Gempro 250, RCBS Rangemaster 2000, or something else

[rookie7]

Hello all,

Looking to add a digital scale to my box of tools.

Looking at $200 and under.

My current setup I use a 3 decade old RCBS beam scale. I dump my charge using a Uniflow powder measure - weigh via beam scale and trickle from there.

I can and do get single digit SDs this way(not all the time and not as consistent as I would like), but would like to add the electronic scale to see if I can increase accuracy and/ or speed.

I would not abandon the beam scale. Would use them both in conjunction I guess.

The GP and the RM are both on sale right now within $25 of each other.

I called RCBS and they said the Rangemaster scale is the same one used with the CM - you just don't get the hopper/trickler etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jarhead1077]

A&D EJ-123 reads to 0.02 grains, 0.001 grams, holds zero for days on end. It doesn't like your AC draft. Regularly listed for approximately 500 but the link takes to site from Canada for 300 American. Use mine with powder throw about 0.2 to 0.3 grains under and Dandy trickler. Not quite within your price stated but still an alternative.
https://ce-products.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/a-d-ej-123-value-reloading-scale

 

[GIXXER2000]

Any thing you get for $200 will not be an upgrade over the beam scale. Save your money and get something that is an up grade. It sounds like the beam is working just fine.

 

[rookie7]

Any thing you get for $200 will not be an upgrade over the beam scale. Save your money and get something that is an up grade. It sounds like the beam is working just fine.

Thank you for the input. Beside the $600 120 scale what would be an upgrade? Or is that my first stop?

And the one mentioned above the ej-123

 

[redneckbmxer24]

If your RCBS is one of the old ohaus scales have it tuned. If it’s not you can find the ohaus Lyman’s pretty easily for around $100 and then send it off for tuning.

A good beam scale will be miles ahead of any cheap electronic scale, they all kinda suck.

Or just bite the bullet and get the fx-120i. It’ll be one of the best reloading investments you ever make.

 

[HoustonB77]

I bit the bullet and bought the A&D FX-120i with auto throw and auto trickle. Best piece of reloading equipment I own. Save you money until you can afford it.

 

[J.Boney]

Any thing you get for $200 will not be an upgrade over the beam scale. Save your money and get something that is an up grade. It sounds like the beam is working just fine.

I would absolutely agree here.. I have an older 10-10 scale that I love.. I also have a chargemaster, but prefer the 10-10.. It just plain works!! I get extremely consistent loads from it, and very low ES/SD.

 

[GIXXER2000]

The FX-120i is a good scale for the money. I spent a bit more and got the SARTIOUS 64-1S and have never looked back.

 

[rookie7]

Does anyone know the main difference between the fx 120 and the ej 123?

 

[rookie7]

Looking at them online at a glance I'm thinking the ej uses the strain technology for weighing and the fx uses magnetic resonance?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

EJ 123 is a strain gauge scale which is much more susceptible to drift. It would not be an upgrade to a good ohaus beam scale. fx-120i is a hybrid sensor scale.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I understand you're trying to save money but you're going to end up wasting money if you go another route.

If you buy a EJ123, Gempro, whatever, you'll be buying a scale that more susceptible to drift and is no upgrade over a good (and cheaper) beam scale. When you realize "this thing suck" you'll be selling it at a huge loss to get what you should have in the first place because nobody else wants them either. I think I sold my Gempro 250 that will had the potective plastic on it and was like new for like $50.

Buy the fx-120i and don't look back. When money allows, consider the autotlrow/autotrickler upgrade as well as some extra from Area 419. You can load very fast and accurately though with the fx-120i with the trickler and funnel set on top of the hood and throwing low with a cheap powder measure.

 

[DrainTheSwamp]

Listen to everyone and save up for fx-120. I have the gempro now cuz I picked it up used for 60 bucks. I still get single digit sd’s but I could also do that with my cheap Lee beam. No faster or better than a solid beam scale.

 

[jarhead1077]

Same site as link above for ej-123 the fx-120i is 500 alone and then you could add the auto throw or trickler later. They also have the bundled deal. My ej-123 does not drift off zero once warmed and I load to the kernel if I want in my H4350 (260 Rem) and H4895 (.308 Win). I weigh using the gram scale which allows three decimal places for grams converted from grains. By the way the fx-120i reads to 0.001 grams also. May be a different scientific weigh system. My scale will read 0.001 to -0.001 if I let AC duct blow onto when I am weighing. I have fixed the duct to blow into room in the opposite direction. That's just my experience.

 

[rookie7]

I understand you're trying to save money but you're going to end up wasting money if you go another route.

If you buy a EJ123, Gempro, whatever, you'll be buying a scale that more susceptible to drift and is no upgrade over a good (and cheaper) beam scale. When you realize "this thing suck" you'll be selling it at a huge loss to get what you should have in the first place because nobody else wants them either. I think I sold my Gempro 250 that will had the potective plastic on it and was like new for like $50.

Buy the fx-120i and don't look back. When money allows, consider the autotlrow/autotrickler upgrade as well as some extra from Area 419. You can load very fast and accurately though with the fx-120i with the trickler and funnel set on top of the hood and throwing low with a cheap powder measure.

I’m going to have to say your 100% right. I wish you weren’t and there were alternatives, but there aren’t.

For 2 days I have had the RCBS Rangemaster 2000 in my shopping cart at Midway because it’s on sale.

Going to skip it and wait.

Thanks gentlemen!