Hi there I have the Frankfort Arsenal Inteliidropper since about 6 Months I had the same issue with drifting zero after awhile. It was getting worse and worse that I could not drop more than 2 or 3 Charges in Automode without zeroing the Scale again and again. I contactet the Support from Frankfort Arsenal the gave me the advice to remove the scale pan carefully und put it back That helped me a lot Now I let the System warm up for 20-30 minutes and if there a drifting tendencies comming up I remove the pan and put it carefully back. I found out this system is very sensitive about temerature and humidity changes. If you take it from a cold place int a warm room there are more issues with drifting in my case. Since i know that I have no problems at all anymore with drifting.
You say it is drifting. It most certainly is a sensitive scale and it is teeter tottering between the 10th of a grain. If it measures fine on the balance scale with no visual difference it most certainly is within the .1 accuracy specs. It would be more fair to compare the Franklin Arsenal Scale with the RCBS Lite. I have one that recently went bad. So even RCBS scales can have problems. I ordered the Franklin Armory to replace it. Hopefully mine will be a good one. There are good and bad ones in all the manufacturers. Nice honest video.
Garry thanks for the comment. FYI Franklin replaced my scale and I do not get the drifting now and by the way it is the fastest of scales I have with a trick. If you let this thing powder calibrate before you start to use it WOW is it fast and accurate.
I've had the RCBS Chargemaster, and never really was happy with it, even though I went through 2 of them. It finally gave up and quit talking to the scale. Warranty was expired so I trashed it. I currently have and am using Franklin Arsenal Intellidropper. I do have the same problem with the drifting, but more often it won't return to zero after I dump a load. So I have to start over with the charge weight and hope it finishes, but most often it doesn't. Not real impressed with it, but it's what I have.
Maybe the drifting is due to the scale being more sensitive which actually indicates that it’s more accurate and actually closer to the desired weight selected??
I can see where the powder calibration feature would be helpful. I just had to learn what speed settings to use with my Hornady, and it was half the price as the RCBS, and almost $80 less than the F.A., if I could have found one. Thanks for the review
Pact had a scale dispenser combo that ran a powder drop calibration as well. So the idea is not new. All of the cheap powder scales are strain gauges and subject to drift.
Not a huge expert on this but pretty sure you need to be using tweezers or gloves when handling calibration weight (yes, even if it's 50/100 gram weights). Leaving fat/grease from fingers will throw off your calibration weight enough for your scale to be calibrated too high and therefore will give you incorrect readings later.
Drifting? Through a granule of powder or two it solves that. I’ve never had a clear answer which way the numbers round. Does .05 round up? Or does .02 below your target number trigger it to “drift”? Also you breathing and moving around will drift it. The covers have static don’t recommend using it on either. I’m very satisfied with my FA. Proven two different cartridges under 3/4moa.
I just bought this scale about 2 weeks ago. I have noticed the drifting too. I will turn it on, zero it and leave it to sit. When I check on it at different times, it most definitely drifts upwords. I am in contact with the manufacturer and they have had me try to tighten the 2 screws on the bottom. Before I done this, it would drift by adding .1 grain every minute or so, now it drifts at a rate of .1 grain every 5-10 seconds so after sitting for a minute, it will read .6-.8I believe this one is going back. I'm not sure if I am willing to try the same scale again or most likely will purchase a different brand.
I understand mine went back also. It still drifts a little but not as much as you have witnessed in this video. I have noticed though the more I use it the more I like it. When I weigh a thrown charge on my balance beam scale you can't notice the drifting. I also notice when throwing charges it is solid, it only drifts when an empty pan is there. Good luck
I have an old rcbs powder master and it has a calibration process you have to run. Its just slow.... If frsnkfort updates the strain gauge and software id be in
Have you compared the drops on something more accurate like a lab scale? +/- .1 is actually a .2 spread. The back and forth drift could be because it's riding the line between 49.99 and 50.01 and it could actually be more accurate.
They have been compared on a RCBS 10/10 balance beam scale. I actually found them both to be spot on. Meaning within the guarantee that each manufacturer promises.
Just for the sake of the video since you didn’t mention it, was there any sort of air movement near the scale? Open window, ceiling fan, ground fan? Were you breathing directly down on it? I have a small electronic scale that is SUPER sensitive to air flow. I literally cannot breath in the direction of the scale without it picking up my breath and “drifting” I only ask in case maybe the FA scale is much more air-movement sensitive than the RCBS scale
There was no movement of wind close buy at all. I actually thought of this and turned off the heater in the house also, made my wife scream but it was worth the try :)
I found that speed had less to do with overthrows. My brass insert that was specifically made for me just about did away with every over throw. This is why a lot of people use the straw trick.
A brass tube that makes it way more consistent that was turned for me by a machinist friend of mine. You may have seen many use a McDonalds straw this is more of a permanent replacement for that. Even more interesting the lyman gen 6 actually come with a plastic one that looks just like my brass one.
BASED ON ALL THE SCALE REVIEWS ON RU-vid, RCBS CHARGE MASTER LIGHT IS THE WAY FOR ME. IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED TO ME BY AN AVID EMPLOYEE AT A RELOADING STORE THAT LOADS AMMO ALMOST EVERYDAY!!!😳😬
Mine drifts like crazy as well. Also the Bluetooth will only link maybe 1 out 10 times I try to use it. Very frustrated with the FA. Can you tell us how you went about doing the upgrade to you charge master?
My Frankford is rock solid now after replacement. Here is a good guide for the RCBS chargemaster, know you are on your own and does void warranty. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-p-DRJCL0D3A.html
Dayattherange I’m seeing this a year later. Any update? Have you tried using a UPS with conditioned power and automatic voltage regulation? Fluorescent lights drive some things crazy.
Too bad the FA drifts so much, because that powder calibration looks like it may prove to be a great feature. My RCBS Chargemaster Lite slows down much earlier than the FA you have there, and can be really slow to finish at times.
I am hoping FA will tell me there is a new firmware coming. That will make this scale better than everyone else if things like this can be fixed with software.
Nice video. Im going to buy 1 today when cabelas opens. I like the chargemaster but they are a little more than i want to spend. Not a fan of the cord being up front on chargemaster either.
@@CenlaSelfDefenseConcepts I have used every powder except for ball powder in this thing and it works great. Ball powder I still throw with my uniflow.
@@Dayattherangei have 2 questions please. 1, how do you change your RCBS to throw faster and more accurate? and 2. could you perhaps remove your little brass device so we can see what it looks like and try to copy it. i live all the out in South africa. it would be greatly appreciated.
