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Posted: 2/28/2016 6:49:55 PM EDT
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Looking for a good digital reloading scale, will be using it to dial in my 550 powder measure.
Any recommendations are welcome. Thanks. |
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I like my GemPro 250. It's very accurate and didn't cost as much as your 550.
Digital scales are usually in two categories: cheap (and not just inexpensive) and VERY expensive. The GemPro 250 costs around $130-150, a little less if you shop around. It's definitely worth the money. |
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in for options. I use an old fashioned scale that is OK but the only digital scale I have is the one that came with the Hornady press kit and it sucks.
Edit: The Hornady press kit is a good kit but the scale should not be used IMO. Way too much drift in the readings. |
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in for options. I use an old fashioned scale that is OK but the only digital scale I have is the one that came with the Hornady press kit and it sucks. Ditto on cheap digital scales being a waste money. Truth be told, short of my RCBS charge master that I used for dispensing powder for match loads, my Ohaus 505-10 and 10-10 beam scales have served me well for decades now (Same scales that RCBS sells, only painted green instead). As for testing a digital scale, zero it with the pan, pull the pan and drop a charge into pan, put the pan on the scale to get a reading, pull it off and them put it back on about a half dozen time as well, and see if you get the same readings over and over again instead. Hence here is the glitch in the cheap scales, since it not the pressure piezo sensor so much the problem, but the fulcrum point of the surface plate to the switch not reliable enough (drop pan not place back on the same point on the plate), and the electronic circuity not clean enough that is the problem isntead. |
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Quoted:
I like my GemPro 250. It's very accurate and didn't cost as much as your 550. Digital scales are usually in two categories: cheap (and not just inexpensive) and VERY expensive. The GemPro 250 costs around $130-150, a little less if you shop around. It's definitely worth the money. Just watched a few youtube videos on this one. Looks good for what I need it for. Anyone else use this one? |
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Gem Pro 250 seems to be the goto scale for 'better' scales w/o going true lab grade scales.
I use a myweigh ibalance 101. similar to the gem pro, a couple bucks cheaper. Reads to .1 grain where the gempro reads to 0.02 gr. I bought my scale from old will knott scales. They carry the gem pro as well. Definitely get check weights. Lyman, RCBS and others market an inexpensive set of check weights in grains so it's easy to get a reading at or near your drop weight. |
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Digital scales are nice if you pay for a good one. What scale are you using now? I only ask because I have both digital and beam scales and I prefer my 505 beam. Not sure what OP has but I just have the everyday old Lyman model, Works OK but a decent digital would be better if it didn't drift all over the place and gave the same readings with he same load every time. Even the Lyman is sensitive as to exactly how you load the powder on to the tray/ cup and how the tray is put back onto the scale. It has to be done just right or it will give different reading. |
| Been using a Gempro 250 for a couple years. Its an awesome digital scale. Its so sensitive that if a mouse farts in the next room your scale will drift. Worth every penny. I started with a rcbs pocket scale that came with my press. JUNK! should be banned. You put your life on the line using a pocket scale. |
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Has anyone gone with the Gempro 500 instead of the 250? I'm looking to get a new digital scale myself. I have been using a Denver Instruments mxx-123 for several years, but it walks way too much for my liking. I'd like to replace it with something similar without breaking the budget. |
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I have a "cheap" Frankford Arsenal digital scale that gets high reviews. Thing is: It's not really good for trickling powder. Otherwise, it seems to read almost identical to my classic Hornady beam scale. That's good to hear, as that's what I bought too. Haven't used it yet. |
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A good mechanical balance is cheaper than a gempro and as long as you don't abuse it you will never have reason to suspect it's accuracy.
The Dillon powder measure on my 650 appears to be extremely consistent, at least with the powder I am using so dialing it in is really not complicated and you won't really be saving yourself any time using a digital. |
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Has anyone gone with the Gempro 500 instead of the 250? I'm looking to get a new digital scale myself. I have been using a Denver Instruments mxx-123 for several years, but it walks way too much for my liking. I'd like to replace it with something similar without breaking the budget. I like the design of the gempro 300. Front panel tilts forward a bit compared to the gempro 250. http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-gempro-300.html |
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From a precision/consistency POV, there's probably no real reason to spend more than a GemPro 250 costs. Those scales still appear to be strain gauge scales, susceptible to lots of interference, and don't have enough divisions to cover the range the scale is built for with the precision we want in very small weights.
The GemPro 250 isn't perfect - it doesn't trickle well and it will flutter until you eliminate interference or RF noise. To truly improve on that you would look at a mag force restoration scale. The cheapest one I've found is the A&D FX120i. When purchased from Cambridgeenviro.com it now costs $710 Canadian, or $525 US. |
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I have a "cheap" Frankford Arsenal digital scale that gets high reviews. Thing is: It's not really good for trickling powder. Otherwise, it seems to read almost identical to my classic Hornady beam scale. Was just on line looking at this one. What are the problems you have with it when trickling? Just not reading the increases well or does it drift all over the place? (probably exaggerating the all over the place part but you get the idea) Edit: I assume you mean the platinum series scale? |
| well, I'll be the oddball that says.... I bought a Lyman digital years and years ago, never had a problem, consistently about .5% off and as long as it is consistent. I'm good. I use a Redding thrower and a Little Dandy as my throwers. I will have a Chargemaster one day ;) |
| Gem Pro 250 for years. It's what I recommend to everybody. It's not with its faults. Super sensitive, make sure you have no vents flowing nearby. If you add very small amounts of powder you will have to touch it so it can reweigh it. Measures to .00 grains, next measurement it will measure will be .05 grains. To give you an idea what this is on the Gem 250 it is one larger extruded piece of H4350. I verify occasionally with measured weights or my rcbs beam scale. The pan is way too small it's a joke. |
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Quoted:
Gem Pro 250 for years. It's what I recommend to everybody. It's not with its faults. Super sensitive, make sure you have no vents flowing nearby. If you add very small amounts of powder you will have to touch it so it can reweigh it. Measures to .00 grains, next measurement it will measure will be .05 grains. To give you an idea what this is on the Gem 250 it is one larger extruded piece of H4350. I verify occasionally with measured weights or my rcbs beam scale. The pan is way too small it's a joke. The pan is also plastic, and I've found that powder sticks to it. And it's so shallow that powder can bounce off of it, too. So I use my RCBS beam scale's pan instead. Also the breeze shield is way too small, so I'm working on an enclosure (like the kind used with analytical scales) so mine is better isolated from breezes. But that's about the extent of the "cons" for this scale. |
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