Digital Scale and Fluctuation question

[papafloyd]

I was able to use it today and for the most part it was stable, it did drift a bit but only .2 grains so that is within design. I am loading in my garage with no lights on and no fans, I did notice that the cover provided a more stable reading so there must've been some breeze that I couldn't feel.

[Supersapper]

I was able to use it today and for the most part it was stable, it did drift a bit but only .2 grains so that is within design. I am loading in my garage with no lights on and no fans, I did notice that the cover provided a more stable reading so there must've been some breeze that I couldn't feel.

I own one of those little Hornady scales as well. Mine will drift usually about 0.2 grains if it does.

First...make sure it's on a stable platform. I noticed a wild shift when I first started but after a few times, I realized that having it on the same table as the actual press while I was making ammo would cause the sensitivity on the scale to drift from the vibration. Put it on a different table entirely.

Next, I turn it on and wait a minute. I always calibrate it with the little weight to see if it passes. Then I take the pan and tare it to 0.0 grains. The little pan weighs 1331.1 grains, and sometimes 1331.2 or 1331.3 grains. Once I tare it, I wait for about a minute and the 0.2 drift will show as a +0.2.

I simply re-tare it and wait for a minute. The drift usually goes away. I use Titegroup, so it is a well metering powder and my drift in powder throws (several hundred at a time) does not register (it is always 4.0 grains) and I randomly test every 30 or 40 rounds.

For those that mentioned leaving it on...it has a 30 second shut off when it sits idle.

[Featureless]

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

I have that same scale. When I check it against my mechanical scale



they {almost always} agree.

[hambam105]

OP,
You are experiencing doubt where no doubt has to be.

Ten years ago, RCBS Customers sadly discovered that China was incapable of
producing a green plastic Reloading funnel correctly.

[ar15barrels]

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.

Cheap scales often have an "auto zero" function to mask their poor sensor.
So whenever you get within maybe half a grain of zero, the scale constantly re-zeros.
The makers do that so the scale won't have a wandering zero.
As you have discovered, the sensor is still wandering once you are outside of this no-wander zone so the scale is realistically just not going to be accurate.

Solution is to get a better scale.
A mechanical beam scale is more accurate than those $10 digitals.

[xrMike]

Fluorescent lights and AC can make scales drift.

I use a voltage regulator like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/APC-LE1200-Automatic-Voltage-Regulator/dp/B00009RA60/ref=sr_1_3?crid=FZ6O1D9VYUGV&keywords=voltage%2Bregulator&qid=1651624951&sprefix=voltage%2Bregul%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-3&th=1

with my RCBS Chargemaster 1500 to prevent any fluctuations in line voltage from affecting the scale.

I have no way of knowing if (or how much) it guarantees my accuracy, but I read it was a good idea in a couple reloading forums, and I also had fluorescent lights in my old garage, and it just made me feel better using it when weighing out match rifle rounds.

I also agree with the recommendation to turn the scale on ~30 minutes before using it, just to let it warm up and settle.

[ysr_racer]

I don't give a crap what my scale says. I use it to get close, and then chrono the rest of the way.

I need to make power factor in both ICORE 120 and USPSA 125 (I build in a + 5) so I'm going for 125 and 130.

[smoothy8500]

I don't give a crap what my scale says. I use it to get close, and then chrono the rest of the way.

I need to make power factor in both ICORE 120 and USPSA 125 (I build in a + 5) so I'm going for 125 and 130.

I'm with you on this. Once I set the powder meter, its all about cranking the handle....