auto trickler cost less than 25 bucks and a bit of time to put together.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...ler-project-(hooked-up-to-balance-beam-scale)
505's are getting harder to find these days, but they're still up for sale once in a while. I got lucky with mine, it was lumped in with a bunch of shotgun reloading supplies one of our club members was selling.
Very sensitive, as mentioned earlier even one kernel of cylindrical powder will move the needle.
I don't have any experience with the new M500 scales, are they as good as the 505?
Very sensitive, as mentioned earlier even one kernel of cylindrical powder will move the needle.
I don't have any experience with the new M500 scales, are they as good as the 505?
Maybe the 250 is different. But checking my gempro with a 505 would be a waste of time. You can hardly see a tenth of a grain difference on a 505, never mind 2 hundredths.
- Location
- The Kawartha Lakes Region in Ontario
I went all in and bought the A&D combo you mentioned, it is super easy to use and an excellent system. I will note that the 3D printed base that comes with the trickler could use some engineering changes to make it more adjustable.
Morning,
I had very good experience with RCBS 505. If you buy it used, I would take the time to clean it - google it.
That being said, my first big game changer was when I purchased Charge Master & GemPro. You can really speed up your loading without jeopardizing accuracy.
I had very good experience with RCBS 505. If you buy it used, I would take the time to clean it - google it.
That being said, my first big game changer was when I purchased Charge Master & GemPro. You can really speed up your loading without jeopardizing accuracy.
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Funny, I can throw a light charge, look at the 5-0-5 and tell you if it needs 1 or 3 kernels of H4350 to level it out. If its not that sensitive then its dirty. Same thing with my 5-10 scale.
Check out the billet base option as well as the billet scoop option for the FX made by Area 419 and sold through Go Big Tactical. Aweaome funnels as well. I just bought 2 complete setups and could not be happier. PM me if you want any more info or pics.
Electronic charging scales/powder dispensers are a good go if you load bulk ammo, but they are expensive. If I'm doing small batches I'll take a balance scale over electronic any day of the week. I load 500 to 2000 rifle loads each month.
I have used a variety of scales over the years RCBS 505, RCBS 10-10, VIC-123, Redding #2... my favorite balance beam scale is the Redding #2, it is accurate and repeatable. I prefer how the pan sits in the holder on the Redding (flat surface Vs. recessed holder on the RCBS). I found the Redding to settle faster because of it. It is the only balance beam that still sits on my bench today.
This summer, I added the A&D FX-120i with the Auto-Trickler to my reloading bench. This is now my primary scale. I find it to be faster than loading with the balance beam and I love having a digital display of the charge weight (my eyes aren't what they used to be). This scale is very repeatable, does not drift and holds zero which was not always the case with other cheaper electronic scales I have used. I did purchase the billet base and scoop option for the auto trickler made by Area 419 and sold through Go Big Tactical. For me, these upgrades are worth it. I do have the Auto-Throw but for anything under 100 rounds I just use the Lee powder scoops to get close to charge weight and auto-trickle from there.
If someone gets the billet base I strongly recommend getting the scoop as the billet base makes the trickler spout sit higher and I found the billet base lead to kernels flying out of the traditional scale pan I was using. No such issues with the Area 419 scoop. I could have added a 1/2" plywood under the scale to solve but prefer having the scale sit directly on my bench.
This summer, I added the A&D FX-120i with the Auto-Trickler to my reloading bench. This is now my primary scale. I find it to be faster than loading with the balance beam and I love having a digital display of the charge weight (my eyes aren't what they used to be). This scale is very repeatable, does not drift and holds zero which was not always the case with other cheaper electronic scales I have used. I did purchase the billet base and scoop option for the auto trickler made by Area 419 and sold through Go Big Tactical. For me, these upgrades are worth it. I do have the Auto-Throw but for anything under 100 rounds I just use the Lee powder scoops to get close to charge weight and auto-trickle from there.
If someone gets the billet base I strongly recommend getting the scoop as the billet base makes the trickler spout sit higher and I found the billet base lead to kernels flying out of the traditional scale pan I was using. No such issues with the Area 419 scoop. I could have added a 1/2" plywood under the scale to solve but prefer having the scale sit directly on my bench.
I started out reloading with a cheap little Hornady electronic scale. It wouldn't keep it's zero, it would give you a different weight result if you placed the same bullet on it twice. Not very accurate. I bought the Frankford Arsenal DS-750 to replace my Hornady and found the same problems with it.
I switched to a GemPro 300 and it's been a dream so far! You can take a bullet and no matter how many times you take it off and put it back on, it gives you a consistent reading. Doesn't wander, has wall power, has a leveling bubble, tells you if there is a drift compromising your measurement and so much more. It's a good investment in my opinion. Specially if you are making Match grade ammunition.
I switched to a GemPro 300 and it's been a dream so far! You can take a bullet and no matter how many times you take it off and put it back on, it gives you a consistent reading. Doesn't wander, has wall power, has a leveling bubble, tells you if there is a drift compromising your measurement and so much more. It's a good investment in my opinion. Specially if you are making Match grade ammunition.
Had a Lee, it worked. Had a Lyman, it worked, had a Dillon, it worked.
Have a RCBS 505; it works as good as the Lyman or Dillon but much nicer than the Lee.
As for electric I tried a cheap Frankfort one, I didn’t trust it. Recently tried a Hornady one (from one of those reloading kits-not mine) and it needed re-zeroing constantly. Never had a beam scale to check it against so not sure how accurate it was.
I have a RCBS Chargemaster Light and at this point I’m smitten with it.
Still can’t beat the pure reliable simplicity of a quality beam scale in my opinion, slower yes but as reliable as gravity.
Have a RCBS 505; it works as good as the Lyman or Dillon but much nicer than the Lee.
As for electric I tried a cheap Frankfort one, I didn’t trust it. Recently tried a Hornady one (from one of those reloading kits-not mine) and it needed re-zeroing constantly. Never had a beam scale to check it against so not sure how accurate it was.
I have a RCBS Chargemaster Light and at this point I’m smitten with it.
Still can’t beat the pure reliable simplicity of a quality beam scale in my opinion, slower yes but as reliable as gravity.
Same, you can really split hairs on the 505 if its clean and you know what you're doing.
I just loaded 50 357 mag on it this afternoon, H110 powder, easy as pie. I have my laptop and a web cam to make viewing easy as well. I would love to have the FX120i and an auto trickler. I will not bother with anything else until those items are possible.
