Digital Scale and Fluctuation question

[papafloyd]

I have a fluctuation problem with my digital scale, it's the Hornady scale that came with the Lock N Load kit. I actually seen one identical to it for $8.95, that in itself tells me how good it is. Anyway I've had it for about 5 to 6yrs and for the most part worked okay. Now though the weights seem to be floating a bit. So after I calibrate it and put the tray on to tare it will rise sometimes, it started at 130.5grains then went all the way up to 131grains. The thing is that no matter what it read after removing the tray it always went back to zero when I put the mt tray back on it. Looking for a new scale as this one has lost my confidence. I've done some reading and have found this is normal for this scale. Speaking of confidence when loading my powder I am getting between 4 and 4.5grains, trying for 4.2grains, these are just range rounds so as long as they go bang and cycle I think it's okay. I understand that the powder drop could fluctuate a bit also but wouldn't expect it to be quite so much, am I correct in that thinking?
Thanks for any thoughts.

[ysr_racer]

Re the powder drop, they drop by volume not weight, and some powders flow better than others.

[smoothy8500]

[papafloyd]

Thank you guys as always. I am looking at new scales, lots of choices! I'm using VV N320 right now and it appears to be a stick powder. Like mentioned I can live with the .2 fluctuation if that's what it actually is. But my scale tray has went from 130.5gr to 131gr so I'm worried about the total fluctuation with the scale being off. I have about 1200 more 9mm rounds to load but for now I'm on hold until I get a new scale.

[ysr_racer]

I use this

Smart Weigh GEM20- 20g x 0.001 Grams, High Precision Digital Milligram Jewelry Scale, Reloading, Jewelry and Gems Scale, Calibration Weights and Tweezers Included https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ESHDGOI...ing=UTF8&psc=1

[smoothy8500]

I was reading the description, but it didn't mention grains. Does it give measurements in grains, or do you calculate?

Edit: Yes, it does grams, gr, dram and ounce.

[fguffey]

I have about 1200 more 9mm rounds to load but for now I'm on hold until I get a new scale.

I have at least 3 electronic type scales, no matter where I am I am never out of reach for a beam scale. It could be a Redding, Herter, Ohaus, RCBS, Lyman (black and or orange) etc. And then there are those with the little hand crank on the side and the one with the little glass window called a Visual.

All of my adjustable powder measures can be adjusted to the .001".

F. Guffey

[ysr_racer]

I was reading the description, but it didn't mention grains. Does it give measurements in grains, or do you calculate?

Edit: it does grams, gr, dram and ounce.

Grains, yes

[waveslayer]

You need a better scale, phone, wind, breathing can throw it off. Get the new V3 trickler with fx 120i scale, best bang for the buck.



My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[papafloyd]

I wish I could go in that direction waveslayer, just out of my price range right now. I ended up with a Frankford Arsenal Precision scale, better than what I have but doesn't break the bank. Wanted something to plug in. I read reviews on it and thought it would work for me, then I actually watched some Youtube reviews and well we'll see. Bottom line for me is I am loading for target practice so some variation is okay as long as it keeps me in the safe zone.
Thanks again for all your input.

[papafloyd]

So what are your thoughts on this: My scale would drift between 130.5 and 131grains. After taring and removing the tray is when I would notice the change, but no matter the readout with the tray not on the scale when I put the tray back on the scale it always went to 0.0. Was the powder I dropped into it at this point reading correct?

[papafloyd]

Wasn't asking anyone specific, I appreciate everyone's experiences. As mentioned I bought the Frankford Arsenal Platinum scale. I used it day one and it worked fine, tray weighed in at 129.9grains and stayed there for the most part, it drop to 129.8 but no complaints with that. The next day it was drifting between 129.6 and 130, this was after a 2hr warm up, no lights on, and no wind basically in a controlled environment. It's warming up right now so I can make a determination as to whether I will keep it or send it back.

[cz74]

All these cheap budget digital scales all came probably from the same factory in China, then slap on different brands, RCBS, Frankford, I have both, they both drift occasionally by +/- 0.1 grains, I just use set of check weights to do sanity check from time to time. The Lyman weight set is pretty good, it comes in different grain weights down to 0.5 grains.

[ysr_racer]

Fluorescent lights and AC can make scales drift.

[eaglemike]

Be sure to throw maybe 10 charges (that you don't use) before you start measuring. I also like to measure a few individual, and then throw 10 or 20 into the pan to get an average. Measure the 1 before you throw the group of 10, and then the 1 after to get a little data.