A&D FX-120i Scales arrived!

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:03 am

Finally able to invest in a set of A&D FX-120i scales after getting a good price out of the States.

Even with a 122g capacity they dwarf the A&D HL-1500 (HL-100) 100g scales and the Jewllery FC-50 50g scales.

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ecomeat · Post by **ecomeat** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:50 am

Aaron,
What sort of money did they cost, landed ??
Tony

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:12 pm

A couple dollars under USD$700.

macguru · Post by **macguru** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 2:11 pm

do they measure to 0.001 grain ?

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 2:48 pm

macguru wrote:do they measure to 0.001 grain ?

Nope just 0.02 of a grain (0.001g), otherwise you have to step down to 0.0005g scales. Then you're starting to get into the realm of labratory and moisture balances >$1,000 easily.

Resolution: 0.001g
Repeatability: 0.001g
Linearity: +/-0.002g

Price included nearly USD$85 for USPS Express mail packaging, shipping and insurance!

Basic description here:
http://balance.balances.com/scales/1223/

Now if I could just turnover enough projectiles to spend another $700 on airconditioning the room and another $700/yr on the power bill I could think about getting NATA certification

Buying confidence in shooting sports always seems expensive until you see the results.

IanP · Post by **IanP** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:13 pm

Aaron, they are a great set of scales and weigh down to under 1 kernal of AR2208. I use an Omega trickler with them and a cheap Lee Perfect powder thrower to get close to the load.

I got mine from the USA and it saves about $500 on buying them locally from A&D. It should make a difference having an accurately weighed load for the longer ranges. It does mean though as a shooter I am losing another excuse if I shoot a bad score!

I think you will be happy with your new purchase.

Ian

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:23 am

Didn't even get an email response from the Australian supplier. There was a set of the waterproof version available but yes at about twice the price...might be useful if I get into mixinng my own nitro's but really don't measure much wet stuff

macguru · Post by **macguru** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:08 am

Think i will stick to my RCBS scales
they are accurate to 0.01 grain if used correctly

andrew

ecomeat · Post by **ecomeat** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:41 am

I had just about talked myself into buying the Sartorius/Denver Instruments AZ153 digital scales that Brunos Shooters Supplies sells. Quoted price for them delivered to me in QLD was USD$709-00 so pretty much in the same ballpark as your new ones, price wise.
Has anyone out there got a Sartorius AZ153 to be able to comment on their accuracy, ease of use and reliability ??

Aaron, did you look at other brands ? And if so, i presume that after a fair bit of research you concluded that the A & D FX 120i was the way to go ? Your bullet making requirements , in addition to your reloading, will probably mean significantly more detailed use than I will have, simply wanting to very accurately prepare loads for 284 Win, 6.5 x 47 Lap, 6 x 47 Lap, 223 and 204 Ruger.
I am hoping you might be able to save me a lot of research, and have a comment re what you would consider the best fit for a long range shooter who wants spot on weights with reloads (and who has an Omega trickler on its way by air frt !)
Thanks in advance
Tony Berry

bolster55 · Post by **bolster55** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:59 pm

Hello All,
I purchased a A&D 120i from a scales company in Perth for about $800. Excellent set of scales.
I now have a Denver Instruments MXX123 for sale.

Cheers

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:13 pm

ecomeat wrote:I had just about talked myself into buying the Sartorius/Denver Instruments AZ153 digital scales that Brunos Shooters Supplies sells. Quoted price for them delivered to me in QLD was USD$709-00 so pretty much in the same ballpark as your new ones, price wise.

Aaron, did you look at other brands ? And if so, i presume that after a fair bit of research you concluded that the A & D FX 120i was the way to go ? Your bullet making requirements , in addition to your reloading, will probably mean significantly more detailed use than I will have, simply wanting to very accurately prepare loads for 284 Win, 6.5 x 47 Lap, 6 x 47 Lap, 223 and 204 Ruger.
I am hoping you might be able to save me a lot of research, and have a comment re what you would consider the best fit for a long range shooter who wants spot on weights with reloads (and who has an Omega trickler on its way by air frt !)
Thanks in advance
Tony Berry

I saw the Bruno Shooters Supply price a few months back and it is excellent for the AZ153, but they are only a strain gauge type load cell.

Essentially I was sold on the magentic force restoration (MFR) load cell instead of the basic strain gauge cell after watching this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89BOlViQXto&lr=1

plus two other articles, one from accurateshooter.com and the other from sniper:

http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/sartorius-magnetic-scale-is-fast-ultra-precise/

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2835527&gonew=1

I spent a bit of time looking at the Acculab/Sartorius VIC123/AY-123, Adam, My Weigh and Ohaus, but they all took a big jump going from a strain gauge to MFR load cell. I couldn't quite justify the A&D FZ-i series with the internal calibration unit even though it sounds like a huge time saver. Best price for the FX-120i I found was from San Diego Scale Company (currently USD$599.98+shipping)

http://www.discountscales.com/andfxi-seriesbalances.htm

I made email contact with them and phoned in my CC details. Paul Van Roon (Director of Sales) was excellent to deal with and didn't hesitate at my suggestion for USPS shipping instead of the very expensive UPS.

I don't think it would be a big stretch to get the FX-120i to drive the Omega Powder Tricker once you had everything plugged into a laptop using a feedback loop etc.

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:53 pm

macguru wrote:Think i will stick to my RCBS scales
they are accurate to 0.01 grain if used correctly

andrew

Hi Andrew

Which RCBS scales do you have that measure to 0.01 grain? I wasn't aware of any that did less than 0.1gr balance beam or digital. :?:

Aaron

macguru · Post by **macguru** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:55 pm

'Which RCBS scales do you have that measure to 0.01 grain? I wasn't aware of any that did less than 0.1gr balance beam or digital. '

You are right... my mistake !

Andrew

aaronraad · Post by **aaronraad** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:58 pm

macguru wrote:'Which RCBS scales do you have that measure to 0.01 grain? I wasn't aware of any that did less than 0.1gr balance beam or digital. '

You are right... my mistake !

Andrew

Had to ask. I wouldn't put it past RCBS to bring out some 0.01gr scales given their commitment to precision reloading.

RDavies · Post by **RDavies** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:25 pm

I have a set of these scales sitting in Raton waiting for me. They certainly highlighted the short comings in one of the automatic powder dispensers which I had been using beforehand. The A&D FX120i seemed to work very consistently and quickly, no problems at all.