Selection Decision
I mentioned in my last review (Shooting Chrony) that I was looking for an electronic scale for less than $100. Well, I found one and here's a review.
Price
Price is $89.95. Includes 2 check weights, powder pan and battery. It can be ordered from the factory (phone: 800 PACT INC) or from many reloading oriented mail order firms.
Specifications
Accuracy: +/- .1 grains up to 300 grains. +/- .2 grains up to 750 gr.
Max Weight: I assume 750 grains. Displays error message above 850 gr.
Meas. Time: First reading in about 2 seconds (usually within a couple
tenths of final reading about 1 to 1.5 seconds later).
Dimensions: About 5.6"L x 4.1W x 1.6H (dimen. include feet and platen).
Other items: Includes 20 and 30 gram check weights and powder pan.
Battery: 9 volt alkaline battery (included).
Battery life: Not specified. I measured about 10ma. It mentions that
frequent recalibration will be needed if the voltage drops
below 7.8 volts. So somewhere between 15 to 20 hours of
battery life would be my guess.
WarrantyLimited lifetime warranty with the exception of the load cell (strain gauge) due to the inherent fragility of this sensitive element.
Cautions
A few various WARNINGS contained in the manual:
"It is up to you to ZERO and CALIBRATE the unit properly." It goes on to explain the consequences of an improper powder load. "IF THIS OCCURS YOUR GUN MAY BLOW UP SENDING SHARP SHARDS OF METAL INTO YOUR EYES BLINDING YOU AND THOSE AROUND YOU."Yes, I got the message.
"The Scale is physically very fragile and the load cell will be PERMANENTLY DAMAGED by: * Dropping the Scale. * Pulling up on the platen in such a way that it binds in the load cell. * Introducing a violent shock to the scale." "When you remove the battery resist the temptation to bang the scale against your hand to 'pop' the battery out. This may damage or destroy the load cell." "BBK is very sensitive to off center loading." This is mentioned at least 3 times in the manual. "Do not trickle powder into the pan from zero weight. The AUTO ZERO function will try to eliminate the first 0.5 grains causing the scale to read incorrectly." I will add one more based on an incident I read somewhere. "Don't weigh a brick."Company Background
PACT is a company in Texas that makes chronographs, shooting timers and electronic scales. Perhaps you may have seen their ads in gun magazines. Here's an excerpt from one:
"Let's face it, balance beam scales are a real pain in the CLINTON. ... just when you think you've got the thing pinned down, it will switch positions and LIE TO YOU."
Seems like a company I can do business with.
When I called the company to order this newly introduced scale, I was informed that the new scales were in QA (Quality Assurance) as we spoke. This was immediately followed by the sound of a barking dog. Boy, I wish I could bring my dog to work!
Personal Observations
I first noticed the PACT BBK on the cover of a newly arrived Shooting Times. My interest greatly increased after seeing the price ($89.95). Within minutes I was calling everywhere trying to locate one for purchase and was unsuccessful (not in stock yet). Eventually, I noticed that PACT sells them directly to consumers. I called PACT and received it less than a week later.
I don't normally fully read the instructions until I get stuck but the words "PERMANENTLY DAMAGED" caught my eye while skimming through the manual. Therefore I would recommend fully reading the instructions before attempting to operate this scale for the first time. The first task after opening the box is to install the battery. This should be a simple step but the extra width due to the battery connector makes it a tight fit.
There are 4 buttons on the front panel (ON/OFF, GRAMS/GRAINS, ZERO, and CAL) and anyone of these turns the unit on. The platen is detachable and care must be used when installing or removing it. Using excessive force at this point could damage the strain gauge. The CAL step is next and it requires the two check weights (20 and 30 grams). The calibration step is performed in grams which is a measurement unit I do not normally work in. Precision check weights are probably more standard in grams than in grains.
You have the option of performing a 1 point or 3 point calibration. The 3 point calibration is performed at 20 gms, 30 gms, and 50 gms (both check weights together). The one point calibration is recommended for measurements under 20 grams (308.6 grains) because it is quite a bit faster. If you choose the 1 point calibration, the display will flash "CAL" as a reminder that the scale has been calibrated to only 300 grains. I periodically verify any powder scale by measuring check weights and recalibrate as necessary.
The calibration procedure is virtually idiot proof. I tried to mess it up by using the wrong calibration weights at different points and it caught me every time. The only exception is leaving the weight on at the end of the calibration procedure (the autozero step I think). This is easily detected when you take weight off and you have a big negative value (like -308.6) on the display.
One of the tasks I rarely perform with a balance beam is weighing bullets because of the time involved. Good weight consistency in jacketed and cast bullets is no guarantee of shooting accuracy but I have found that wide weight variations is usually detrimental to shooting accuracy. I have some good quality Sierra and Hornady jacketed rifle bullets that shoot well and their weight variations did not exceed a 1/2 of a grain. The cheap "bulk" bullets I have purchased had a 2 grain variation and they also shot poorly. I also noticed some cast bullets which measured a bit lighter than most (possibly due to internal voids) even though they were well formed. I need to run accuracy tests on well formed cast bullets that are light to see if accuracy is affected.
Weighing powder is usually the primary use of reloading scales. A powder pan is provided. Since the powder pan is made out of plastic, some powder will stick due to static. PACT recommends wiping it with a dryer sheet and that solves the static problem. After calibration, the pan is placed on the platen. To rezero the scale, the ZERO button is pushed. Using an electronic scale to periodically check a powder measure is much faster than using a balance beam. If you want to trickle measure powder, then a charge over .5 grains must be placed into the pan before trickling the rest of the powder. This is a good place to use those inexpensive LEE powder measures. The autozero function will zero out initial charges of less then .5 grains.
PACT recommends operating this scale in a vibration and draft free environment. The scale was easily able to meet the +/- .1 grain accuracy if you turn on the scale and let it sit and stabilize for a few minutes and then calibrate. Prior to stabilization, it seems to read about .2 grains low. All my other check weights measured perfect with the exception of an aluminum wire 5 grain weight that was sort of pretzel shaped. It was .2 grains low! Although I was not happy about this, at least it was on the low side.
Above 300 grains, the accuracy is specified to be +/- .2 grains. This scale easily met this specification. In fact, after some stabilization time, this scale was able to meet +/- .1 grain accuracy above 300 grains but this is not guaranteed. Perhaps the +/- .2 grain accuracy is the result of the combined manufacturing tolerance of using two check weights together for calibration.
I also tested the off center sensitivity and repeatability. A bullet placed on the edge of the platen measured .2 grain low and between center and edge measured .1 grain low. I found the repeatability to be also excellent. Most of the measurements of the same item were identical with some measurements .1 grain high or low.
Trickling powder takes a bit of a technique. There is some lag time as powder trickles into the pan and this can cause some overshoot. I dump most of the charge in with a powder scoop. I then trickle the powder at a steady rate until about .2 grains under the desired charge. I find I can hit the desired charge exactly almost every time. Is this level of accuracy really needed? Who said anything about need?
The manual did not mention any power down mode so I assume it does not exist. If anything were to be added to this very affordable electronic scale, I would suggest an automatic power down after some time of inactivity. This would save the battery in case I forgot to turn it off.
Summary
The BBK electronic scale can be purchased for not much more than a good balance beam scale. If you consider the additional cost of check weights for the balance beam scale then the actual cost is comparable. I find the electronic scale to be much faster, more accurate and possibly safer (due to direct readout) than balance beam scales. My old balance beam scale is now on the shelf in a "backup" role. I do not feel comfortable reloading without a scale as verification. The 750 grain (or 850?) limit might be a limitation for some reloaders although it exceeds most reloading balance beams and it was high enough to measure a 50 cal. BMG bullet. I would recommend this electronic scale over a balance beam scale for reloading purposes without hesitation.