Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Create Account now to join.
  • Login:

Welcome to the NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.

ZeroPak DPT


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18
Like Tree17Likes

Thread: Electronic Scales - recommendations?

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Arrowtown
    Posts
    1,337

    Electronic Scales - recommendations?

    I'm wondering whether people here might be able to provide some recommendations on some reliable electronic scales please?

    I'm presently using the Hornady Electronic Scales I inherited with my reloading gear and while its been very stable over the last 2 years I've not been that happy with it in recent days as it seems to have become less reliable. I replaced the batteries, recalibrated it a couple of times but... mmmm, meh. I always intended to upgrade at some point so maybe now is the time. An electronic powder thrower would be awesome but I'm not sure I can stretch that far at present.

    Advice on reliable options would be appreciated.

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Far North
    Posts
    162
    RCBS chargemaster.

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    South
    Posts
    172
    Chargemasters are pretty reliable. I dont rate the Lyman Gen III, mine drifted fairly often on a run of 100 rounds.

    If you can bear the pain and want to end up with the top end, get a fx-300i (pre charge with you current and trickle up) then keep saving for auto thrower v3
    planenutz likes this.

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Timaru
    Posts
    959
    A&D fx120 or fx300 and just use a thrower to dump loads in then trickle the rest.
    6x47 and planenutz like this.

  5. #5
    R93
    R93 is offline
    Member R93's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Westland NZ
    Posts
    16,102
    I have Lyman Gen 6. Had it for maybe 12 yrs. They tend to get a bad rap from some but I have had a great run out of mine. Fast, accurate and proof is on the radar and paper.
    Had minor things go wrong with it that can be fixed with spares they give you in the kit. Even had it sent back to the states once for reasons I could have solved myself if I read the instructions. They were good about it and it was remedied for free.
    Plasticky construction but I would buy another knowing what I know now.

    Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk
    BRADS, 57jl and planenutz like this.
    Do what ya want! Ya will anyway.

  6. #6
    Member zimmer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Waikato
    Posts
    4,986
    Had a Chargemaster for ~ 20 years now. Scales section of it shit itself 8 years ago. Non repairable item (like them all) so had to stump up for new scales. Cost me the same as I paid for the whole CM initially. Tossed up whether to go Lyman but stuck with RCBS. If it ever dies again I will just do without it and use my Uniflow dispenser.

    The CM is reasonably repeatable and OK for say great hunting ammo and reasonable target ammo. Like all cheaper strain gauge scales you need to keep an eye on it for drift, plus give it a decent warm up time.

    I also have an AnD fx300i. It has shown the CM to be reasonably repeatable and not always 100% accurate.
    I use either the CM or my Uniflow to dispense a charge just under required and then a Little Dandy trickler to finish off on the fx300i.

    To be honest a mechanical beam balance scale is a better device than most of the cheap electronic scales. I still have my Ohaus in the back of the cupboard. Reloaders miss the point that a device with an electronic display doesn't necessarily mean it will be accurate and repeatable.
    res and planenutz like this.

  7. #7
    Member BRADS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Central Hawkes Bay
    Posts
    9,232
    Quote Originally Posted by R93 View Post
    I have Lyman Gen 6. Had it for maybe 12 yrs. They tend to get a bad rap from some but I have had a great run out of mine. Fast, accurate and proof is on the radar and paper.
    Had minor things go wrong with it that can be fixed with spares they give you in the kit. Even had it sent back to the states once for reasons I could have solved myself if I read the instructions. They were good about it and it was remedied for free.
    Plasticky construction but I would buy another knowing what I know now.

    Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk
    Same had zero issues with mine
    R93 and planenutz like this.

  8. #8
    MSL
    MSL is offline
    Member MSL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Waikato
    Posts
    6,384
    Quote Originally Posted by BRADS View Post
    Same had zero issues with mine
    Same also, until it got pinched


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    R93 and planenutz like this.

  9. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Arrowtown
    Posts
    1,337
    Quote Originally Posted by zimmer View Post
    To be honest a mechanical beam balance scale is a better device than most of the cheap electronic scales. I still have my Ohaus in the back of the cupboard. Reloaders miss the point that a device with an electronic display doesn't necessarily mean it will be accurate and repeatable.
    Yep, I agree 100% @zimmer - the old analog vs. digital argument. The thing is I used those balance scales for years while balancing Main Rotor systems and Tail Rotors and I just grew to hate them. To be fair, they didn't get treated well.

    Thanks for those suggestions Lads, much appreciated. I'll go forth and do some searching for local retailers and support a small business with a few hard earned dollars.

  10. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    979
    Go RCBS charge master lite, my Gen6 Lyman nearly had me putting new barrels on rifles after an initial good run.
    People have had good runs out of theirs but I sent mine back to NZ distributer once realized it had issues and they said it was fine, it wasn't.
    Smashed it to bits and put in bin in case someone else got hold of that piece of shit.
    Last edited by jackson21; 10-05-2020 at 09:37 PM.

  11. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    312
    I think just buy another Hornady - great value and you are used to using one already.

  12. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Arrowtown
    Posts
    1,337
    Quote Originally Posted by jackson21 View Post
    Smashed it to bits and put in bin in case someone else got hold of that piece of shit.
    LOL.


  13. #13
    Member zimmer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Waikato
    Posts
    4,986
    There's always the new and super expensive RCBS twin dispenser model recently introduced. IIRC RCBS claim accuracy/repeatability up there with the magnetic force restoration type scales.

  14. #14
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Arrowtown
    Posts
    1,337
    Quote Originally Posted by zimmer View Post
    There's always the new and super expensive RCBS twin dispenser model recently introduced. IIRC RCBS claim accuracy/repeatability up there with the magnetic force restoration type scales.
    Super expensive? I don't think I'll even look for those online... (!)... I just found the price of the AND FX300i you recommended and I thought those were bad enough. Haha.

  15. #15
    Member zimmer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Waikato
    Posts
    4,986
    Quote Originally Posted by planenutz View Post
    Super expensive? I don't think I'll even look for those online... (!)... I just found the price of the AND FX300i you recommended and I thought those were bad enough. Haha.
    Ha ha yes the new RCBS I think is around $2k in Oz IIRC. A lot of guys gong the AnD way pay maybe $1.3k for the scales and then stack an auto dispenser on top for around another grand. So you could say the RCBS twin is maybe a better option. Not sure of its scale technology though.

    My advice if you really want electronic at a budget is to look at the RCBS Lite auto dispenser. I think someone has already suggested that?
    Last edited by zimmer; 11-05-2020 at 01:14 PM.
    planenutz likes this.

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. Electronic scales
    By jakewire in forum Reloading and Ballistics
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 16-07-2018, 10:55 PM
  2. electronic vs beam scales
    By PerazziSC3 in forum Reloading and Ballistics
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 07-08-2013, 10:34 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Welcome to NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums! We see you're new here, or arn't logged in. Create an account, and Login for full access including our FREE BUY and SELL section Register NOW!!