digital scale
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For weighing brass and the like I agree digitals are faster. For powder, I will stick to a Lyman 55 thrower, and a balance beam to check every 25th throw.
I have tried using various digitals, Lyman DPS3, Chargemaster, Victor Gem scale etc, and for powder they are a pain. Constantly having to re-zero, and if you check them against a good balance beam (that I have checked with a set of check weights and it weighs well within .1) they are no where near .1 for fluctuation. The Lyman would fluctuate .2 either way on the same charge re-weighed and you could see the same thing using check weights. Same was tue of the Gem scale.
Fast they are, accurate not. I have an Acculab on order so for the price I am hoping it works a hell of a lot better than the ones I have used so far.
I have the old original RCBS electronic scale.It was discontinued because of the fact that it didn't sell well, due to the high price(about $500 at the time).I have checked this scale against my RCBS 10-10,and both scales always come up with the same reading.I can weigh the same powder charge ten times in a row,and it will read the same all ten times.And I don't have to constantly rezero,my loading bench is very solid,and the zero remains quite constant.If it does have to be rezeroed,it takes about two seconds.
That video gives a good idea of the scales level of precision.
I agree with the video that using a trickler is not ideal with a digital scale, but using tweezers to top off the charge must be brutally slow. I use a plastic kitchen measuring spoon for the entire charge; I take heaping scoops until I am close, smaller partial scoops to get really close, and then 'trickle' in the last few grains one by one off the corner of the spoon by tapping it with my other hand. What takes longest is letting the scale 'settle' onto its final reading; stick powder, which generally does not throw well, weighs very fast because each grain weighs a lot (less grains per charge) so it takes fewer estimates before you get your charge exactly the right weight.
I agree with the video that using a trickler is not ideal with a digital scale, but using tweezers to top off the charge must be brutally slow. I use a plastic kitchen measuring spoon for the entire charge; I take heaping scoops until I am close, smaller partial scoops to get really close, and then 'trickle' in the last few grains one by one off the corner of the spoon by tapping it with my other hand. What takes longest is letting the scale 'settle' onto its final reading; stick powder, which generally does not throw well, weighs very fast because each grain weighs a lot (less grains per charge) so it takes fewer estimates before you get your charge exactly the right weight.
I have a simple wood block that elevates the powder trickle over the scale...Works OK, but the tricklers are a bit course for the Acculab.
I am thinking of having a fine thread trickle custom built.
Tweezers would give me a mental meltdown Ceriksson!
I am thinking of having a fine thread trickle custom built.
Tweezers would give me a mental meltdown Ceriksson!
The tweezers are the fastest way for me to keep it accurate other than spending tons of time on a precise enough type of trickler setup. The charger that I use into the case varies huge so my initial pours were averaging from 45.4 all the way up to some perfect 46gr pours.
It is also hard to be efficient with a camera in your hand. The one in the video was a really light pour so I had to pinch more powder in. With most pours all I need to do is drop a few kernels in the tray and I am good to go.
I also keep the scale on 24/7 with a good power-bar and not near any serious electronics. My scale goes off when I send or receive a cell phone call.
It is also hard to be efficient with a camera in your hand. The one in the video was a really light pour so I had to pinch more powder in. With most pours all I need to do is drop a few kernels in the tray and I am good to go.
I also keep the scale on 24/7 with a good power-bar and not near any serious electronics. My scale goes off when I send or receive a cell phone call.
This is the absolute best scale for the money:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10515
Its supposedly accurate to 0.01 grains. Ive been using this exact scale for over 2 years, and i have no reason to doubt its accuracy claims. I have a set of Lyman check weights, as well as another set that i bought a long time ago, and the scale is dead on for most weights, or off by 0.01-0.02 grains at most (which could be the weights fault)
I have an RCBS Chargemaster and the dx scale IS more accurate than the RCBS. Most brand name scales in ~$100 range are only accurate to 0.1 grains.
Will it last me a lifetime? Probably not, but neither will any of the other digital scales (most are made in China nowdays, probably on the same factory). If something happens to it, ill just buy a new one for $21 shipped.
I wish i knew someone with a 0.01grain Acculab to compare the accuracy, but i have a feeling it would be the same.
Flame me all you want, but i dont see how you can go wrong with a $21 shipped scale.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10515
Its supposedly accurate to 0.01 grains. Ive been using this exact scale for over 2 years, and i have no reason to doubt its accuracy claims. I have a set of Lyman check weights, as well as another set that i bought a long time ago, and the scale is dead on for most weights, or off by 0.01-0.02 grains at most (which could be the weights fault)
I have an RCBS Chargemaster and the dx scale IS more accurate than the RCBS. Most brand name scales in ~$100 range are only accurate to 0.1 grains.
Will it last me a lifetime? Probably not, but neither will any of the other digital scales (most are made in China nowdays, probably on the same factory). If something happens to it, ill just buy a new one for $21 shipped.
I wish i knew someone with a 0.01grain Acculab to compare the accuracy, but i have a feeling it would be the same.
Flame me all you want, but i dont see how you can go wrong with a $21 shipped scale.
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For $20 it sure is worth a try, and the feedback is pretty good. Thanks, just ordered one! Also ordered a '1.5" LCD Double Precision Portable Digital Electronic Weighting Hook Scale (45kg Max) Item# 35716' for under $8. With accuracy of 5g (about 0.16oz ) it should be good enough to serve as a trigger gauge. And if it ain't - oh well, I didn't spend eighty bucks, only eight.
Thanks again for a good find!
Just teasing you mate.
Though I still plan on a custom trickler I'm on the lookout for a pair of your fat tweezers.
We are putting up under cabinet florescent fixtures to light our new reloading bench.
I am concerned about the scale being affected by them?
Acculab reviews indicate this is not a problem.
Any input here?
The room we reload in is lit with flourescent lights and they dont seem to br anissue but they aren't nearly as close to the scale as you plan to put the light but I still dont see it being much of an issue. As long as the scale has enoigh time to steady out and warm up and any electrical signals are steady you sgould be fine. The only thing I've seen freak out the scale was my cell phone.
I'm stick and tired of my cheap RCBS balance beam and my cheap digital batteries died... Totally fed up with both, especially with RCBS. I'm scared that I'm off 1gn at times for 24gn loads. I'm loading close to the max with H110 for 44mag. I dare not attempt to go over manual max loads.
The Acculab Vic-123 looks sweet. Does anyone know where I can order one from Canada for best price?
Anyone know where I can order a set of very light calibration weights? Such as 2,5,10gn?
Thanks!
The Acculab Vic-123 looks sweet. Does anyone know where I can order one from Canada for best price?
Anyone know where I can order a set of very light calibration weights? Such as 2,5,10gn?
Thanks!
The Vic-123 comes with a 100gram calibration weight, it seems to do the trick.
I got mine on ebay from a Canadian dealer. Laboratory supply online. They are in Quebec I think. Saved me the whole hassle of cross border shipping.
I got mine on ebay from a Canadian dealer. Laboratory supply online. They are in Quebec I think. Saved me the whole hassle of cross border shipping.
I was actually going to post an update, glad you did it - saves me time looking.
I tried the dealextreme scale this past weekend - it seems more accurate than the one from Hornady. First of, it has an extra significant digit - x.xx grain, not x.x. It also appears to be more stable. BTW, the documentation says 'keep away from cell phones' - I didn't know this, but it does seem to matter.
Overall impression: very pleased, $20 well spent!
P.S. Keep heavy breathing to a minimum when using the el-cheapo scale...
I tried the dealextreme scale this past weekend - it seems more accurate than the one from Hornady. First of, it has an extra significant digit - x.xx grain, not x.x. It also appears to be more stable. BTW, the documentation says 'keep away from cell phones' - I didn't know this, but it does seem to matter.
Overall impression: very pleased, $20 well spent!
P.S. Keep heavy breathing to a minimum when using the el-cheapo scale...
I was actually going to post an update, glad you did it - saves me time looking.
I tried the dealextreme scale this past weekend - it seems more accurate than the one from Hornady. First of, it has an extra significant digit - x.xx grain, not x.x. It also appears to be more stable. BTW, the documentation says 'keep away from cell phones' - I didn't know this, but it does seem to matter.
Overall impression: very pleased, $20 well spent!
P.S. Keep heavy breathing to a minimum when using the el-cheapo scale...
Damn, i'm still waiting for mine :-(
I ordered Dec 7th and have emailed Dealextreme as I have not received my two yet either. So far no answer after 4 days and the tracing system doesn't work either. Emailed Hong Kong post with the tracking number and they say they have no record of hte shipment but says the tracing number looks like it should originate in China. Will continue to follow. Glad to hear some of you are getting yours, restores my faith the site is legit. How long from order to delivery and what country are you in please. I am in Canada.
