Post by elkman1310 on Apr 6, 2019 22:23:18 GMT -5
As a serious benchrest shooter and 1,000 yard competitor the question always comes up just how good is good enough. Well for long distance shooting every items is critical to shooting small groups and high scores. So we shoot 10 shots for record at 1,000 yards everything has to be as good as one can make it when it comes to reloading.
Electronic scales are widely used by most that reload ammo. We have a wide range of prices from the cheapest little pocket scales that sell for 20 bucks all the way up to the nose bleed analytical lab scales that can cost $2,000 or more when new. For most reloading a electronic scale that reads in .1 grain increments is all that is ever needed then you can move up to scales that measure .00 or hundredth of a grain they are stain gauge scales and they do a good job. A decent one of these will cost $350 to $750 bucks most popular is the A&D FX120! it's a great scale. Then comes the lab scales or analytical scales that can weigh all the down to a one millionth of a gram or one thousands of a grain after watching Ebay for quite a while I was able to by a Ohaus Adventure Pro 164 scale for $400 bucks the scale cost $2,000.00 new I was fortunate that is was in very good shape and parts and repairs are avaible so I took a chance on it.
The Ohaus will measure down to .0000 grams or .000 grains which I use. With certain powders mainly bulky stick powders like Reloader 16 the kernels are not cut very uniform so rarely can you hit exactly the charge weight you want unless you actually take a razor blade and cut a kernel to size it is hard to get say a load that reads 62.200 so I don't worry a lot about the last digit to much what the scale does it makes you load more precise to the hundredth of a grain and that is really import in a small capacity case like a 6mm Dasher compared to a larger case like a 300 WSM.
These high end scales can be fussy to room temperatures and drafts they come with a draft shield which I have on the Ohaus they need to be dead level and most come with a built in bubble level which is very accurate .
I would not pay $2,000 for a new reloading scale but since there is a abundance of good used ones for sale a good prices it might be worth your while to consider one. Don't buy a cheap new analytical scale from China for $300 bucks they are junk probably the best scale for the money is the A&D FX120I its not a true analytical scale but it works good. For me the extra bit of accuracy the Ohaus gives me is mainly for removing any doubt about the powder charge being right every time.
I have seen a difference on paper at 1,000 yards since I have been using it .