Electronic Powder Scales, Balances, and Dispensers

Petey308

Petey308

Founder, Editor, & Lead Contributor
Staff member

Electronic powder scales, balances, and dispensers — updated guide (expanded)​


TL;DR — short takeaways​

  • Small-step, high-resolution electronic scales (0.01–0.02 gr) are more sensitive — that helps precision but increases susceptibility to drift and environmental error. Adam Equipment+1
  • Two main sensor types used for weighing in the reloading world: strain-gauge (load cell) scales and electromagnetic force-restoration (EMFR / “magnetic force” / lab-grade) balances. EMFR balances tend to be far more stable and resistant to temperature/vibration drift, but cost much more. Arlyn Scales+1
  • For most shooters who want an automated dispenser that is fast and accurate enough, the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite or Frankford Intellidropper are excellent value options; for higher precision and long-term stability, lab-grade balances (A&D FX series, Sartorius Entris/CP series) are preferred — but they are expensive and may require an auto-trickler integration. Rifle Shooter Magazine+2Frankford Arsenal+2
  • RCBS’s MatchMaster aims at the top end of the consumer market (pharmaceutical/“.04 gr” mode, dual-tube dispense), but it still relies on high-resolution weighing and has tradeoffs (cost, complexity). Ultimate Reloader+1

1) Sensors & tech — how those scales actually “weigh”​


Load-cell / strain-gauge sensors
  • Most consumer and many “pro” dispensers use strain-gauge load cells (a metal element that flexes under load and changes resistance). They can be built into dispensers and cheap lab balances. Higher resolution (0.02 g / 0.02 gr) is possible, but sensitivity increases — so does vulnerability to temperature, vibration, drafts, static, and long-term creep/drift. Arlyn Scales+1

Electromagnetic force-restoration (EMFR) balances (a.k.a. “magnetic force” balances)
  • Lab-grade A&D, Sartorius, Mettler-Toledo, etc. use EMFR. The balance measures the electromagnetic force needed to counteract the load. These are extremely stable, less affected by temperature and mechanical creep, and typically used in labs and pharmaceutical work. They cost much more than consumer dispensers but retain stability over long periods. Many serious reloaders recommend certain Sartorius or A&D models for auto-trickler setups because they drift far less. Sniper's Hide+1

2) Why “drift” happens and when it matters​


Drift is a slow change in the displayed weight when no weight or only a steady weight exists. Causes:
  • Thermal changes: load cells are sensitive to temperature; metal expansion and electronics offsets matter. Arlyn Scales
  • Creep / mechanical relaxation: over time, the strain gauge metal assembly can slowly deform under repeated loading cycles or from small damage; that creates drift/creep. APEC USA
  • Air currents / drafts: trickling powder adds tiny amounts slowly — drafts produce noise at the same scale. Use draft shields. Adam Equipment
  • Electrostatic / EMI: static charge on powder or bench and electromagnetic interference can cause readout noise and jumps. Adam Equipment
  • Aging & wear: lower-cost load cells can degrade after months/years of use, and the manufacturer software’s drift-compensation only goes so far. Arlyn Scales+1

When drift reaches the level of a single powder kernel (or a few kernels), you’ll see readings change seemingly randomly while trickling — that’s when it becomes practically intolerable for trickle-weighing. Forum reports and user experiences show many users encountering real drift with mass-market 0.02-gr scales after some time. Shooters' Forum+1

3) Why manufacturers have to “allow” drift in the software​


A scale that “locks out” tiny changes will ignore your trickling (you need the readout to move as you add powder). So calibration/drift-compensation software has to permit some change during a trickle. That creates a compromise: allow enough change so trickling registers, but not so much that temperature/drift/noise overwhelms the reading. The finer the resolution, the narrower that window, and the harder it is to implement perfectly in cheap hardware. Adam Equipment

4) Real-world results and the product landscape (what I found)​

  • GemPro / budget 0.02 gr scales — provide high nominal resolution, but many users report “drifting” and inconsistent behavior compared with lab balances. Good value for many users, but be ready for occasional recalibration and environmental control. Shooters' Forum+1
  • A&D FX-120i and similar lab balances — hobbyists widely praise A&D FX series for stable readings, trickle compatibility, and being cost-effective relative to Sartorius top models. They behave like lab gear and are much more stable than many cheap strain-gauge units. YouTube+1
  • Sartorius / Entris / CP series — extremely stable EMFR balances; many shooters and loaders that automate trickling pair a Sartorius with a compatible autotrickler. Expensive, but rock-steady and long-lived. Shooters' Forum+1
  • RCBS ChargeMaster Lite & Frankford Intellidropper — very good consumer dispensers that combine a dispenser and a scale and are tuned for reloading use; generally reliable, fast, and are great value for most users. The Lite and Intellidropper both include powder-calibration features and trickle modes; many users find them fine for day-to-day production. Rifle Shooter Magazine+1
  • RCBS MatchMaster — positioned above the ChargeMaster line: pharma-grade components, dual-tube dispense, “match” accuracy (RCBS advertises down to .04 gr or .04 grains in match mode and .1-.04 range in specs). It’s a more premium, automated system but still uses precise electronic weighing and is costly. RCBS Store+1

5) Practical mitigation — how to get the best results from any system​


Regardless of tech, follow these bench practices to reduce drift and improve repeatability:

A. Environmental control
  • Use a draft shield or enclosure and keep the scale away from vents, A/C flow, and open windows. Adam Equipment
  • Keep temperature as constant as practical; let electronics warm up and stabilize before precision work. APEC USA
  • Reduce static (anti-static mats, avoid synthetic clothing or use ionizers).
B. Physical setup
  • Mount scale on a stable, rigid, flat bench surface and use an anti-vibration pad if bench vibrates. Adam Equipment
  • Install the scale away from motors, fluorescent lights, or strong RF sources.
C. Operation
  • Warm up & zero: power up and let the instrument stabilize for a few minutes; perform a tare/zero then check with a known weight. APEC USA
  • Use calibrated test weights to verify accuracy and repeatability before you trust a dispenser. APEC USA
  • Trickle technique: use a consistent trickle method and pan placement; allow the display to fully settle between additions (load cell response time matters). APEC USA
  • Re-tare periodically: if you see drift, retare and verify with a standard; don’t fight a slowly degrading readout forever.
D. Long-term
  • Expect cheaper load cells to show some long-term creep: if a scale gets worse after warranty, a high-quality lab balance tends to remain stable longer. APEC USA+1

6) Buying guidance — what to choose at each budget tier​


A. Budget / practical production dispensers (best “bang for buck”)
  • Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper — fast, featureful, has powder calibration and app support; ±0.1 gr claimed and excellent price/performance for high-volume reloading. Frankford Arsenal+1
  • RCBS ChargeMaster Lite — smaller, modernized, includes Bluetooth/cal mode; trusted and excellent for bench production. If you liked the old 1500, the Lite is effectively its successor. Rifle Shooter Magazine+1
B. Premium automated dispensers
  • RCBS MatchMaster — top consumer automated dispenser, dual-tube, match mode, pharmaceutical-grade components, claimed ~0.04 gr accuracy, and faster throws in many tests. Good choice if you want automation and top consumer accuracy and are willing to pay. Ultimate Reloader+1
C. Laboratory / ultra-precise weighing (for tricklers & autotricklers)
  • A&D FX-120i (and other A&D models) — lab-grade, very stable, good trickle support and widely recommended when paired with an autotrickler. Less expensive than Sartorius but excellent performance for the price. YouTube+1
  • Sartorius Entris / CP / CPA series — EMFR precision and long-term stability; recommended for automated, high-precision setups where money isn’t the primary concern. Shooters' Forum+1

7) Practical recommendation (my edited take vs original)​

  • Your original instincts are correct: higher resolution introduces more susceptibility to drift — but modern lab balances (EMFR) are designed to avoid those problems and are the long-term solution. If you want top stability and ultimate precision, buy lab-grade A&D or Sartorius and pair with an autotrickler. YouTube+1
  • For most reloaders who want a fast, reliable dispenser for hundreds of rounds, ChargeMaster Lite or Intellidropper are excellent, lower-friction choices. They balance speed, cost, and practical accuracy and many users report long life and good performance. Rifle Shooter Magazine+1
  • MatchMaster is a compelling premium option if you want more automation and higher advertised precision and are OK with the price and complexity. Expect RCBS’s “match” claims to be real for many users — but remember environmental control and calibration still matter. Ultimate Reloader+1

8) Quick bench checklist (for best results)​

  • Stable bench, anti-vibe pad, or dedicated lab shelf.
  • Draft shield / enclosure and consistent ambient temp.
  • Let the scale warm up and zero; verify with calibrated weights.
  • Tare with the same pan every time; keep pan placement consistent.
  • Use consistent trickle method; let display settle between additions.
  • Re-check accuracy weekly or before load runs.
  • If you need long-term, stable trickling to ±0.02 gr, invest in EMFR/A&D or Sartorius + compatible autotrickler.

Citations / sources (most important ones)​


Author: Aaron Peterson — Hawkeye Ammosmithing
 
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