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Digital Scales Accuracy
- Thread starter Roland Thunder
- Start date
Keep in mind the guys who are shooting 3 - 6 inch groups at 1000 yards are doing it with loads measured by a powder throw not weighed
Exactly. Precise volume measurement is every bit as good, if not better, than weight measurement. But weight measurement is a good tool, we just stress out about getting it "to the grain" when a 1% charge weight variance will not show a statistically larger group than "to the grain" measured ammo.
jonnefudge
New member
I got a Frankford arsenal and it is very accurate according to my balance beam. It is really great an I am never going back to the slow balance beam.
RC20, so since Im probably not gonna get into reloading for another year (I need to do some rehab on the garage before setting up a reload area) do you think I should just wait before picking up a scale?, I know they normally sell for like 20-25 off sale.
If not reloading then wait. RCBS and Lyaman came ot with a very nice smaller auto dispenser that I picked up for $167.
Not as feature rich as the big ones, Lyman takes a touch pen to work the screen (if you have fatter fingers like I do) but it suits the bill to a T.
New stuff comes out and prices come down.
what's now my backup scale will likely come down as well. that one is nice as it has a large screen on it and my fingers work it (its the one with the build in trickler)
the little Hornady which is annoying to keep zeroed goes to the rang in the box with me, small enough for that and work fine for the odd checks there.
Exactly. Precise volume measurement is every bit as good, if not better, than weight measurement. But weight measurement is a good tool, we just stress out about getting it "to the grain" when a 1% charge weight variance will not show a statistically larger group than "to the grain" measured ammo.
Yep, too many other factors over shoot that.
but for short range, it makes us feel good.
about the only low cost thing we can do that is quick and easy.
Just had a thought about how to check consistency. Use the check weights to calibrate the scale. Then pick up 10 small objects (empty cases, bullets, shell holders etc) off your reloading bench of various weights and weigh them and record the weight of each object. Leave scale on or off then come back a few hours or a day later and see if you get the same results on those objects. Double check the weight against a balance beam or a second electronic or both if possible
You are making it too complicated.
Zero the scale, fine out what your weight and each time you remove it after its been charged with power, the remaining weight is (should be) your pan weight.
If its not, zero it.
If it does not zero to pan weight,
Recalibrate it.
The pan weight is around 145 grains.
that is far more than the vast majority of loads.
If its good, then your load is good.
theoretically even if its off a grain, you charge to 70 grains, you are off all of half a grain.
While I still don't completely trust a digital scale, I'm sold on my cheap FA....
You never trust any instujrment.
You always cross check them.
A wrench is simple, are the flats flat, no dings on the edges, good to go.
Try to zero a the pan that did not come with your beam scale! Beams is setup to a specific pan.
Again, zero yhour scale, weight your pan, that is you control weight.
Tare or ZERO it.
Put the power on it, put said powder in the shell.
when you take it off, check trhe negagtive weight, that should be EXACLTU what your positive pan weight was.
If not, zero,
If does not weigh the recorded when you pull it off (negative number) then calibrate.
if that doe not work look for grains stuck in the edge (Franfurth sucks that way, it allows grains to lodge there)
Try clean up and anit static.
If no joy contact maker and get new one. Lyaman and RCBS are outstanding for that.
Anything digital has uncertainty of +/-1/2LSB (least significant bit). Most, if not all, digital scales are metric in nature. The LSB for inexpensive models is 10mg (milligram), or 0.15gr. So it is quite normal to see a digital scale ditters (not drifts) +/- 0.1gr, as it is good as it gets.
Is it good enough? You decide. There are different kind of digital scales that can do better in this regard, usually at the expense of the maximum weight it can handle. They are the so called "gem scales". They are not necessarily much more costly if you don't mind staying below 1/2oz, 219gr, maximum weight.
My gem scale, forgot its exact model, has LSB of 1mg, so it can do +/- 0.01gr in theory. Considering it's a cheap product, I only trust it to +/-0.05gr. When I see a display of say 41.05, 41.09, and 41.01, it is 41.0. If I want 41.1, I don't want to see any 41.0x nor 41.2y.
A gem scale should come with at least 2 weight standards. 2 weights are for calibration, so it is a 3-point cal(0 is always one point). Most other scales need only 1 weight, so 2-point cal.
I use digital scales for their compact size, so I only have battery powered scales. It is no point keeping them powered on all the time. In fact, they auto power off after certain time of inactivity. They automatically zero when powered up, which is a good thing.
It is no point spending money on proof weight either. The scale already comes with a few. I actually use the weighing pan as a quick check before each use. It must display -41.8x gr when I lift the pan up.
Both beam and digital scales have their place. They all work well if you use them properly. To know their limitations is the first step.
-TL
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
Is it good enough? You decide. There are different kind of digital scales that can do better in this regard, usually at the expense of the maximum weight it can handle. They are the so called "gem scales". They are not necessarily much more costly if you don't mind staying below 1/2oz, 219gr, maximum weight.
My gem scale, forgot its exact model, has LSB of 1mg, so it can do +/- 0.01gr in theory. Considering it's a cheap product, I only trust it to +/-0.05gr. When I see a display of say 41.05, 41.09, and 41.01, it is 41.0. If I want 41.1, I don't want to see any 41.0x nor 41.2y.
A gem scale should come with at least 2 weight standards. 2 weights are for calibration, so it is a 3-point cal(0 is always one point). Most other scales need only 1 weight, so 2-point cal.
I use digital scales for their compact size, so I only have battery powered scales. It is no point keeping them powered on all the time. In fact, they auto power off after certain time of inactivity. They automatically zero when powered up, which is a good thing.
It is no point spending money on proof weight either. The scale already comes with a few. I actually use the weighing pan as a quick check before each use. It must display -41.8x gr when I lift the pan up.
Both beam and digital scales have their place. They all work well if you use them properly. To know their limitations is the first step.
-TL
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk