Does anyone have experience with the MTM electronic scale?

[45flattop]

I was looking at them on the Sinclair web site and they appear
to be quite reasonable for the money compared to others I've
seen, so I was wondering how durable they might be.

Mine won't be used in the field or under any adverse environmental
conditions, just on my loading bench, while level, in a dry cool place.

Here is the link to some data on this scale from the Sinclair website:

http://www.sinclairintl.com/product/559 ... Dispensers

 

[Sgt Garcia]

Hard to go wrong at that price but I would want to know what the resolution is before buying. It would need to be .1 grain to be useful…..I didn't see that listed.

Dennis.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I haven't used the MTM but have another brand of small, inexpensive digital scale I use to weigh bullets and do a couple of other repetitive chores. It's got a "multi-scale" readout that can be set to grams, ounces, grains, and it's calibrated to 0.1 gr just like my balance beams.

Only caveat I've both seen and read about w/ these little guys is they don't do so well when trickling powder charges. Unlike the balance beam that moves as soon as more weight's added, sometimes when trickling very gently the readout doesn't change until the pan is lifted and set back down to achieve a "new" reading.

Be sure to use a set of regular checkweights, too! The calibration weight they send in the box is usually a "big" one near the top end of the scale's capacity.

Rick C

 

[45flattop]

Hard to go wrong at that price but I would want to know what the resolution is before buying. It would need to be .1 grain to be useful…..I didn't see that listed.

Dennis.

Sarge, it appears from the MTM website itself that this model
is calibrated to .2 grains, not .1 but for my purposes, that will
do fine. It has a maximum weight capacity of 1200 grains and
can be set to grams, grains, ounces and carats.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I got one of the Frank-Arse cheap digital scales for convenience. They would all seem to be pretty much the same. (made in China) There are issues and I would not rely on one like that as the only scale for reloading ammo. Some of the problems I have found are:
1. Battery problems. (gets weak)
2. Check weight too heavy.
3. Zero drifting.
4. .2gr not sensitive enough.
5. Shuts-off too quickly.

With that said I have found the scale to be convenient to use as a back-up, and check-scale. You can weigh a whole lot of things in a short amount of time. I use it to check every charge in a loading block when working near max. load, things like that.

...Jimbo

 

[revhigh]

Anybody who uses one of these things, no matter what brand, for weighing powder charges is looking to have a blown up gun. NOTHING beats a good old RCBS 505, or other quality beam equivalent. You have no idea what is happening in the digital world inside these cheap things, and then you'll trust your life and gun with the results ... no thanks. The ones I've seen/used have been so inconsistent/unreliable I just threw it away. I'm sure there are good digital scales out there, but those MTM's and Franklins aren't one of them.

REV

 

[Ruger Packer]

John, For $30 I'd give it a try! I have a PACT powder scale that I bought back in the mid-90's. I've been happy with it and it has not given me any trouble whatsoever.

I still use a Hornady balance beam scale on occasion. But rely mainly on the PACT. I always make sure its zero'd before each loading session.

This is the model I have.... BTW, the PACT also makes the same model for Lyman and RCBS...

http://pact.com/index.php?option=com_co ... &Itemid=58

Anybody who uses one of these things, no matter what brand, for weighing powder charges is looking to have a blown up gun. NOTHING beats a good old RCBS 505, or other quality beam equivalent. You have no idea what is happening in the digital world inside these cheap things, and then you'll trust your life and gun with the results ... no thanks. The ones I've seen/used have been so inconsistent/unreliable I just threw it away. I'm sure there are good digital scales out there, but those MTM's and Franklins aren't one of them.

Rev, Thats why they come with check weights. Always make sure the scale is calibrated before you start a reloading session.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Some interesting points here as I too am thinking of the MTM unit for "at the range" checking of (less than "redline") charges thrown with (gasp!) Lee powder measures. When the delta breeze gets to puffing up here, my ol' Redding balance beam scale gets cantankerous....(no matter how I try to shield it)

 

[Ruger Packer]

Some interesting points here as I too am thinking of the MTM unit for "at the range" checking of (less than "redline") charges thrown with (gasp!) Lee powder measures. When the delta breeze gets to puffing up here, my ol' Redding balance beam scale gets cantankerous....(no matter how I try to shield it)

I don't think an electronic scale would be any better in those conditions. But for $30 its inexpensive enough to try. You might like it for your bench. Come to think of it, it would make a handy "small" postal scale.

 

[96/44]

I can't speak about the MTM scale, but my Dillon digital bounces all over the place if there is any breeze at all. I can't even use the fan on the other side of the shop when weighing powder charges.

 

[revhigh]

Anybody who uses one of these things, no matter what brand, for weighing powder charges is looking to have a blown up gun. NOTHING beats a good old RCBS 505, or other quality beam equivalent. You have no idea what is happening in the digital world inside these cheap things, and then you'll trust your life and gun with the results ... no thanks. The ones I've seen/used have been so inconsistent/unreliable I just threw it away. I'm sure there are good digital scales out there, but those MTM's and Franklins aren't one of them.

Rev, Thats why they come with check weights. Always make sure the scale is calibrated before you start a reloading session.

Yes RP, they do don't they ?? The only problem with that is that EVERY SINGLE TIME you weigh something on those electronic scales, it is a new electronic occurrance, which is subject to varying battery voltage, humidity, etc., etc. A $30 electronic scale is not trustworthy for the purpose of reloading.

 

[revhigh]

Come to think of it, it would make a handy "small" postal scale.

Now there's a SAFE use for a $30 electronic scale ... LOL.

REV

 

[Ruger Packer]

Anybody who uses one of these things, no matter what brand, for weighing powder charges is looking to have a blown up gun. NOTHING beats a good old RCBS 505, or other quality beam equivalent. You have no idea what is happening in the digital world inside these cheap things, and then you'll trust your life and gun with the results ... no thanks. The ones I've seen/used have been so inconsistent/unreliable I just threw it away. I'm sure there are good digital scales out there, but those MTM's and Franklins aren't one of them.

Rev, Thats why they come with check weights. Always make sure the scale is calibrated before you start a reloading session.

Yes RP, they do don't they ?? The only problem with that is that EVERY SINGLE TIME you weigh something on those electronic scales, it is a new electronic occurrance, which is subject to varying battery voltage, humidity, etc., etc. A $30 electronic scale is not trustworthy for the purpose of reloading.

I have a PACT scale. It has always worked fine for me. Of course, YMMV.

Postal scales are electronic now. Grocery scales for weighing meat and produce are electronic. They all have to be accurate. I don't for a minute believe that reloading scales are all bad.

I don't experience the problem you do as described above. Of course, I don't use batteries. I use the electric jack. Humidity isn't going to change all that much during a session. Of course, a week later, it very well may. Again, that is why you recalibrate before you start the reloading session. 8)

 

[Bucks Owin]

Thanks for the sensible input RP and all....I think I'll give the MTM a try. Ain't it odd that one would doubt the accuracy of a modern electronic scale, when for the past 40+ years I've trusted an old Redding balance beam that probably cost my dad less than $20 to keep from getting my fingers blown off. (Of course I test it now and then by weighing a couple of different bullets of various calibers...... :wink: )

 

[Ruger Packer]

Let me clarify on my post above....

I said, "I don't for a minute believe that reloading scales are all bad."

What I meant to say was, "I don't for a minute believe that all electronic reloading scales are all bad."

I still use my Hornady balance beam scale. What I do when I sit down to reload, 1st thing, I make sure the scale is calibrated correctly (PACT scale comes with 2 weights). 2nd thing, I throw one charge it the pan and then check its weight on the electronic scale and on the balance beam scale. If all is well...... 3rd thing I do, I throw 10 charges and check on both. When I'm satisfied, I proceed.

One thing I never do, I NEVER work with near max charges on either scale. Max charges are not necessary for good ammo.

 

[Bucks Owin]

No clarification needed amigo, I got your drift. And I agree that best performance is rarely found by pushing a bullet as fast as absolutely possible...