Digital scale under 100 bucks

R

reaper7534

Inactive
I've been putting off getting a digital scale and I'm now ready to get one ( won a hundred bucks on a scratch-off ). I'd like to keep it at the amount but will spend more if it is worth it.

Right now I have a Dillon beam scale and it suffices and I'll continue to use it, just would like to have the digital also.

I'm only loading handgun calibers right now, but may do rifle in the future.

I'd like something that works on AC power also.

Thanks

Tim
 
I like my Frankford Arsenal DS-750, it's cheap and has been reliable. You should probably get a better one though if you have 100 bucks to spend.
 
"Better is the enemy of good enough."

"A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure."

I'd sure be able to find better things to spend my $100 on than a digital scale when I had a nice Dillon beam scale already on hand.

That said, hey, if you'd like to try it, go for it--I had one (but it was a cheap one-about $20) and first couple days I had it I weight six or seven coins multiple times and didn't get real consistent results...decided to stay with my old RCBS 505 beam scale.

Once again though, life's short if you really want it, get it.
 
I agree with the above about a beam scale. Buy a better one (dillon or redding), they dont get out of wack while using them. They also balance rather quickly because of the magnet.

I think the RCBS and some other electronic scales are damaged by certain light emissions. Not kidding about that, read up on the manual online before you buy one.
 
Don't think I can buy a better Dillon beam scale than the Dillon beam scale I already have :D

I use LED lighting, so no ballasts. Should not be any interference. I'm not dead set on getting a digital, just want to look at options.

I'd be better suited to buy a powder measure, but want to keep options open.
 
Don't think I can buy a better Dillon beam scale than the Dillon beam scale I already have


Doh! Missed that in your first post. Thought it said you were considering one.
 
Way back in the early 90's, there was this cool cat at work that had a very early bag-phone. Cellular phone that had a techie-cool hand piece attached via cord to a soft case that held the brains of the unit and it's large battery. I cannot even imagine how much this cost in '91 (or '92?) but he was so cool because he had this thing -- nobody, NOBODY had one of these.

Came in very handy for him because he would call for his ride while he sat in the parking lot. Dude didn't have a car. Couldn't afford one I guess. ;)

Sorry, I thought the story was funny and somewhat relevant. It seems like you already have a beam scale (a damn good one by the way, made by Ohaus) and you either have a lousy powder measure or no powder measure at all.

Myself, I wouldn't trade my Dillon Eliminator for FIVE electronic scales.
No way, never.
 
I bought both a digital scale and a electronic scale/powder dispenser. Went back to my beam after too many inconsistencies for rifle loads, but did like them for handgun loads where accuracy isn't such a premium. I ended up eventually getting an ohaus triple beam that is awesome.
 
Frankford Arsenal DS-750
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+2

I bought 3 or 4 different digital scales on my quest for a good one.....every single one of them got returned except for the Frankford Arsenal....It just plain works. I've compared it to two separate beam scales and it's spot on every time.

You don't have to spend a ton of money to get a decent scale. This one works just fine.
 
Damon555, I believe every single bit you relayed about your experience but I would suggest emphatically that you have drawn a very mistaken conclusion.

Electronic scales are EXACTLY as you have described, and I bet if you had purchased FIVE examples of every model you have experienced, your results would radically skew the conclusion you have actually seen when trying just a single example of each model. Further, the cheap one that is working so well for you now -- I will happily bet the thread subject $100 that my beam scale and gravity itself will outlast.

The beam scale, if it doesn't get physically abused, is without failure and without end. An electronic scale made in China with parts from the lowest bidder and a cheap load cell is just X amount of time away from failure.

My Frankfort also worked... mostly well most of the time for a while until it actually did as expected and started going flaky.
 
I have been very pleased with my MTM. It is super consistent, although always measure .2 under my beam scale. But its consistently .2 under me beam, so I know that and compensate. Love it. 30-40$
 
I also have the DS-750.

However, while its true with all scales, the lower cost ones drift more and require managing. Its simple but you need to pay attention.

Once its calibrated, then you weigh your powder pan, log what that weight is, then tare it. I write mine on the bottom of the pan though after a while you memorize it (though as you get older sometimes that slips)

In my case, my pan weights 144.6gr. Tare it, scale reads zero

Pull the pan off, and it mine will show 144.5 to 144.7 (yes mine drifts a bit, but as it takes more than 3/10 gr in a rifle case to be any possible issue with 1/4inch groups, its not an issue.

Put powder in, trickle up to your spec charge, when you pull the pan off look at the digits. It should be 144.5 .6 or .7 (yours will be different, pans are not all the same)

Mine lets me know its going off when I see 144.4. I tare again. Mine always goes down not up.

I also back check the first charge. If its within plus or minimum 1/10 I am good.

So each time you do a calibration check which is what the pan tare weight number is, if it drifts, re-tare and you are back.

Sometimes mine drifts off slowly and the 144.4 is my alert, I check the next charge back. If its off I add enough to get it right, and keep going back until I am within a 1/10 again.

Every 5 or 10 rounds I check charge one again.

It sounds more complicated or annoying in writing, its really not.

Also the DS-750 is just the right setup for a right hand trickle charger.

right height and controls at the bottom so you can position the trickle charger where you want it. Others I have looked at are too high or control in the wrong place.
 
My pan weight drifts from 44.0 to 44.1. That's how i know how to compensate the charge. Or I can just keep taring it until it hits 44.0 which is how's I like it.
 
Reaper7534,

As you might have guessed from the above, the electronic scale issue is somewhat catch as catch can. I've seen both cheap and expensive ones that drift, and both cheap and expensive ones that seemed to be rock stable. More of the cheap ones have had drift problems, and fewer of the expensive ones have. So there's a tendency for money to buy quality, but it isn't guaranteed. There was a $20-25 scale at Amazon that had an excellent review from someone with professional calibrating skills and equipment. Would the next copy be as good? No guarantee. So whatever you get, be prepared to send it back once or twice until you have one that behaves.

If you are going to run the scale on AC, since they are sensitive to "hash" (electrical noise and spikes) on the power lines that may come from fluorescent lamp ballasts or from brush type motors or lamp dimmers or computer switching power supplies or other sources, I would invest in some filtering. If you have an old computer UPS whose battery has died, they can be a good filter. You can also buy line filters. At surplus you can sometimes find a used Sola resonant voltage regulating transformer. These are great filters for this kind of thing and last pretty much forever. The key word here is "filter". A surge suppressor is not the same thing (though having one is a nice addition, too, for protection reasons).
 
This is why I went back.....I don't have those issues.
Click to expand...

That's the good thing about the choices, it just may not suit how some people like to work.

Nothing wrong with that, in this case I find even the low cost DS-750 more than easy to work with.

Others will want to move up latter (though it would still be good to have it around).

The nice thing is its so low cost there is no down side, they are extremely useful tools. You also get an idea of how it works with how you are setup and do things and what might work as good for a better one. I just stopped at this one cause it did what I wanted the way I wanted it to and the cross check is a slam dunk for me.

Not sure on two identical but different weight bullets, instant read out.

forget to scan your cases for powder, run em across the scale and you can see immediately one is out (or in one case I found very low weight).

So even if it does not work for powder use, its a great tool to have at a low price.

As for me, I find it more accurate than the balance beam and a lot easier and quicker. Like I said, the cross check is so fast and easy that its not a hindrance.

I also think its more accurate though that may not be enough to make a difference for most shooting.
 
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