Digital scale recommendations

[Laphroaig]

My GemPro 250 is dying, I think. I used to leave in on to keep the load cell warmed up, but now it shuts off after a minute or so. It still seems to weigh accurately after turned on but often won't return to zero after the pan is dumped. I end up weighing everything multiple times and am sick of the uncertainty. I bought it because of the positive talk here on THR and was satisfied while it lasted, so am wondering what you say now. I'd just get another one, but they are no longer made.

What do you think of the Hornady M2 Digital? They give you 100 bullets with a purchase, although the choices are limited.. It's about $190 depending on where you look. The revues on Midway weren't always positive tho. I see Frankford arsenal has one for $100.

 

[ericuda]

I like the little Hornady g3.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I'll 2nd the Hornady G3.

 

[Nature Boy]

What’s your budget?

 

[Blue68f100]

My GemPro 250 is dying, I think. I used to leave in on to keep the load cell warmed up, but now it shuts off after a minute or so. It still seems to weigh accurately after turned on but often won't return to zero after the pan is dumped. I end up weighing everything multiple times and am sick of the uncertainty. I bought it because of the positive talk here on THR and was satisfied while it lasted, so am wondering what you say now. I'd just get another one, but they are no longer made.

What do you think of the Hornady M2 Digital? They give you 100 bullets with a purchase, although the choices are limited.. It's about $190 depending on where you look. The revues on Midway weren't always positive tho. I see Frankford arsenal has one for $100.

Are you running on batteries or the AC wall wart? Power supplies are what normally fail. I bought a used one at a gun show ($20) knowing that there was no warranty. When I got home and tested with the AC pack it drifted all over the place. I tried the AC pack on my good one and it was stable as a rock. These scales are sensitive to line noise and air currents too.

I do not leave mine plugged in when not in use. Leaving out in the country with all the power lines above ground is not good during storms. Beside all of the voltage dips and spikes that my UPS units quake about during the day and night on sunny days.

 

[Atavar]

Did you try new batteries? The symptoms you describe sound a lot like a bad battery. The batteries also act as a filter to swamp out noise from the wall wart power supply.
Batteries would be a cheap thing to try first.
Failing that just send me the scale as a gift. I would have fun getting it to work.

 

[JmacD]

My GemPro 250 is dying, I think. I used to leave in on to keep the load cell warmed up, but now it shuts off after a minute or so. It still seems to weigh accurately after turned on but often won't return to zero after the pan is dumped. I end up weighing everything multiple times and am sick of the uncertainty. I bought it because of the positive talk here on THR and was satisfied while it lasted, so am wondering what you say now. I'd just get another one, but they are no longer made.

What do you think of the Hornady M2 Digital? They give you 100 bullets with a purchase, although the choices are limited.. It's about $190 depending on where you look. The revues on Midway weren't always positive tho. I see Frankford arsenal has one for $100.

I have the m2. It does… ok. And the free bullets for shipping cost is great ! But If it’s in the budget, I would suggest an a &d fx120…$$$$ no I still don’t have one…

 

[lightman]

I've been happy with my RCBS ChargeMaster.

 

[Laphroaig]

What’s your budget?

I think that I paid about $225 for the GemPro. I think something in that ball park for what I use it for. Mostly checking and verifying my various powder measures. I have a ChargeMaster that I use when I need to weigh charges. I very rarely trickle into this scale, but never say never for small test batches on occasion.

Are you running on batteries or the AC wall wart?

Did you try new batteries?

I was using it plugged in. When it started acting up I changed the batteries, and tried using them only. No difference.

I would suggest an a &d fx120…$$$$

Lol. I don't need anything that fancy.

Failing that just send me the scale as a gift. I would have fun getting it to work.

Once I get something else I'll do that

 

[Nature Boy]

Got ya.

The GemPro 250 is really hard to beat. It’s a shame they aren’t made anymore.

For what you’re doing this scale is surprisingly good and it’s a lot less than your budget

DS-750 Digital Reloading Scale | Frankford Arsenal

DS-750 Digital Reloading Scale

www.frankfordarsenal.com

 

[Targa]

As in Nature Boy’s link he provided I have had DS-750 for five years now and it has been great. I use it in tandem with my Chargemaster Lite as a safety for accurate powder drops.

 

[SNfoilhat]

I have the older version of the Hornady M2 bench scale. I bought it new in 2016 & I'm still using it today. I do check it with a beam scale at each reloading session & it is right on each time.

 

[Otto]

The warranty on my GemPro is “Lifetime”. They’ve been discontinued but a phone call to HBI Technology will cost you nothing.
Mine still works but I use a cheap Gemini 20 instead.

 

[Laphroaig]

I think that my AC power source might be bad. I unplugged it and changed the batteries again, and the performance got better as it warmed up running on battery. The drifting was minimal and it returns to zero when the weight is removed. My room is a little cold (60*) which might have something to do with it.

a phone call to HBI Technology will cost you nothing

There is a warranty claim page on their website. I need to play with it a little more to see if it settles down before I get into that. I can live with it running on battery.

Thanks for all of the advice. I might get one of the cheapos to have as a backup.

 

[JFrank]

My GemPro 250 is dying, I think. I used to leave in on to keep the load cell warmed up, but now it shuts off after a minute or so. It still seems to weigh accurately after turned on but often won't return to zero after the pan is dumped. I end up weighing everything multiple times and am sick of the uncertainty. I bought it because of the positive talk here on THR and was satisfied while it lasted, so am wondering what you say now. I'd just get another one, but they are no longer made.

What do you think of the Hornady M2 Digital? They give you 100 bullets with a purchase, although the choices are limited.. It's about $190 depending on where you look. The revues on Midway weren't always positive tho. I see Frankford arsenal has one for $100.

What are your accuracy requirements ?
.10 gr which is the plus or minus capability of many of the entry level scales is about six kernels of small extruded powder, ( like Varget) can be easily seen to effect the target. If you can at least step up to the Creedmoor 925 you’ll find it remarkably accurate to a single kernel, certainly capable of building excellent ammunition.

 

[westernrover]

Consider switching to a beam scale. They're better. I like my Redding No. 2. I'm sure the Ohaus-made Lyman and RCBS are good also. Other than for use with an autotrickler, I don't see any advantage to a digital scale.

I've never needed anything like an A&D balance. I would argue that beams are at least as precise. Check out the Prometheus. Again, not something I need, but cool for someone else.

 

[westernrover]

I had Lyman digital scale briefly. It was great because it plugged in instead of needing batteries. It was bigger than my Gemini 20 and so easier to use. It was fast too. I don't recall the model, but I think it was the Accutouch 2000 because it had that tray that pulls out of the back. It was a good scale for not too much money. I was using it for a magnum handgun and didn't have any issues. It seemed good for the ~$100 price range and 0.1 grain precision.

 

[Soonerpesek]

^^^^^^WHAT HE SAID^^^^^^……!!

 

[doubleh]

I tied a no name digital just for small tasks like weighing bullets that were very close in size. It was junk and found it's way into the trash can after several months of cussing it ever time I tried t use it. I finally bought a Frankford Arsenal for the same chore several years ago and it is always right with it's check weight. It didn't cost anywhere close to $100 athough I have forgotten its exact price. I do not use one to weigh powder charges. Gravity never changes. Man made electronics can.

 

[JDeere]

Consider switching to a beam scale. They're better. I like my Redding No. 2. I'm sure the Ohaus-made Lyman and RCBS are good also. Other than for use with an autotrickler, I don't see any advantage to a digital scale.

Yep I had a Pact Digital with powder dispenser for a bit. Wind and Lights affected it not to mention slow. Went back to Ohaus 1010 and RCBS Micrometer setup. Accurate, consistent and fast with stick or flake powders.

 

[westernrover]

What I like about my beam is how sensitive it is. I mentioned it's a Redding No. 2 which is renowned for its sensitivity. One ball of pixie dust like Ramshot Enforcer might not move the needle, but a single stick of extruded powder certainly will, like a single piece of Benchmark or even a single ball of a larger spherical powder like StaBALL Match. I can't translate the needle movement to an accurate mass in grains with lots of significant digits, but what I'm really looking for is consistency and repeatability and the beam delivers.

 

[dcarr]

I've been happy with my RCBS ChargeMaster.

For the most part i like my chargemaster, took some getting used to. Recently forgot to close the dump valve when i loaded powder, that kind of stuff. I empty the scale every night and recalibrate before each reload session. Probably in the mfg instructions if i could find them. Arthritis and neuraphy in the hands made me go digital.

 

[Targa]

Recently forgot to close the dump valve when i loaded powder, that kind of stuff.

Been there and done that more than once. I invent new curse words when that happens.

 

[lordpaxman]

My Gempro 250 is still working, KOW.
But there was this time, I took it to my Son’s reloading room in his garage, and it wouldn’t settle down no matter what - constant drift. We killed every breaker except the one feeding the unit and it still drifted. Didn’t have batteries to try it on DC, and no oscope to check the AC. We think it was a micro singularity. Had to resort to a beam balance, and that works but slowly. For those of you who jump in and say “get a beam balance”…. Don’t. If you like your beam balance, you can keep your beam balance, all the more power to you , but I like digital scales.

Thanks for all of the advice. I might get one of the cheapos to have as a backup.

The DS-750 is on my radar should I need to pull that trigger.

 

[doubleh]

I have read that flouresent lights mess up digital scales but have no experience with that. I had common incadescent bulbs but switched to super bright LEDs a few years a ago and neither have made any difference withe FA I have.