Looking for a new powder scale

My Dillon electronic powder scale (older version) works fine but since reloading 32 S&W Long and 32 ACP find a need for something more accurate.  One of the annoying things about the Dillon is the constant zeroing required.  Any suggestions on a quality replacement under $500?

A&D FX120i from the Canadian supplier sometimes is priced delivered under $500.00.

Greetings,

A Made in the USA RCBS or Ohaus 10-10 balance beam scale.

Cheers,

Dave

If you decide to go Balance Beam, I would recommend a Scott Parker conversion. His premier one is based on the Lyman M5.

Bob

Or just fine yourself an old Lymqn M5 and go from there. May well be the best Ohaus ever made

Hard to beat an A&D, especially if you decide to buy an Autitrickler for loading rifle ammo.  (Autotrickler can connect directly to an FX-120.)  Another option is a Veritas lab balance for $286.00, plus shipping.  Stabilization time is longer than for an A&D, not sure what the sensor type is.  

Link to Veritas balance:  https://www.hogentogler.com/veritas/s63-reloading-scale.asp

NOTE:  I own and use an older A&D balance (GF series), and am very happy with it.

I have the Lyman Ohaus M5 but hardly use it.  The Dillon electronic works fine but drifts and is slow.  Loading 32 S&W Long and 32 ACP recently prompted a replacement.  The A&D FX120i looks like a huge improvement and may get that one if it can be found for $500 or less.

I use the Omega Auto Trickler with my FX120i

I use a Ohaus 10-10 bought it in 1972 I think still works good used it to day two set my powder dispenser to 2.5 grains of Red Dot, just get a balance beam and be happy for the rest of your life!

GEMPRO 250

james r chapman wrote:GEMPRO 250

As far as I know it's not made anymore.

+1 Gempro 250.  See below, and act quickly -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gempro-250-Precision-Laboratory-Scale-50gx0-001g/154249554550?hash=item23e9fd6a76:g:h08AAOSwvKZf27RI

FYI - Lee Love of UniqueTek is a good resource for cleaning and calibrating these.

AP

PhotoEscape wrote:+1 Gempro 250.  See below, and act quickly -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gempro-250-Precision-Laboratory-Scale-50gx0-001g/154249554550?hash=item23e9fd6a76:g:h08AAOSwvKZf27RI

FYI - Lee Love of UniqueTek is a good resource for cleaning and calibrating these.

AP

Wasn't fast enough

beeser wrote:

james r chapman wrote:GEMPRO 250

As far as I know it's not made anymore.

Didn’t know that.

Current model is GemPro 300 - My Weigh Gempro-300 | My Weigh | The best digital scales on earth

It is not as good as 250 as algorithm was changed, so new model is slower, and more prone to drifting as all strain type scales.  In order to mitigate drifting scale must be warmed up for at least 30 minutes prior to measuring anything.  I keep mine always on, and have good results with it.  For that matter I'm totally happy with it, and fx120i I got last year is still seating in shipping box.

A&D fx120i is Magnetic Force Restoration type and of course few level up.  Which is reflected in price.  So if you can find one for sub-$500 (Thank you, Steve T!!) I'd suggest getting it.  If interested, feel free to PM me, and I'll dig out information as to where I got mine. 

AP

$500 shipped here with the CAMBRIDGE code.

https://ceproducts.shop/products/fx-120i-reloading-scale-122g-x-0-001g

Purchased and just received the A&D FX120i and have to say from first impressions that I'm a little disappointed.  After warming it up for at least 30 minutes it drifts just as much if not more than my Dillon electronic scale.  It has to be zeroed out for every measurement.  Turns out the Dillon is just as accurate too if read in tenths.

Did you call them? Something is wrong. The thing I like about mine is how stable and consistent it is.

RCBS 304 - discontinued and used ones are a bit pricey.  But it is the best mechanical scale I have ever come across.

rkittine wrote:Did you call them? Something is wrong. The thing I like about mine is how stable and consistent it is.

No, I plan to spend a little more time with it first before contacting the manufacturer.  Maybe there is something in the settings that allows it to be more stable.

What kind of lighting do you have in your losing area?

I started with a RCBS beam scale back in the 70’s. Changed to a digital about ten years ago but switched back to a Redding beam scale. Just not a fan of electronic digital scales but I never spent several hundred on one.

rkittine wrote:What kind of lighting do you have in your losing area?

Overhead incandescent

Sorry to be a "nay-sayer" but I just don't get this obsession to have a laboratory grade electronic scale for checking powder charges for pistol loads.

There have been numerous threads on the subject recently - some folks here also reload target rifle ammo - OK, if you are weighing every charge to a hundredth of a grain, fair enough, maybe!

But even for 32 cal pistol loads with charges as small as 1.4 grains, measuring charges to better than 0.01 grains seems to go beyond a reasonable tolerance. I've done several checks of 1.6 and 1.8 grain charges of N310 from several Dillon Powder Measures (with Dillon X-Small or Arredondo micrometer bars) and have found that the throw is consistent to within 0.01 as indicated on my old Lyman Beam Scale - and verified by 10 charge averages on a cheap (but said to be good for 0.001 grains) $20 electronic pocket scale. The pocket scale seems to warm up almost instantly and has been spot on every time I've done calibration checks.

Maybe I am deluded?

I only use them for my bench rest rifle loads.