That's one of the big problems with strain gauge scales.Digital scales...eh.
A few years ago I got a digital scale, about $25, and since I was on vacation and couldn't reload I took a half dozen coins, marked them with a sharpie and then weighed them each two or three times a day for four or five days.
Not too scientific but I was not impressed with the results and have not used it for reloading.
Your mileage may vary but I still use the 5-0-5 balance scale.
Good luck.
That's another key. Using any scale, you really should be using verified check weights, before every season. If the scale passes, then it doesn't matter if it's a 10 dollar scale or a thousand dollar certified and certified balance. The trouble comes mostly with the differences in the inner workings. Most digital scales are strain gauge scales, which the sensors are very prone to drift with temperature changes. The manufacturer knows this and they're literally programmed to write off light and slow weight changes as drift. The more expensive balances use magnetic force restoration, which isn't as prone to drift, but they're extremely sensitive. The last scale mentioned above, for $470, will accurately and precisely measure to .02 of a grain using grains, or .015 using grams. Pair that stuff the auto trickler and auto throw and I can throw a 95.0 grain charge +0.00/-.02 faster than I can turn around and seat a bullet after putting the cup back on. The kit costs a pretty penny and your first born, but it's worth it, especially if you're after perfection and something you can trust all the time. But I realize that not everyone needs that and/or can justify the cost.My two previously-mentioned digital scales accurately display the weights from my pharmaceutical-grade metric and apothecary sets.
That's another key. Using any scale, you really should be using verified check weights, before every season[
Correct. I did say verified, not certified. By that I meant just checked against what they normally weigh on your balance. If it should be 500 grams, but consistently comes up as 498, as long as it's always the same, that's all that matters.you don't need verified check weights for reloading. When weighing a powder charge what you are concerned with is precision, not accuracy. What you want is for the scale to read the same every time you put the check weight on it. Take certified, verified 10 gram check weight. put it on your scale and it reads 9.998 grams as long as that scale always reads 9.998 grams you are good to go.
Amazes me how many on a shooting forum confuse accuracy and precision. Just for the record I can go fire up the $20 scale Il isted above and put my non verified 10 gram weight on it and it will read 9.998 grams, has done it for years. I put the same weight on my A&D 120 fx and it reads 9.999 grams. Does not bother me in the least, I load plus or minus .02 grains for shooting out to 1000 yards. I can't tell the difference with rounds loaded on either scale
Digital scales...eh.
A few years ago I got a digital scale, about $25, and since I was on vacation and couldn't reload I took a half dozen coins, marked them with a sharpie and then weighed them each two or three times a day for four or five days.
Not too scientific but I was not impressed with the results and have not used it for reloading.
Your mileage may vary but I still use the 5-0-5 balance scale.
Good luck.
I did say verified, not certified. By that I meant just checked against what they normally weigh on your balance.
Originally Posted by hounddawg:
you don't need verified check weights for reloading. When weighing a powder charge what you are concerned with is precision, not accuracy. What you want is for the scale to read the same every time you put the check weight on it. Take certified, verified 10 gram check weight. put it on your scale and it reads 9.998 grams as long as that scale always reads 9.998 grams you are good to go.
Amazes me how many on a shooting forum confuse accuracy and precision. Just for the record I can go fire up the $20 scale Il isted above and put my non verified 10 gram weight on it and it will read 9.998 grams, has done it for years. I put the same weight on my A&D 120 fx and it reads 9.999 grams. Does not bother me in the least, I load plus or minus .02 grains for shooting out to 1000 yards. I can't tell the difference with rounds loaded on either scale