New scale

Major Sights

Major Sights

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So today I finally received my new scale, a Gempro 250, that I picked up from Quarky Science in Victoria B.C. Cheapest price I could find in Canada. I'd been having some issues with my first reloads (done on a Lee Loader set & a Lee "Safety Powder Scale"), they kept coming up too hot. I finally had a chance to put that old beam scale head to head with something a bit more accurate. After I let the scale warm up for several hours, and then calibrated, I found that my beam scale was over by 1.13 grains consistently.


I expected it to be off a little one way or the other, but by over a full grain? Doesn't seem so "safe" to me... any one else have such discrepancy between their beam scales and digital (yes I realize some beams are better then others).
 
Major Sights said:
So today I finally received my new scale, a Gempro 250, that I picked up from Quarky Science in Victoria B.C. Cheapest price I could find in Canada. I'd been having some issues with my first reloads (done on a Lee Loader set & a Lee "Safety Powder Scale"), they kept coming up too hot. I finally had a chance to put that old beam scale head to head with something a bit more accurate. After I let the scale warm up for several hours, and then calibrated, I found that my beam scale was over by 1.13 grains consistently.


I expected it to be off a little one way or the other, but by over a full grain? Doesn't seem so "safe" to me... any one else have such discrepancy between their beam scales and digital (yes I realize some beams are better then others).
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Wow!! Glad you found out before things went Kaboom!
 
Major Sights said:
So today I finally received my new scale, a Gempro 250, that I picked up from Quarky Science in Victoria B.C. Cheapest price I could find in Canada. I'd been having some issues with my first reloads (done on a Lee Loader set & a Lee "Safety Powder Scale"), they kept coming up too hot. I finally had a chance to put that old beam scale head to head with something a bit more accurate. After I let the scale warm up for several hours, and then calibrated, I found that my beam scale was over by 1.13 grains consistently.


I expected it to be off a little one way or the other, but by over a full grain? Doesn't seem so "safe" to me... any one else have such discrepancy between their beam scales and digital (yes I realize some beams are better then others).
Click to expand...

I have an RCBS beam which is usually bang on with my 2 digital scales. Digital scales are very sensitive. Light, air disturbance, power source can cause issues. Maybe it just needs another calibration.
 
I have used several electronic scales and the only way to verify they're reading correctly is to compare weights back to a tuned RCBS 10-10 scale. Everything old is new again, back to Harrells finest measure and a tuned RCBS scale.
 
Chinbullco said:
I have used several electronic scales and the only way to verify they're reading correctly is to compare weights back to a tuned RCBS 10-10 scale. Everything old is new again, back to Harrells finest measure and a tuned RCBS scale.
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True that.
Earlier this year my Chargemaster scale caught some static. It drove me crazy for a few days until I decided to rub it with an used dryer sheet before crushing it. No need to crush it afterwards :)
 
A lot of scales used to come with calibration weights. Sounds like that's what you need to check the scales.

If you check with places that sell the more sensitive scales or go online to Ebay you should be able to find a calibration set.
 
My gempro did come with a 20gram check weight but I can't really toss that on the Lee Safety Scale and check so once I had the Gempro calibrated I threw a charge using the Lee Scale, then I took it and put the powder on the Gempro and found the discrepancy.

Looks like I may have to get a set of smaller check weights
 
You can make your own from just about anything. You want it to be something that won't corrode or wear which would alter the weight over time.

For small light 5 or 10gn check weights use the now calibrated and checked Gempro to trim a little bit of something like vinyl plastic tubing or nylon tubing to the right weight. Just shave off little bits of the plastic until it comes in at around 5, 10 or 30gns. If it's out by a couple of 10th's just mark it as such.

A nice way to go is with something like stainless steel if you have a small number stamp set. After weighing it lightly stamp the numbering in to indicate the actual weight. Another good option would be simple aluminium. It does corrode but it's a very slow process so it's a better option then steel, brass or copper which corrode and bring weight onto the part as it does so.

A little trick from high school chemistry class. Your test weights should be protected in some sort of container. They should also be cleaned and degreased and moved to and from the scales with tweezers. This avoids a shift in weight due to scuffs and chipping or by adding finger oil to the test weight. Needless to say when you're making the test weight you need to clean it and make sure it's dry as well before weighing it. Or wear gloves while trimming to the final weight to avoid finger oil transfer.
 
legi0n said:
what weight?
1 grain in 9mm Luger is a lot while in 300H&H is nothing :rolleyes:
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Originally my loads were 43.5gr pushing a 155gr 308 round. They were so hot it was hard to life the bolt. I took em back and pulled the bullets then reloaded to 42.5gr. Still hot enough to make a good dimple lip on the primers.
 
FWIW
toss the Lee , look at a Redding #2 or RCBS beam . you will be happy. My Redding will weigh 1 kernel of powder.
the gempro will be a source of aggravation . POS.
I use .224 -40g, 50g, 52g and 60g bullets to set my beam. which ever is closest to the loads I'm weighing . simple
 
Major Sights said:
After I let the scale warm up for several hours, and then calibrated, I found that my beam scale was over by 1.13 grains consistently.
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I use a beam scale. If it's consistently over or under the same amount of actual weights, it's probably not a big deal if you keep using the same scale and weights for your loading.

As long as it's consistent, it's not a problem.
 
SuperCub said:
I use a beam scale. If it's consistently over or under the same amount of actual weights, it's probably not a big deal if you keep using the same scale and weights for your loading.

As long as it's consistent, it's not a problem.
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My thoughts exactly. This is also why I don't use other peoples reloading data.

Even my RCBS 10-10 needed a little fine tuning.
 
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