Author Topic: Cabela's digital scale?? (Read 696 times)

lik2hunt · « **on:** July 15, 2004, 04:28:06 PM »

Is this a good scale/good buy? Here's a link.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0021615&type=pod&rid=0111401071504&sid=s033408674&cmCat=email&cm_ven=email&cm_cat=289&cm_pla=HA-0100&cm_ite=pod0021615

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2004, 04:47:48 PM »

I wouldn't recommend it based on a post I read at AR or Predatormaster about it, they said it works great for weighing bullets but when trickling powder, the display stops changing and they ended up with too much powder in the pan and had to dump and start over again. They had recommendations for more expensive digital scales and a lot of preferences for beam scales, but no one had anything good to say about the Cabelas scale which regularly sells for $90, on sale for $80. My thinking is to buy a real good beam scale for less money.

JPH45 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2004, 06:00:08 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo

I wouldn't recommend it based on a post I read at AR or Predatormaster about it, they said it works great for weighing bullets but when trickling powder, the display stops changing and they ended up with too much powder in the pan and had to dump and start over again. They had recommendations for more expensive digital scales and a lot of preferences for beam scales, but no one had anything good to say about the Cabelas scale which regularly sells for $90, on sale for $80. My thinking is to buy a real good beam scale for less money.

I believe it will be found that most digital scales of this type will not work for trickling powder. They are exellent for weigh checking thrown charges, cases, bullets and such. I don't know all the specifics, but it has something to do with how the weight is translated into digital (or numeric) code that eletronics can then "read" and display. Such a scale though remains very useful for someone using ball powders which are known for their exellent metering qualities. A charge is set up, thrown and weigh checked. A series of thrown charges (usually 10) are then weighed checking the powder measure setup for consistancy, after that, either every 5th or 10th charge is weighed. Ball powders will generally flow with a +/- variation of .2 grains or less, well within statistical capabilites of safe ammunition manufacture.

Paul5388 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2004, 06:49:07 PM »

I don't think you'll be happy without a wind screen for it. When I take the screen off my Dillon D-Terminator the slightest air movement makes the reading change. The same problem exists with beam scales, but you can cup your hand around the pan to block any air flow. The Dillon is OK for some jobs, but I still like my 505. It doesn't need outside power!

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2004, 10:52:10 PM »

Here's an article that explains why some digital scales (the Dillon D-Terminator 2 specifically) are great for weighing brass, bullets, thrown charges, etc but near useless for trickling. I ended up going to an RCBS 10-10 beam scale after running into trouble with my D2.

http://webpages.charter.net/bchannell/dillon%20d2.html

Ian

Paul5388 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2004, 05:46:05 AM »

Haywire,

I read the same article and found it to be very informative.

My Dillon is a D1, but it has the wind screen like the D2. I bought it used the other day for $85.

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2004, 01:00:47 PM »

the zero shift or weight change when you move the wind shield near the scale is caused by static electricity !

sg

Paul5388 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2004, 06:14:26 PM »

SG,

This Dillon has a metal band around the base of the screen and the scale. I would assume it's for the purpose of defeating static electricity. The screen is just like the new D2, but this one uses a 9V battery and has the old face.

Fred M · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2004, 05:58:18 AM »

lik2hunt.
A good beam scale, and a good powder measure is all that is required for reloading. Specially for hunting type reloading. The electronic scales add only to frustrations. A plus or minus 0.1 gr is meaningless and most good powder measures have that kind of accuracy with a little practice of of consistant manipulation.

A light oil, like used for sewing mashines, makes good dampning on a scale with that hydraulic feature. A scale will always come to equelibrium in that fluid. There is no wrong reading in my experience. I have both a magnetic and a hydraulic dampning scale, a Redding and an anciant Herters. The hydrauic Herters scale is just as fast and as accurate. I use the magnetic scale mostly because the numbers are easier to read.

Fred M.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2004, 07:49:48 AM »

Hello Guys:

There's nothing wrong with the newer digital scales...provided you use them as directed...a quality beam scale is good investment too...the main thing no-one has said is you must make sure that your scale is setting level and to be accurate..and the only way I know is to verify it against a known set of weights...weights that has been verified on a certified scale...or have a set of certified calibration weights at your disposal to use,unless you have verified your scale...your only guessing and hoping that it is correct.....either choice you make...digital or beam...both do a good job...both can be extremely accurate...a good quality beam scale such as the Redding #2 Master Scale...or even the higher priced RCBS 10-10..are favorites of mine for the beam scales...they are very accurate and will last practically forever...the new Cabelas digital scale looks to be a good one too...it gives you both a/c and battery capability and goes to 1500 grains...not bad for $89.00...

Mac