Digital Scale Info Needed

[Rollbar]

New to reloading and waiting on my press so in the mean time I ordered the Dillon Beam scale but also looking at a digital as a secondary. Of the three, which one is a good scale?

Thanks,
Jim

1. Hornady GS-1500 Grain Electronic Scale w/100 Gram Calibration Weight - Natchez Shooters Supplies

2. MTM Mini Digital Reloading Scale for up to 750 Grains - Natchez Shooters Supplies

3. Frankford Arsenal DS-750 Digital Reloading Scale - Natchez Shooters Supplies

 

[kyhunter]

I can speak for the first one I bought one a couple of months ago cause i got it cheap. with light measurements ( id say below 10 grains) it gets a little iffy but for my 50-60 grain charges its spot on. The 100 grain check weight always show with .1 grain no matter how long ive used it and the tare setting seems to stay just as close. I weighed 100 cleaned and polished cases and they all came within .6 grains which seemed reasonably accurate to me due to differences in the cases. Its plenty accurate for my handloading duties

 

[cja245]

I use the one that BrianEnos.com sells.

 

[Ken C]

Don't forget RCBS,

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/81...onic-powder-scale-750-grain-capacity-110-volt

 

[higgite]

FWIW, I don't have any of the 3 that you're asking about, but of those 3, the Frankford Arsenal has the highest rating from users at MidwayUSA. Hope that helps.

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=96&newcategorydimensionid=15178

 

[idoono]

+1 on the RCBS. Of the three above I would pick #1. JMHO

Idoono

 

[holdencm9]

I have #3. No experience with the others.

For the price, it is very good. I like that it is compact (fits easily in the storage compartment bins) sleek looking and accurate. One thing is it is somewhat slow, so as you trickle more powder, it sometimes takes a couple seconds to register that added 0.1-0.2 grains before settling on the actual weight, but I have confidence that it is correct and calibrate every few weeks just to be sure. I trust it to weigh down to the 5.0gr range within 0.1gr accuracy, which is close enough for me. The display is adequately bright and large and easy to read.

So I won't say that it is the best of the three, but you won't be disappointed.

I think I bought it off Amazon, and looked at a lot of reviews before buying it. Like midway, it has 4 stars at amazon. A lot of people are very wary of budget electronic scales, but I am pretty confident with the Frankford Arsenal.

http://www.amazon.com/Frankford-205205-Arsenal-Reloading-Scale/dp/B002BDOHNA

 

[rg1]

Wouldn't waste money on a mini or micro electronic scale. I recommend a Pact, RCBS, Dillion, or Lyman scale full sized and specifically made for reloading. I bought a Pact Precision when they 1st came on the market and it's still in use after nearly 15 plus years.

 

[LiveLife]

Regardless of price (even some costing around $90+), many digital scales only show accuracy to 0.2 grains. If a scale shows +/- 0.2 grain accuracy, your readings can be off by 0.4 gr which is the full start/max charges for some Titegroup loads.

I have been using an older Frankford Arsenal digital scale that's accurate to 0.1 grain verified by Ohaus 10-10/Lee scale. The beam scales will detect a 1/4"x1/4" piece of copy paper but the digital scale won't show any reading until 2-3 pieces of papers (QC test I use for scales).

Also, if you operate the digital scale outside the specified temperature range, you'll get erratic/inconsistent readings. My FA scale came with 15C-35C (59F-95F) range and I use it indoors.

Hornady GS-1500:
Capacity: 1500 Grain
Accuracy: +/-0.2 Grain

MTM Mini Digital Reloading Scale:
Capacity: 750 Grains
Accuracy: Plus or minus .2 grain accuracy

Frankford Arsenal DS-750:
Capacity: 750 Grains
Accuracy: 1/10th grain (0.1 grain)

 

[HexHead]

I originally tried to save money and bought the Hornady one. Then I noticed the manual said it was accurate to .2 grains. I returned it and went with the RCBS 750. It works great.

 

[Shagg]

I have a Pact . After I learned how to use it it works fine. I think I read somewhere that Pact makes RCBS. Don't know that for sure but they look a lot alike.

 

[ssilence]

I use this one.

http://www.eabco.com/electronicpowderscale.htm

It works really well, and accuracy is great. I have tried it with my RCBS Checkweights, and no issues...always right on. It is the same one that BrianEnos has for half the price.

 

[foolsgold80z]

I use the MTM scale with a calibrated weight and the tare feature.
Have not had any problems this way although it is a little slow.

 

[Rollbar]

Thank you. Thank you all.

I will look at the links/reviews.

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[kerreckt]

I use both the MTM (#2) scale and a JS-50XV that poster #12 mentions. They are both accurate to .1 grain. The MTM literature say it is accurate to .2 but I have checked it against the JS-50XV and a beam scale and it is routinely accurate to .1 grain. Digital scales a great but I think it is important to have a good quality beam scale as well.

 

[buck460XVR]

I bought the FA to double check loads measured by my RCBS 505 beam scale. I didn't intend to use it as my primary scale, just a quick way to double check loads before loading large batches. I believe it was like $18 on sale from Midway and I was ordering something else anyway, so the shipping was moot. Since it was so inexpensive, I figured if it didn't work I wasn't out much. Truth is, I was pleasantly surprised at it's accuracy and it shows weights exactly as the RCBS. The digital readout as compared to the marks on the beam scale means one cannot make a readout mistake. If both the beam and the digital say the same, I feel confident I'm set to go. Funny....even tho it has shown me no reason not to, I still don't trust the little bugger to be my primary and only powder scale.

 

[Rollbar]

Thanks, yes I ordered the Dillon Beam Scale and want the digital as a back up/check powder quickly if needed etc.
I would not trust a digital scale as a primary or it as a only use (just me).
I like mechanical items, like carburetors on my Jeeps

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[trixter]

#2 Was and is and would be again my choice. Battery usage isn't too bad and it uses regular AAA batteries. I can measure powder, empty brass and boolits, and loaded rounds. It is well with my soul.

 

[twice barrel]

Jim,

I still have and occasionally a Hornady beam scale. But since acquiring #3 it sees less and less use.

Regards,

TB