Electronic Powder measurers
- Thread starter CWLONGSHOT
- Start date
Tomme boy
Well-Known Member
I have yet to see my scale drift from the lights. I have both LED and fluorescent completely surround me and the scale. They all will drift when they are first turned on. It has nothing to do with the lights. They just need time to warm and stabilize. 2-3 hours is what is called for. If you really want to see how bad it can drift, drop a charge and leave it for about 30 min in the pan on the scale. Dump the powder and put the pan back on and see how far it is off. This stops by letting the scale warm up.
Jäger
Active Member
I turn my Dillon on when I head down to the bench. I always run it off the power supply, not by batteries - although I've tried running on batteries to see if that solved the problem.
By the time I've finished setting up, clearing anything that's on the bench out of the way, went and got the powder and primers I'm going to use out of their magazines, bullets, cases, dies I want, etc.... the scale has been sitting there warming up for probably half an hour; maybe 45 minutes. Still drifts.
And is still drifting three, four, five hours later. If coming back to pick up where I left off the next day, the scale sits there powered up all night. Still drifts.
That's just one scale; mine. But even if three hours of warming up was the magic number for it... I lack the patience for a piece of precision equipment that demands three hours to warm up and stabilize. If the Trimble's I use to do GPS surveys needed three hours to sufficiently warm up and stabilize, I'd lose my shirt because I sure as hell can't bill a client for three hours standing there staring at a GPS, doing nothing but waiting for it to warm up.
If I was an F-Class or Precision Rifle competitor, maybe I'd have a lot more patience.
fiver
Well-Known Member
I have the old lyman number-2.
my only complaint is emptying it to use another powder is a pain.
but it's paired up with the worst powder dump on the planet that I thankfully only paid 5$ for at a yard sale.
dump the powder, put the pan down, push the button, seat the bullet from the last run, and pick up the pan and pour it in the next case.
repeat.
I'm on my second Dillon scale, but it's at least 30 years old.
the original one went no problems till about 7-8 years ago when a big box of hand wipes fell off the shelf onto it, it got knocked about .3grs off [wandered @ .2-3 either side] when that happened.
but I figured it owed me nothing by that time.
I just bought a hundred dollar lyman to replace it since I mostly used it to check or hand weigh powder drops for shot shell loading anyway.
my only complaint is emptying it to use another powder is a pain.
but it's paired up with the worst powder dump on the planet that I thankfully only paid 5$ for at a yard sale.
dump the powder, put the pan down, push the button, seat the bullet from the last run, and pick up the pan and pour it in the next case.
repeat.
I'm on my second Dillon scale, but it's at least 30 years old.
the original one went no problems till about 7-8 years ago when a big box of hand wipes fell off the shelf onto it, it got knocked about .3grs off [wandered @ .2-3 either side] when that happened.
but I figured it owed me nothing by that time.
I just bought a hundred dollar lyman to replace it since I mostly used it to check or hand weigh powder drops for shot shell loading anyway.
I have the Hornady Auto Charge.
I really like it .
Having the ability to adjust the trickle start time and trickle speed makes it easy for an old man nearly 80 to use.
With those 2 adjustments I can get it to dispense any type of powder from fluffy [700X] to large kernels [H4831] as fast as I can seat bullets.
I really like it .
Having the ability to adjust the trickle start time and trickle speed makes it easy for an old man nearly 80 to use.
With those 2 adjustments I can get it to dispense any type of powder from fluffy [700X] to large kernels [H4831] as fast as I can seat bullets.
Wasalmonslayer
Well-Known Member
I will second the Hornady.
Mine works fabulous and the timing of it is perfect for how I load.
It is done dispensing by the time I am ready to charge the next case.
Been real reliable and thru many cross checks across good beam scales is on the money every time.
Here is a link to the one I purchased - https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....charge-powder-scale-and-dispenser-110220-volt
Had it for over three years and so far so good.
I use it for hard to measure stick powders.
It has some trickle up speed and timing adjustments I really like. Once set they stay and I don’t get an over charge but maybe once in a hundred drops. Some times I’ll load two hundred without an over drop.
Many good ones out there I just happened onto a sale on this one and it has served me well.
Good luck in your quest.
WS
Mine works fabulous and the timing of it is perfect for how I load.
It is done dispensing by the time I am ready to charge the next case.
Been real reliable and thru many cross checks across good beam scales is on the money every time.
Here is a link to the one I purchased - https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....charge-powder-scale-and-dispenser-110220-volt
Had it for over three years and so far so good.
I use it for hard to measure stick powders.
It has some trickle up speed and timing adjustments I really like. Once set they stay and I don’t get an over charge but maybe once in a hundred drops. Some times I’ll load two hundred without an over drop.
Many good ones out there I just happened onto a sale on this one and it has served me well.
Good luck in your quest.
WS
The drift that some mention is just how it is with a strain gauge scale. The best of them aren't terribly happy if you were to have a cell phone near the scale. The less expensive models seem to have a mind of their own (a cantankerous mind at that). Been there and it can be aggravating.
The magnetic force restoration balance, while expensive, makes weighing so easy and precise.
I do have a relatively new Chargemaster bit don't use it. I throw my charges with an old brown Redding and then trickle up with an older Omega trickler. It's pretty fast as the Redding is pretty accurate to start with and the balance is as speed demon.
The magnetic force restoration balance, while expensive, makes weighing so easy and precise.
I do have a relatively new Chargemaster bit don't use it. I throw my charges with an old brown Redding and then trickle up with an older Omega trickler. It's pretty fast as the Redding is pretty accurate to start with and the balance is as speed demon.
BBerguson
Official Pennsyltuckian
I kind of like my beam scales and I have two of them. The only time I ever saw them “drift“ was when I switched powder pans while I was loading. I was using a powder thrower and for some reason picked up the other pan. Found out they weigh significantly different! Never made that mistake again. I’ve looked at the electronic ones but I just can’t pull the trigger on one. I won’t say I’ll never own one but don’t see one in my immediate future.
Tomme boy
Well-Known Member
Do you have 2 or 3 wire 120 in your house. If you have 2 wire run a ground wire from a water pipe to the outlet and it should help. Like I said the only time mine drifts is when it is first started and if you leave a charge in the pan. Grounding causes all kinds of issues in other things besides a car. It is the first thing that should be checked in anything electrically controlled. Then check the actual voltage at your house. if it it too high or low it can cause problems. Our old house was next to a sub station and we had 124v. Light bulbs would blow at 3-4 months.
But then again I see all kinds of people using those $12 scales off amazon and say the same thing about drifting. You get what you pay for with all the cheap china junk
But then again I see all kinds of people using those $12 scales off amazon and say the same thing about drifting. You get what you pay for with all the cheap china junk
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
As expected SAGE INFORMATION PROVIDED here!! 
I think for now Ill stay as I have for decades.
CW
I think for now Ill stay as I have for decades.
CW