Deavis
Member
Have you tried using an UPS and seeing if that helps keep the calibration. A dedicated line conditioner would probably help out much more than a surge protector would. Just a thought.
First Impressions: PACT digital scale & dispenser
- Thread starter GunAdmirer
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Have you tried using an UPS and seeing if that helps keep the calibration. A dedicated line conditioner would probably help out much more than a surge protector would. Just a thought.
GunAdmirer
Member
Well, I have decided to return the PACT electronic powder dispenser. It is just too slow and tedious for loading mass quanties of pistol cases. I have a young family and don't have an hour just to load 50 9mm or .45 rounds with powder, not taking into account the time needed for setup and calibration.
It all came to a head the other night when I couldn't get the scale stable enough for some reason to load some rounds. The scale is very sensitive to air currents and electrical fluctuations. Even with a surge protector and trying several different outlets I couldn't get the scale stable the other night. The powder dispenser is competely dependent on the scale.
I'm keeping the scale for now. I may return it too if I can't get it to be more stable. Fortunately my loads fit the RCBS "Little Dandy" powder dispenser rotors. I will use the scale less frequently to check the Little Dandy rotors and develop loads. I think I can load 50 rounds in as little as 10 minutes with the Little Dandy.
I think the PACT setup is ideal for someone wanting to work up loads, only loading a few cases at a time or loading powder in larger cases - like rifle cases. I like the concept but think more product development is needed. It was accurate and consistent - just too slow and tedious.
This is only my opinion and experience. It may be just the thing for you. PACT seems to be a good company that focuses on customer service. Besides, they are fellow Texans!
It all came to a head the other night when I couldn't get the scale stable enough for some reason to load some rounds. The scale is very sensitive to air currents and electrical fluctuations. Even with a surge protector and trying several different outlets I couldn't get the scale stable the other night. The powder dispenser is competely dependent on the scale.
I'm keeping the scale for now. I may return it too if I can't get it to be more stable. Fortunately my loads fit the RCBS "Little Dandy" powder dispenser rotors. I will use the scale less frequently to check the Little Dandy rotors and develop loads. I think I can load 50 rounds in as little as 10 minutes with the Little Dandy.
I think the PACT setup is ideal for someone wanting to work up loads, only loading a few cases at a time or loading powder in larger cases - like rifle cases. I like the concept but think more product development is needed. It was accurate and consistent - just too slow and tedious.
This is only my opinion and experience. It may be just the thing for you. PACT seems to be a good company that focuses on customer service. Besides, they are fellow Texans!
You never said what kind of shooting you're loading for, but for the small number of reloads you're assembling, my guess is it's more for bullseye than for combat-type shooting.
Before I get to the criticisms, I should mention that I have my old-model PACT mounted on a 16" x 16" patio brick atop a wooden stool. That setup keeps it very stable. Wind currents will affect the PACT, though in 3 different homes (w/o surge protectors nor UPS/line conditioners) it has functioned very well and very,very, rarely needs recalibration. I shim the dispenser with two blank CD cases (compact disk) to keep it high enough above the scale pan so I don't bump the tubes.
I'm not a bullseye shooter, and dead-on charge weights for pistol rounds isn't one of my goals. For my needs, I just use a Hornady LNL powder dispenser raw; +/- .15 gr
accuracy is probably good enough for my pistol shooting needs. That said, I'm not sure my 'old model PACT' is capable of any better accuracy, and I have no experience with the new model, especially at such small charge weights as those required by 9mm and 45acp. On the other hand, even with charge weights in the 40-45 gr. range for .308 rifle, the old model is capable of +/- .15 when dispensing IMR 4064, IMR 4895, RL-15, and VV N140. Using a vat powder measure to dispense the bulk of the powder first and speed up the process, this method is good enough to keep < 1MOA at 600yd (in close, the same rounds are .5MOA) on an average shooting day with a factory Rem700. I doubt that better dispensing accuracy would improve my groups at long distances--I'm not that good a shot beyond 400yd as my wind skills are pretty poor.
Speed may never be the PACT's strong suit (even with the new model, though several threads and 2 personal friends swear by this new gadget). Unless you expect to delve into rifle reloading, maybe the PACT will never suit your needs for pistol reloads. If that's the case, even with all the contortions you've gone through (clean electrical power, isolated drafts, etc) maybe the best thing to do is make your complaint to Cabela's (or PACT) now and see if you can get a refund while the purchase is still 'fresh'.
Before I get to the criticisms, I should mention that I have my old-model PACT mounted on a 16" x 16" patio brick atop a wooden stool. That setup keeps it very stable. Wind currents will affect the PACT, though in 3 different homes (w/o surge protectors nor UPS/line conditioners) it has functioned very well and very,very, rarely needs recalibration. I shim the dispenser with two blank CD cases (compact disk) to keep it high enough above the scale pan so I don't bump the tubes.
I'm not a bullseye shooter, and dead-on charge weights for pistol rounds isn't one of my goals. For my needs, I just use a Hornady LNL powder dispenser raw; +/- .15 gr
accuracy is probably good enough for my pistol shooting needs. That said, I'm not sure my 'old model PACT' is capable of any better accuracy, and I have no experience with the new model, especially at such small charge weights as those required by 9mm and 45acp. On the other hand, even with charge weights in the 40-45 gr. range for .308 rifle, the old model is capable of +/- .15 when dispensing IMR 4064, IMR 4895, RL-15, and VV N140. Using a vat powder measure to dispense the bulk of the powder first and speed up the process, this method is good enough to keep < 1MOA at 600yd (in close, the same rounds are .5MOA) on an average shooting day with a factory Rem700. I doubt that better dispensing accuracy would improve my groups at long distances--I'm not that good a shot beyond 400yd as my wind skills are pretty poor. Speed may never be the PACT's strong suit (even with the new model, though several threads and 2 personal friends swear by this new gadget). Unless you expect to delve into rifle reloading, maybe the PACT will never suit your needs for pistol reloads. If that's the case, even with all the contortions you've gone through (clean electrical power, isolated drafts, etc) maybe the best thing to do is make your complaint to Cabela's (or PACT) now and see if you can get a refund while the purchase is still 'fresh'.
Instead of buying a little dandy and having to buy a new cylinder for every load, why not get a good generic adjustable measure? That would be alot more future-proof and probably not much more expensive. I have a hornady with rifle and pistol micrometer inserts, but other brands are goood also. $60 should be enough for a decent measure and less for used.
EDIT: I didn't realize how expensive the "little dandy" system had become. $30 for the base measure with no rotors and $10 for each rotor, wow.
EDIT: I didn't realize how expensive the "little dandy" system had become. $30 for the base measure with no rotors and $10 for each rotor, wow.
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GunAdmirer
Member
I bought the Little Dandy because it is very simple, fast, consistent and my loads fit the rotors just fine. I don't see myself doing rifle loads in the future.
The traditional powder measures are great. However, I want at least one piece of equipment that I don't have to adjust.
BTW, I am preparing to shoot local monthly IDPA matches. Nothing precise.
The traditional powder measures are great. However, I want at least one piece of equipment that I don't have to adjust.
BTW, I am preparing to shoot local monthly IDPA matches. Nothing precise.
Last week I tried something with my PACT setup. I got a Lee Powder Dipper set on sale (6.99) and checked out the "calculator" that comes with it. Sure enough, the .7cc dipper scoops 10.7 grains of AA#7, exactly what I was loading for my 10mm. I didn't even set up the PACT dispenser, used the scale. I got pretty good with it, had my trickler set up on the scale to top up the load, but got to the point where I could scoop up a tenth of a grain by sight with the dipper.
I think you could scoop up the majority of your load with the dippers and let the dispenser dump the last grain or so. That would really speed things along.
I think you could scoop up the majority of your load with the dippers and let the dispenser dump the last grain or so. That would really speed things along.
Mark whiz
Member
I've used the "dipper/trickler" method too when I didn't feel like dragging the dispenser out and it works out pretty well.
A few months ago, I decided to do a little comparison. I loaded 20 .357Mag rounds with the Pact Dispenser/Scale system and then loaded up 20 more using my old Lee Perfect powder dispenser after spending some time to calibrate it closely to the electronic scale. At the range, the electronically dispensed loads exhibited about 1/3 less avg fps deviation than the thrown loads - but on the target..........the dispensed loads gave only a "slightly better grouping....... maybe 1/2" difference at 10yds.
Food for thought in there, maybe.
A few months ago, I decided to do a little comparison. I loaded 20 .357Mag rounds with the Pact Dispenser/Scale system and then loaded up 20 more using my old Lee Perfect powder dispenser after spending some time to calibrate it closely to the electronic scale. At the range, the electronically dispensed loads exhibited about 1/3 less avg fps deviation than the thrown loads - but on the target..........the dispensed loads gave only a "slightly better grouping....... maybe 1/2" difference at 10yds.
Food for thought in there, maybe.
GunAdmirer
Member
I used the Little Dandy to load 99 rounds of 9mm tonight. I dropped each load and then weighed them on the digital scale. The Little Dandy was very consistent with the loads weighing what the rotor was rated for (+/- .1 grain). The vast majority of the loads were dead on, and it went a lot quicker. It will go even quicker once I learn to trust the Little Dandy. I think this is the right method for me and my shooting habits.
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