Gem Pro 250

[MoreIsLess]

I just recently sold my Hornaday Lock n Load electronic powder scale. Previous to that I had an RCBS Rangmaster 2000 which I also sold. I found both of these to be inconsistent with drifting and skipping and inability to maintain zero when calibrating. I have heard good things about the Gem Pro 250, so I am thinking about getting one. Should I try the Gem Pro or is it likely to be more of the same problems I had with the other 2.

 

[dgod]

I have one, it works well, just be sure there is NO Air movement. It is accurate to 0.01gr, accurate, but sensitive. I don't know of another scale that is that accurate.

Good Luck
Dan

 

[lauderdale]

It is very sensitive but a very good scale. I put mine on the back burner for summer and like my charge master scale (alone). Air current/temp. Effect it and drift gets tuff, to tuff for me! I use a the charge master scale w/a Dillon beam scale to verify.

 

[Load Master]

The Gem Pro 250 is an excellent scale. I have may types of scales and the Gem Pro is the only electronic scale I trust without double checking with my balance beam scale.

If you plan to purchase I highly recommend Old Will Knott Scales. They ship fast and you are assured of getting a good scale. Great customer service too.

 

[higgite]

I have one, it works well, just be sure there is NO Air movement. It is accurate to 0.01gr, accurate, but sensitive. I don't know of another scale that is that accurate.

Good Luck
Dan

Where did you find it has 0.01gr accuracy? It only has 0.02gr resolution. I haven't found an accuracy specification for it anywhere in the manual or on oldwillknottscales.com (where I bought mine) or on myweigh.com who distributes and warrants the scale.

 

[dgod]

I checked my manual, my mistake it is 0.02gr... Although I don't think .01 vs .02 is detectable, I remember it slow counting when it is close to the end, by .02 until it stops at the current weight.

 

[LiveLife]

I don't know of another scale that is that accurate.

I do, Ohaus 10-10 and $20 Gemini-20 as they will detect one piece of 1/4"x1/4" 20 lb copy paper with a reading of .06 gr due to .02 gr resolution - https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Weigh-...3&sr=1-1&keywords=smart+weigh+reloading+scale

In the digital scale myth busting thread using Ohaus ASTM class 6 check weights down to .015 gr, we shattered the notion of inaccuracy of digital scales, even the cheaper ones - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/revisited-myth-busting-digital-scales.821449/

1/4"x1/4" pieces of 20 lb copy paper should weigh around .05 gr (.0468 gr actual) and place one piece on Gem Pro 250 using a tweezer to see if it will detect it

If your scale cannot detect .05 - .1 gr one to two pieces of paper, you do not have true .02 gr sensitivity.

I recently bought Smart Weigh Miligram scale ($33) to use on the bench along with FA DS-750 scale as I deem Gemini-20 too sensitive for rough everyday bench use and keep it at a "safer" shelf unit - https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Weigh-Precision-Milligram-Calibration/dp/B011J88S8M

While it "should" have .02 gr resolution, for me working resolution verified by Ohaus ASTM class 6 check weights has be more like .05 gr. It is more practical than Gemini-20 due to larger size (on par with Gem Pro 250) and larger platform. It was not able to detect 1-2 pieces of paper but registered around .1 gr with 3+ pieces.

Here's Ohaus 10-10 showing detection of two pieces of 1/4"x1/4" copy paper around .1 gr (each vertical mark is .2 gr ) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-busting-digital-scales.821449/#post-10551544

 

[Load Master]

Yep, even the low cost Lee Perfect Powder Scale is very sensitive. Here is a 10mg (0.154 grain) weight and showing the deflection of the pointer off of zero.



Here is the 10mg weight:

 

[Demi-human]

I find my Gempro two fifty to be very easy to use. I make sure my room is at a nice temperature for two hours first, then I shut down the central air conditioning and heat. Then I turn off the radio on the bench. It is sensitive to my body heat in my small closet I reload in, and I swear it measures sound waves. I have my bench connected to the wall, if someone walks around too much up stairs it will sense it.

So, in silence, I wiegh my charges. For accuracy comes, but at a price.

Would I recommend a Gempro two fifty?
Absolutely.

 

[Walkalong]

I like my Gem Pro 250. Let it warm up good, allow no air movement.

 

[LiveLife]

allow no air movement.

A HUGE +1.

The .02 gr resolution Gemini-20 requires cover to be used or air movement in the room with window open or breath from my mouth will move the readings - Yup, it's that sensitive.

The .1 gr resolution FA DS-750 is not affected by air movement in the room with window open or breath from my mouth until I blow on it close.

Two .1 gr resolution Ohaus 10-10 beam scales will detect air movement in the room with window open - somedays it really amazes me how precise Ohaus built these scales. With micro drum poise, they act like .05 gr resolution scales.

 

[rg1]

My GemPro 250 review: Negatives are the display is too flat. You have to be slightly over the scale to read the numbers It doesn't trickle worth a hoot. Say you're trickling powder and want 6.0 grains exactly. It will hang, you keep trickling powder then all of a sudden it'll give a readout of 6.24 grains. It will drive you nuts trying to trickle powder to an exact charge. It is very slow to update the display only when trickling. While it is very accurate it is tedious especially weighing every charge. The second decimal place is tough to get the exact charge. One stick of stick powder can put you over the second decimal. Try taking a few flakes or a stick or two powder out of the pan trying to get the exact weight will be extremely slow. My Pact Precision is easy to trickle as the display updates very fast plus my Pact if I carefully trickle until the number just changes it is dead on with the GemPro. Being accurate to 0.02 the display does not show 0.01. The 2nd digit reads .02 then .04 then to .06 etc. You'll give up trying to weigh every charge exactly. You'll settle for 6.02 or 5.98 or even 6.04 when trying to weigh every charge to exactly 6.0 grains unless you want to spend a lot of time.
Positives on my GemPro 250 are it's accuracy. Also I have no issues with drift or air currents or electrical interference. My reloading room does have an air vent in the ceiling on the other side of the room but does not effect my GemPro. Mine is solid and reliable. I think any electronic scale should be on it's own table and get no vibration from your press or other tools. If I had to give up one of my electronic scales I'd keep my Pact which I've had since 1994. My RCBS 5-10 balance beam has been in a drawer for 20 some years and I keep it just in case of long power outages or needing to reload somewhere there is no power like a range.

 

[armarsh]

I bought an FX-120i from Cambridge Environmental several years ago. Like all milligram balances, it is good to 0.02 grain. The FX-120i is a magnetic force restoration vs load cells in the Gem Pro. I'm not going to go into the differences - the internet is there to use.

https://ce-products.myshopify.com/products/fx-120i-reloading-scale-122g-x-0-001g

Cambridge Environmental is a good company that understands reloaders and wants their business. If I were to break or lose my FX-120i I would get another without hesitation.

 

[wiiawiwb]

Love mine. I'd buy another in a heart beat.

 

[Nature Boy]

Recently upgraded to the gempro 250. Very happy with it

 

[MoreIsLess]

So, in short, I take it everyone is saying that the Gem Pro 250 is a superior scale compared to the Hornaday Lock n Load electronic powder scale and RCBS Rangmaster 2000

 

[dgod]

At Least from my perspective, not saying it is superior, for me it accurate enough for my Shooting and Load Data Refinement/Development. I think anyone/everyone should simply consider the positions identified, then pursue what their interest and Billfold will support. Just like what Armarsh said, heck of a good quality scale, if the billfold can support it, and similar statements concerning the other models mentioned. It's just information. I don't know of anyone getting a kick back for pushing their equipment, so it is simply opinions.

Get what you Like/Want/and can afford, and then enjoy it.

Good Luck
Dan

 

[Demi-human]

I still use my Hornady GS fifteen hundred for pistol loading. The second decimal is not necessary for my pistols, or shooting.

For my rifle. I prefer to know that the charges are as close to the same as I can possibly make them, for my pay grade. If I could I would purchase an FX one twenty. Someday I will.

I haven't experienced any hiccups with the two fifty that I didn't already experience with the Hornady. Mostly temperature related. Every machine has it's quirks. I can wait on the slow display, for I am never in a hurry loading rifles.
I weigh all my pistol rounds too, so I guess I'm not in a hurry then either.

 

[CE Products]

I bought an FX-120i from Cambridge Environmental several years ago. Like all milligram balances, it is good to 0.02 grain. The FX-120i is a magnetic force restoration vs load cells in the Gem Pro. I'm not going to go into the differences - the internet is there to use.

https://ce-products.myshopify.com/products/fx-120i-reloading-scale-122g-x-0-001g

Cambridge Environmental is a good company that understands reloaders and wants their business. If I were to break or lose my FX-120i I would get another without hesitation.

Thank you Armarsh for the recommendation
we will continue to strive for the best customer service and best pricing for everyone everyday
And if you anyone has issues regardless if the scale was purchased from Cambridge or CE products Shopify or anyone else we will do what we can to help the community

 

[444]

I own a Gem Pro 250 and I like it. I have no real complaints with it other than the zero drift you seem to get with all these electronic scales.

I have owned more than a half dozen digital scales. A couple just quit working. A couple I accidentally knocked off the table and they quit working. This is just my opinion, based on my experience: I would not buy any scale for reloading that is being branded and sold by a manufacturer of reloading gear. I have owned RCBS, and Hornady electronic scales and IN MY OPINION they are just the same cheap scales you can guy from Ebay or Amazon for a fraction of the price. I don't think there is anything about them that makes them a "reloading scale". In fact, one of the biggest things I didn't like about the Hornady scale is that the pan sits too high for me to sit my trickler next to it and trickle in powder.

When I ordered my Gem Pro 250, I ordered another scale at the same time. Here it is: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W5VXN53/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have seen this scale being used in a bunch of reloading videos on YouTube and watched a few videos that were about this scale and everyone seems to like it. So, for $20 I ordered one and I have to say that since I got it, it is the only scale I have been using. I really like it. I have a set of Lyman check weights as well as a bunch of random weights that originally came with other scales I have owned and this little $20 scale has been right on the money 100% of the time. I actually only used the Gem Pro scale a few times just to test it out because I enjoyed using the $20 scale a lot more. I actually bought a second $20 scale as a back up; that is how much I like it. I wish this scale had existed when I bought my first RCBS electronic scale and it would have saved me a bunch of money that I wasted buying all these scales over the years.

In summary, if I had it to do all over again, I would buy that $20 scale, or I would use a beam scale.

 

[armarsh]

Difference between MFR scale and loadcell scale.

 

[444]

That is a good video.
That is an issue, but for me it isn't a big issue.

The big issue for me is that the scale(s) I have owned trying to maintain their zero as you trickle powder slowly into the pan. If you trickle powder slowly enough, you can fill the pan completely and the scale will never register anything above where you started. Then you dump out the pan, sit the pan back on the scale, and it will read over zero indicating (to me) that it has zeroed itself at some number above actual zero: and the charge in the pan is way above what the scale says it is.
If you don't know what I am talking about, take your electronic scale and very slowly trickle powder into the pan. You will see that it appears that the display is not keeping up but in reality, the zero is changing. The scale is re-calibrating itself to a new zero. If you own two scales do the same thing: very slowly trickle powder into the pan of one electronic scale. I am talking about the speed where you might be trying to bring a charge up 1/10 or 2/10 of a grain: slowly. Do this for 20 or 30 seconds and then compare the powder charge on two scales. Every electronic scale I have ever owned (relatively low end electronic scales) will fail this test to some degree. If I am trickling the powder slowly enough, I can be GRAINS over my intended charge.

FWIW: this is why I am not using the Gem Pro 250 very much. I thought it would be cool to have that extra digit. More precise measurement. BUT, as you very slowly trickle powder onto the pan to bring that second digit to exactly where you want it; the zero changes. I tried loading 10 charges to EXACTLY the same value by very slowly trickling the powder to within two digits to the right of the decimal point and ended up with the scale being off of zero by .7 grains. So in the end, it was FAR less accurate than what I was doing before despite the fact that it has more resolution on the display.

 

[Blue68f100]

Yes, some sales do that but only when your under a certain wait. My GP250, does not drift zero and will not reset the zero. If your does it needs to be sent in for service. My RCBS CM has auto zero but only when the weight is very low. If I want a quicker update on the GP, I just lightly lift one corner of the pan to force it to read. Dealing with extruded powders you learn how many grains it takes to move it 0.1 gr. I use tweezers at times to remove over shoots, or to add.

 

[armarsh]

I run my FX-120i with auto zero turned off. It's just a setting for me. I can trickle in a kernel at a time if I want to.

Load cell scales struggle to do this.

 

[WelshShooter]

I had a GemPro 250 scales. The accuracy is brilliant and can be used for producing some excellent ammunition. However, it is extremely tedious in trickling, just like rg1 says. I don't need a high level of precision, I shoot at targets 1.5m high and 0.5m wide out to 1,200m so I don't really need amazing precision. I sold my scales and bought a Lyman Gen6 digital scales. These produce acceptable accuracy and velocity in anything from my .223 bolt action, milsurp rifles up to my 6.5x47 Lapua.

You just gotta ask yourself, what level of accuracy do I NEED?