Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Digital Powder Scale Suggestions?

My digital powder scale LED screen is starting to crater, so time to replace it. I'm looking at maybe a RCBS Rangemaster or maybe a Hornady M2, or maybe something else? Any experience with either of these products, or other suggestions? I've been using a Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series scale. I don't need anything other than something to give me an accurate reading in grains. THANKS!

RCBS

I've had one of those little Frankfort Arsenal pocket scales for many years now. It has been great once I figured out it's little idiosyncrasies.

Hornady G3-1500

I have one of those too. Not bad for the money and portability. Was gifted a Rangemaster 750 for Bday probably 10 - 12 years ago. Not as portable as the pocket scale but an improvement. As far as at the reloading bench I found way too much drift from zero as the pan is removed then replaced, so I had a 10-10 or 5-0-5 on the bench all the time anyway. The digitals dont get used much anymore.

Try using the middle of the range to weigh such light things as powder charges.

On my RCBS Rangemaster 2000 I never noticed any drift from zero after the unit has been turned on for 20 or 30 minutes, but to be on the safe side I place my 10-10 calibration weight in the digital's pan THEN zero the scale to weigh a charge. This puts me in somewhat of the middle of the physical range of the scale, but plenty of room before "overload".

I also go through the calibration sequence every time I use it, after it's warmed up, and before I weigh any charges.

My first and only is an RCBS ChargeMaster Lite- it has worked flawlessly.

Out of all the Loading equipment I have the Digital Scale has added more enjoyment than any other piece.
Wish I had bought one right out of the gate.

I had the Hornady Lock N Load electronic scale and it was junk. Hornady sent me a new part and the next time would not even though I offered to pay for it. Got a RCBS Chargemaster Link and do not regret it.

Creedmoor sports trx-925 for weighing down to the .01 especially for small cases.

Mine was junk too. I would weigh charges with it and my little FA one. Would constantly not return to zero. I’d zero out the pan and then it would show 0.3 grains within a minute or so while the FA would show the same. The FA one is more reliable. I weigh a check weight every few charges to see if it drifts and I have to re-zero it from time to time.

Thats a perfect example of the zero drift that is common in digital scales. Some are better than others but all have whats called auto zero. Every time it goes back to zero it will auto offset to give the zero reading which over a few repetitions can cause the zero to be off by even more which necessitates recalibration or using a check weight every 5-10 throws. I proved this on my chargemaster and FA.

I should have thought to mention that in my post above. I do hit the zero for every charge. It just makes sense to make the tool work correctly. Even beam scales aren't absolute, as I've had a 505 and 10-10 go out of whack over a long session.

Part of using a check weight in the pan with the powder charge is having something there that's a constant known value. If something drifts, it's easy to take notice. Again, nothing is absolute, and is the zero button actually zeroing the scale? Are you sure? With a known check weight in the pan, hit zero, lift the weight, and if it's truly zeroed then you'll see a correct negative weight. Putting the check weight back it goes back to zero if things are working correctly. To me that's more precise and true, and it's there for every charge, rather than checking every 5 or 10 charges.

Ahh FA the weigh every charge syndrome is not one I subscribe to. I use powders that meter extremely well such as 380, benchmark, LT32 etc. If loading 50 at one time I weigh the first 5, drop 4 weigh #10. After that I drop 9 weigh #10 which works out that 20% are weighed and 80% are volume which is better than most factories as they usually only weigh ~10%. For those that weigh each and every charge more power to ya, but I find it way to time consuming with very little improvement.

Oh I agree with those types of powders, not hard at all to maintain a consistent powder drop. Infact, once my measure is set, I don't weight anything. Visual check is close enough. When my sons and I take delivery of our Dillon 750 in a few days we will be running strictly ball powders through it with a powder check die. Weigh the first few and roll with it.

But I use large kernal stick powders in most rifles (except 223/556) that cut and catch in a powder measure, and am not a bit ashamed to know each cartridge has the exact same charge weight as the next. Hand crafting the ammo is part of the enjoyment, not just the shooting of it. Weighing each charge eliminates that one variable that is controllable.

No mention about the Lyman offering. I've been looking for one for a minute and have almost settled on the RCBS.

I have an RCBS, like it a lot

My Hornady didn’t drift, but would shutoff in the middle of a throw. If that didn’t occur, then it would shutoff right after being calibrated. Evidently my particular model had an issue with the power pack/plug for it.

I settled on the RCBS. Found a pretty good price plus free shipping from Midsouth. Fedex is scheduled to deliver Sunday.

I also use the RCBS digital scale. I love mine. It is very accurate and dependable. It is made by Pact. I always check mine with check weights. It is always spot on. Good luck on your search.