Opinions?

[armedandsafe]

I've been looking at this. Any opinions?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...131505229&rd=1

Pops

[pickenup]

I have not used one of those fancy electronic scales to do any reloading, so I can’t give you an opinion on them. But I do use a couple for weighing my outgoing letters, and auction packages, and I REALLY like them. Have matched up with the postal scales ever time. I will be interested to hear how these do for reloading.

[ibtrukn]

A&S, no xpreience but looks kinda neet, an does it 4 ways. $40 seems to B in the ballpark--------

[armedandsafe]

The $40 vs $130 (on sale) is what attracted me. I've read a couple of reviews where the battery replacement was an issue, but I know how to convert batteries to wallwart. The 0.1 grain accuracy is what caught my attention. Hmmmmmmm.

Pops

[MisterEd]

Never used one myself but the price would have attracted me. I once read somewhere a digital scale is no more accurate than a mechanical scale but would be a lot faster - especially when loading rifle ammo which I weigh out each charge. I would also find a scale such as this very useful to weigh out some green leafy plant material, in ounce or greater quantities that I package for future usage!

[MisterEd]

Ok, just kidding! I weigh out hops and package them for future beermaking!

[ibtrukn]

YO A&S< jus think, then U wooden hafta gess how mush them gold nuggets wayed!!

[armedandsafe]

Are those the ones that turn green if you don't clean them regularly?

Pops

[stash247]

Pops, the price of admission is VERY right. I'd want three test weights, at 20%, 50 %, and 80%, of scale capacity, verified by my Pharmacist (I trust my life to him, everyday, anyhow!) , to confirm the scale's accuracy, across it's range, but, if it proved up, it's a steal!
I'll still throw, not weigh, charges, tho. If I need a scale to work a load, beyond setting my powder measure, I'm WAY too close to the line!
This includes my .17 caliber stuff- had to modify a Lyman 55 for them, but they are loaded with thrown charges, too.
If he re-lists the scale, please re-post! I may buy one, tooo!

[LDBennett]

armedandsafe:

I have the Dillon version and it works well. It is handy with the Tare feature (I think that is what they call it) that allows you to zero it and it reads variations from the zero weight. You put an empty case on it, zero it, it reads zero, fill the case with the powder, and it reads only the powder weight.

Don't confuse the ability of the readout to display 0.1 gr differences from the true accuracy. I saw no where on the ad that the accuracy was 0.1 grains but only that the precision (what it reads on the readout) was 0.1 grains. That is different than accuracy! I calibrated my Dillon scale With the Lyman Weight Set and found that it was within 0.1gr until it got to 50 grains where it was 0.3 gr but was right on again at 100 gr. I calibrated my high dollar RCBS old fashion balance scale and it was with 0.15 gr across the range of interest.

Balance scales are easy to make and once set up can retain excellent accuracy. They are after all simple and purely mechanical. Electronic scales are electromechanical devices with sensors, analog to digtital converters, and digital electronics. It is a lot harder to make a good electronic scale than a simple balance arm one. For that reason I'd rather spend a little extra money to buy from a known good supplier with a good track record for service than a fly-by-night outfit that imports Chinese copies that if they fail will be un-repairable or whose manufacturer is no longer there to replace the scale. You get what you pay for!

There is a safety issue here too, because if you don't regularly verify the scale for accuracy you may get a charge in a cartridge that will be memorable. You can not go wrong with either the RCBS, the Lyman, or the Dillon. I check my Dillon scale occassionally and have never found it to be out calibration but I have to reset the zero many times during a reloading session as it drifts off zero with changes in the environment. If left on undisturbed for days it does not drift off zero. Strange but not a problem as you simply push a button and it is zeroed.

As far as using one, they are very handy, work fast, but are subject to variation in readings caused by wind currents in the reloading room. They are almost unusable at the outdoors range unless well shielded from breezes.

LDBennett

[armedandsafe]

LD, I understand where you are coming from. I was thinking of trying it to see if my use would justify buying a REAL scale.

Stash, to an ebay search on "scales reloading. He lists a bunch of them all the time.

Pops