New scale affords opportunity for measure technique refresher/practice

B

Boyd Allen

Active member
Yes, I have blown my horn about the virtues of tuned balance scales, but a decent digital scale is just plain handier for weighing unknowns, and in the last couple of days I have been playing with a new scale from Bald Eagle (Grizzly). Tonight, after interminable repeated experiments weighing the same objects over and over, and recording the results. I decided to take a look at measure technique for four different powders. My previous work with this scale has shown me that the ocasional outlier results in a total maximum variance of .05 gr., (which is more than four times better than owners of both expensive scales and Chargemasters report for the latter). In any case this sturdy and conveniently sized unit (1,000 gram capacity) afforded me the opportunity to do a little reviewing of my Harrell measure technique(s). This turned out to be a good thing because the four powders required three different measure operating techniques to stay inside of my standard of +-.1 gn. As I began it became obvious that I had gotten a little rusty. The powders were 133, Xterminator, LT32, and LT30. I started out with LT30 and given how fine it is, found that the technique that works the best for 133 did not perform up to my standard with it, so I switched to an older method that I have not used for a while, (because I had mostly been shooting 133), and for the LTs, my problem was solved. Next I tried Xterminator, and because it is a ball powder and quite a bit more dense, I tried a much simpler stroke, and was rewarded with +-.03 in a short run that was long enough to see an outlier. Finally I worked with 133, the most difficult of the bunch. My usual bag of tricks was not working well, and I put it away for a while, and then went back with a variation of one of the methods, and finally found success, good solid consistency well inside +-.1. I made notes as I went, that will be recopied and go into the bag that I store the measure in.

Getting back to the scale for a minute, I am officially recanting my disdain for affordable digital scales, with an introductory price of just under $80, and a list just under $100 this scale seems to me to be an excellent value.
 
You do not list the tolerance or the sensitivity of this new scale.
To be 4 times better than an a&d fx120i which is .02 would be quite an accomplishment for an $100 scale.

Ok it took a while.
It is a MODEL BE1188,
80 bucks on sale 110 reg.
It LISTS accuracy at 0.001...but no tolerance listed,
and no mag dampening.

So, will it work outside ??
 
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The scale reads to hundredths of a grain. What I was referring to when I wrote 4x better was the Chargemaster. Those have been reliably reported to have a variance that slightly exceeds .2 gr (+- over .1 gr.), not what they read, but what they charges weigh on a better scale. The A&D is a much more expensive scale. I will be putting together a much more extensive review of this scale which will include trickling characteristics and other details.
 
Value of a digital scale

I switched from a balance beam to an A&D several yrs ago. The price is well worth the time savings let alone the increased accuracy. I would hate to go back to a balance beam.
 
Scales

Boyd........ I too have a lot of money invested in scales both balance beam tuned by scott parker and I`m on my 3rd. digital. looking for an accurate +/- .02 gr......scale........ if you are implying the 100$ scale is as good ( accurate to the grain of powder,ease to work with,speed it weighs and does not float )..... I would have to see the proof.........
bill larson
 
Boyd i have read several things you have written here and elsewhere. I am looking forward to further experience with this scale.The fact is it is so inexpensive i may buy one to try out...against an a&d fx120i. I am concerned that outside the house it would be too sensitive to air currents.
 
If you spend a lot more money, you should be getting a better scale. The question is whether most of us need a better scale. At the distances that I shoot, I do not. A few do, because they are trying to shoot very small at very long distances.

It is a very good general purpose digital reloading scale. I would say that it is suitable for the 98% or more of reloaders who want the convenience of an electronic scale, are not in the market for one that costs several hundred dollars, and have been bitten by affordable scales in the past. If you need to weigh individual particles of powder for 1,000 yard competition, that would be something else. I have tuned balance scales, This is better for a lot of what I do. It is an excellent general purpose reloading scale, especially considering the price point. Lets keep apples with apples, which is what I was trying to do. Sorry if there was a misunderstanding. If you reread my original post, I was making a comparison to the scale that is a part of the Chargemaster. My reference to the other scales was to explain how the Chargemasters had been evaluated.
 
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Boyd are you checking the weights with another scale or taking what the Bald Eagle scale tells you at face value? I just ordered one. I have a FX 120 now and would like to have something I trusted to take to the range. I am a long range guy.
 
The only folks who need scales accurate to .01 grain are gold diggers and crack sellers. If you're using a scale like that for reloading, you'd have to have a set of micro sized pill cutters to cut kernels of powder in half, and even then, you, nor your gun, would be able to tell any difference.

But playing around with scales is kinda fun I have to admit.
 
The plot thickens. I was ignorant of some of the terminology mentioned in the rather brief instructions, so at long last it occurred to me to "Google" it. Looking up zero tracking function, I found that it is something that sets limits for display drift, correcting automatically. Thus encouraged, I ventured into that brief sub menu, and although what was displayed did not correspond exactly with what the instructions said I should have been seeing, endeavored to apply a setting that would maintain the narrowest possible range. After that, testing with my lab standard .303 case (new, expanded neck, primed) the variance in reading was significantly tighter. Of course I will have to see how this affects trickling, but as it stands, for weighing unknowns it looks like I will be reporting a much better variance. 20 consecutive weighings, without having to tare, gave weights that varied by .02 grain (+-.01 gr.) All this from a hundred dollar scale. I am impressed.
 
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boyd
can you post a link to this scale. I think ill try one myself. this scale sounds perfect for me. thanks Lee
 
Yes i tried several searches without finding it.. It took some doing.
 
Just go to Bullets.com and type scales in the search box. On sale. I ordered one. I hope its not one of those to good to be true things.
 
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Recently I was able to help a new shooter learn how to do this by giving him instructions on the phone. If you are serious, PM me and we can exchange phone numbers and see what can be accomplished that way. Different measures require slightly different approaches, as do different powders. I have three SAECOs, two Hollywood measures, and a Lyman, and have owned most of the others in the past. The Harrells can do the job, and is more convenient for range use. The SAECOs are very good.
 
Cutting kernels...???

goodgrouper said:
The only folks who need scales accurate to .01 grain are gold diggers and crack sellers. If you're using a scale like that for reloading, you'd have to have a set of micro sized pill cutters to cut kernels of powder in half, and even then, you, nor your gun, would be able to tell any difference.

But playing around with scales is kinda fun I have to admit.
Click to expand...

I wonder why 4831 SC powder came to be.....????
 
CMaier said:
You do not list the tolerance or the sensitivity of this new scale.
To be 4 times better than an a&d fx120i which is .02 would be quite an accomplishment for an $100 scale.

Ok it took a while.
It is a MODEL BE1188,
80 bucks on sale 110 reg.
It LISTS accuracy at 0.001...but no tolerance listed,
and no mag dampening.

So, will it work outside ??
Click to expand...

It lists the accuracy at .001 gram not grain.
 
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