need a better scale

allan92

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i am looking for a sclae that is accurate to .02 of a grain. im looking to see what you guys use and if you can point me in the direction of where you bought it. i am tring to load precise ammo for my 308. i loaded 50 rounds last night and pulled some of the bullets to check the powder and they were just way off. by more than 2 grains.
 
i am looking for a sclae that is accurate to .02 of a grain. im looking to see what you guys use and if you can point me in the direction of where you bought it. i am tring to load precise ammo for my 308. i loaded 50 rounds last night and pulled some of the bullets to check the powder and they were just way off. by more than 2 grains.

What scale are you using? Bought an RCBS chargemaster a couple months ago and quite happy with results. Ordered from Natchez.
 
2 grain error ? Are you weighting each of your round one by one ? Sorry to ask, but 2 grains is a lot.
I use a beam scale and a powder trickler. If there is a small error, at least all my rounds will be loaded the same
 
GemPro 250. I had an RCBS Rangemaster and have been very happy with the change. Paid $200 from a Canadian retailer. Ditto what Bob said though; I'm shocked you'd get that much variation from any reloading scale that was properly set up and calibrated.
 
I have used two high end scales..

the Vic 123

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=38348/Product/Sartorius-Scale

FX-120

http://balance.balances.com/scales/1223

The second one here uses electro-magnetic force weigh cell, it will hold zero, and return to zero faster than scales that use a strain gauge weighing technology. Most scales, including a Vic 123, gem pro, or other scale uses a strain gauge, the cost difference is mainly the quality and dependability of the gauge.

FYI, if a scale does not come with a check wt, and have a process for calibrating the scale I would not waste my time with it.

Good explanation of the types of scales is below...

http://balance.balances.com/scales/906

 
i am looking for a sclae that is accurate to .02 of a grain. im looking to see what you guys use and if you can point me in the direction of where you bought it. i am tring to load precise ammo for my 308. i loaded 50 rounds last night and pulled some of the bullets to check the powder and they were just way off. by more than 2 grains.

The standard for reloading scales is accuracy within 1/10 of a grain.
Loads that are out 2 grains - the scale is not the problem.
 
i use a mtm electric scale which is accurate to +-.2gr. each load was measured with a powder trickler. the loads sat for a couple hours while i went out and when i came back i went back and re weighed some of the charges which were about 2 grains off what the scale originally said.

thanks for some of the suggestions i have already been looking at the gempro and acculab.

i am not looking for the standard i want better
 
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I have used two high end scales..

the Vic 123

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=38348/Product/Sartorius-Scale

FX-120

http://balance.balances.com/scales/1223

The second one here uses electro-magnetic force weigh cell, it will hold zero, and return to zero faster than scales that use a strain gauge weighing technology. Most scales, including a Vic 123, gem pro, or other scale uses a strain gauge, the cost difference is mainly the quality and dependability of the gauge.

FYI, if a scale does not come with a check wt, and have a process for calibrating the scale I would not waste my time with it.

Good explanation of the types of scales is below...

http://balance.balances.com/scales/906


although i would love an electro magnetic scale it is hard to shell out 700 clams for it
 
i use a mtm electric scale which is accurate to +-2gr. each load was measured with a powder trickler. the loads sat for a couple hours while i went out and when i came back i went back and re weighed some of the charges which were about 2 grains off what the scale originally said.

thanks for some of the suggestions i have already been looking at the gempro and acculab.

i am not looking for the standard i want better

Your electronic scale is the problem... many of them 'grow' ... you will measure as accurately as you will ever need to - with a 'standard' non electric reloading scale with accuracy to a tenth of a grain...

I had a couple of electronic scales and always had to check their accuracy with my 40 year old Ohaus 10-10... which is the scale I still have and use.
 
it sounds like you are volume throwing your charges, and basing it one one sample weight. If you are indeed weighing your charges with each shot, why do you think re-weighing them witht he same scale would be accurate? were your cases completely dry? is there any powder left iside the case stuck to case lube or some other liquid residue?

I would suggest the RCBS chargemaster. It weighs each charge as it is dispensed.
 
I have something similar to a charge master just a sheels brand name. Comes with calibrating 30gram weight, works fast well worth the investment.

Was some of the powder stuck in the bullet puller. Was it a kinetic one?
 
If it is one of the pocket scales, I found out was more prone to weight drift. Letting the scale warm up and calibrating regularly may help. However I returned the pocket scale pretty immediately once I had it plugged in and saw it drift 10gn due to electro magnetic interference.
 
You can get a decent balance for under $100. I have an RCBS 5-10, had it for over 20 years and it works as well as the day I bought it. If you want a really good scale for under $200 I'd get an RCBS 10-10 balance, but good balances can be had from RCBS, Lyman, or Redding for about $80.

I have one of those MTM scales. I wouldn't even trust it to use in the kitchen. The only duty it see is when I get paranoid about wether or not I dropped that compressed charge before I seated the bullet.
 
I've been fairly impressed with the RCBS Rangemaster 750. No drift that I've noticed (I calibrate several times each session) and it responds well to the trickler. It doesn't have the resolution of a GemPro but it's half the price.
 
Gempro 250. Nothing comes close in terms of value and it's to +/- 0.01gn, resolution of 0.02gn.


Do not know of any CGN dealers but I got mine of the EE. Fleabay or other google hits may work fine. Try google search and then filter for Canadian locations.
 
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