Many of our readers do more than just hunting on the weekends or spending a day at the range. A lot of us like to be much more involved in the lifestyle and culture of firearms, and having a set of quality tools at hand to reload your ammo is crucial for an accurate shooter.
Therefore, we’ve put together this review of the best digital powder scales, for those of you who like to recycle and fill your own ammo. Instead of reviewing both manual and digital scales, we stuck to solely digital for this review.
Best Budget Buy
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GGD Compact Digital Reloading Scale |
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$57 Shop NowClick to read my review |
Frankford Arsenal Precision Scale |
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$101 Shop NowClick to read my review | |
Top Pick
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Hornady Lock N Load Auto Charge |
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$346 Shop NowClick to read my review |
Lyman Gen 6 Touch Screen |
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$246 Shop NowClick to read my review |
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Choosing Reloading Scale
Reloading scales vary significantly in terms of accuracy, capacity, and ease of use, catering to different needs depending on the intended purpose of the tool.
The diagram below illustrates the essential components of a scale, serving as an example. However, it’s important to note that reloading scales can come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate different preferences and requirements.
On the other hand, a loose substance, such as gun powder, comes with its own set of challenges. The most critical one is to prevent the mess that might easily happen! The other challenge is measuring your powder accurately, which is surprisingly more difficult if you’re not going the electronic way. Therefore, we strongly recommend opting for digital reloading scales, as they reduce the likelihood of human error and allow for faster measurements.
As mentioned in our scale reviews previously, and reiterated here, it’s essential to always calibrate your scales. Calibration is crucial for obtaining precise and reliable results when weighing any type of product. Happy scaling, everyone!
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The 4 Best Digital Powder Scales
GGD Compact Digital Reloading Scale with Precision Accuracy
Materials – This reloading scale is incredibly portable, fitting easily into your pocket for reloading on the go. It’s compact, lightweight, and runs on two AAA batteries (not included). Constructed from stainless steel with a protective plastic cover, it ensures durability. The weighing surface is equipped with a plastic film cover, which should be removed before use. Operating the scale is straightforward with five buttons: on/off, pieces, units, tare, and light. It features a large LCD display with a blue backlight for easy readability.
Performance – This digital scale offers precision up to 0.01g. For optimal accuracy, it should be placed on a flat, level surface before use. With a capacity of 200g, it balances size and functionality effectively. It includes built-in overload protection and a convenient tare function. Operating on two AAA batteries ensures cost-effectiveness and longevity, though it’s important to replace old batteries promptly to maintain accuracy.
What we say – Ideal for beginners, this digital reloading scale is also perfect for home use or cost-conscious reloaders. Its compact size makes it portable enough to carry anywhere, making it a versatile choice.
- Compact, lightweight, and portable
- Batteries required are cheap
- Straightforward to use
- Made of stainless steel
- Has a plastic flip cover
- Overload protection system
- Has no dust cover
Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale
Materials – The Franklin Arsenal Precision Scale comes with everything you need in one package. It features a scale, metal powder pan, calibration weights, protective cover, 110V power supply, and a 220V adaptor. A robust carry case ensures all components stay organized and secure during transport. The scale’s weigh plate is indexed to accommodate the shaft of an arrow or similar objects. Additionally, it includes a Tare button for comparing load consistencies.
Performance – This digital reloading scale facilitates precise measurements with its versatile functionality. It supports multiple units and features a three-point calibration system, ensuring reliability for various reloading tasks. The scale displays measurements in grams, ounces, grains, and carats on its LCD screen. Its user-friendly controls make it easy to operate. The Franklin Precision Scale includes an automatic shut-off feature after 180 seconds of inactivity. It can be powered by either 110V, 220V, or 4 AAA batteries (not included). Additionally, it boasts a stability indicator for capacities up to 1500 grains, with accuracy down to 0.1 grain.
What we say – Whether you’re new to reloading or a seasoned expert, Frankford Arsenal provides all the essential tools and reloading equipment you require. Positioned at a reasonable price point, this product offers excellent value for money and is a worthwhile investment.
- 1500 grain capacity
- 3 point calibration feature
- Includes a carry case to keep all components
- Battery not included
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Hornady Lock N Load Auto Charge
Materials – The Hornady Lock N Load Auto Charge elevates powder weighing to a new level. It includes a large powder hopper, three-speed settings for dispensing powder, and a trickle function. The scale boasts accuracy up to 1/10 of a grain and accommodates up to 1000 grains of powder. Its backlit digital screen ensures clear visibility, and a full keypad allows for easy operation of the scale.
Furthermore, this scale is equipped with a protective plastic cover to prevent loose powder from scattering during weighing. Such covers significantly enhance productivity and simplify cleanup. The scale comes with two calibration weights, and a dedicated button facilitates the calibration process. Additionally, the keypad features buttons for switching between units and adjusting speed settings.
Performance – The Hornady Lock N Load Auto Charge stands out as one of the top digital powder scales for reloading available today. However, reviews vary from glowing endorsements to reports of malfunctions after a certain number of uses. From my perspective as a dedicated user of this product, I believe that with mass production, there’s always a chance of encountering defective units. Fortunately, the scale includes a one-year warranty for added peace of mind.
This scale features large buttons that allow you to select between manual and automatic dispensing modes. It includes a trickler with three speed options, enabling you to adjust according to the characteristics of your gun powder. Additionally, the scale is known for its reliable accuracy, making it one of the top digital scales available.
What we say – The Hornady Lock N Load Auto Charge is designed for users handling larger quantities of powder, making it ideal for those deeply involved in shell recycling or offering services to like-minded gun owners. However, its higher price tag may not justify the investment for occasional use.
- Scales up to 1000 grains
- Backlit digital reader
- Protects loose powder
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
- Mixed reviews
- High price
Lyman Gen 6 Touch Screen
Materials – The Lyman Gen 6 Touch Screen is designed for serious at-home gunsmiths and professionals, boasting the largest capacity mentioned in this reviewâcapable of weighing up to 1500 grains at a time. Like other models, it offers accuracy up to 1/10 of a grain. Unique anti-static technology ensures a clean measuring process. Its digital touch screen interface sets it apart as one of the most advanced electronic powder scales available. Additional features include toggling between units, adjusting powder distribution speeds, and programming memory to consistently scale specific weights for up to 100 rounds.
Performance – The Lyman Gen 6 Touch Screen scale stands out as potentially the top choice for reloading powder. It’s undeniably one of the most innovative and advanced tools available for this purpose. However, its higher price tag positions it as a premium option, suited particularly for professional-level gun owners. The entire screen is backlit for easy readability and usability in various conditions. Despite the initial investment, users can expect long-lasting durability and reliable performance from this scale.
What we say – Like I’ve mentioned earlier, the Lyman Gen 6 Touch Screen scale is the best powder scale for those working on a professional level or are working with high amounts of powder at a time. It’s a wonderful product that can be worth the investment to the right buyer.
- Advanced technology, the best of the best
- Fully digital scale and keypad
- Scales up to 1500 grains
- Anti-static feature enables mess-free weighing
- Durable, will last a very long time
- Expensive if you are an occasional user
Our Favorite Digital Powder Scale
Our favorite digital powder scale ended up being the Hornady Lock N Load Auto Charge. Often, when selecting gunsmithing tools for everyday use, we lean towards products that have garnered popularity online. This isn’t just because they’re well-known, but because reputable products typically have proven themselves. The Hornady Lock N Load Auto Charge strikes a balance between home workshop usability and professional-grade performance. While it comes at a higher price point, its additional features make it worth the investment. This scale is versatile, user-friendly, and effectively prevents powder spillage, allowing for comfortable and efficient reloading.
However, if you’re on a budget, our best budget pick is the GGD Compact Digital Reloading Scale with Precision Accuracy. I recommend this to beginners and those who want a portable digital scale. It’s accurate, compact, and comes at an affordable price that’s ideal for new and experienced gun owners.