To sum it they're tempermental. I have both, rely on the RCBS beam and use the lyman digital for quick reference or to check the beam.I use a Lyman digital, but you have understand the intricacies of digital scales to get repeatable results. I suspect at least some of the bad reviews are from user error...or cheap junk.
1. Don't use them around fluorescent lighting.
2. You have to re-zero the scale periodically during use - for example, the exact same negative number should come up each time the pan of powder is taken off - pay attention to it. If that number is suddenly off (usually by a tenth of a grain) you need to re-zero the scale when you set the empty pan back down on it. If you don't re-zero, then the amount that the scale is off will tend to increase with additional use - this problem is called a wandering zero and you fix it by paying attention and re-zeroing at the first sign of it.
3. Don't trickle up from 0.0 grn. Put a charge on the pan and then trickle up to the final weight. Trickling up from 0.0 (empty pan) can cause your readings to be off.
4. When you stop adding powder, wait for the scale to reach a final reading - it tells you it's done weighing when the number blinks once. The number may change slightly after you stop adding powder, if you remove the pan from the scale before the reading is finalized, it will be off.
I like my digital scale and would never go back to a manual one. It's way faster and very accurate IF you use it properly. Most of the above points are found in the instructions - read them! With digital scales, you probably get what you pay for - a $20 one is probably junk...I think my Lyman was about $100 or so. Hope this helps!
I use a Lyman digital, but you have understand the intricacies of digital scales to get repeatable results. I suspect at least some of the bad reviews are from user error...or cheap junk.
1. Don't use them around fluorescent lighting.
2. You have to re-zero the scale periodically during use - for example, the exact same negative number should come up each time the pan of powder is taken off - pay attention to it. If that number is suddenly off (usually by a tenth of a grain) you need to re-zero the scale when you set the empty pan back down on it. If you don't re-zero, then the amount that the scale is off will tend to increase with additional use - this problem is called a wandering zero and you fix it by paying attention and re-zeroing at the first sign of it.
3. Don't trickle up from 0.0 grn. Put a charge on the pan and then trickle up to the final weight. Trickling up from 0.0 (empty pan) can cause your readings to be off.
4. When you stop adding powder, wait for the scale to reach a final reading - it tells you it's done weighing when the number blinks once. The number may change slightly after you stop adding powder, if you remove the pan from the scale before the reading is finalized, it will be off.
I like my digital scale and would never go back to a manual one. It's way faster and very accurate IF you use it properly. Most of the above points are found in the instructions - read them! With digital scales, you probably get what you pay for - a $20 one is probably junk...I think my Lyman was about $100 or so. Hope this helps!
I know it is a lot more but I love my RCBS Chargemaster. It is very consistent. I have loads programmed and set to auto. I dump a charge into a case, put the pan back on the scale. While I am seating a bullet and getting the next case ready, it is dumping the next load.
RCBS chargemaster combo coupled with a Dillon beam scale for good measure.