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This is part of a series of posts that highlight the gear the 200 top-ranked shooters in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) are running in long-range rifle matches. (Learn about the Precision Rifle Series.) This group of competitors represents the best precision rifle shooters in the country.
This article is part of a short series where I’ll focus on the reloading equipment and process these guys use to load their match ammo. Here is how I plan to publish this 3 part series:
- Reloading Presses & Dies
- Reloading Powder Scales (this article)
- Reloading Process & Steps Performed (next article)
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This article will focus on the reloading scale that these shooters are using to weigh their powder charges.
You’ll see that most of these powder scales are not just scales but auto-dispensing systems. That means you can set a desired powder charge weight, and then the system will automatically dispense powder until it reaches that weight. Then, you can load it into an empty case and repeat.
Best Reloading Powder Scale
Here is a breakdown of the different brands and models of powder scales that these top-ranked PRS shooters said they were using to handload their match ammo:
Wow! I expected the A&D FX-120i powder scale to be popular – but 75% of the 200 top-ranked shooters in the PRS are running that scale to load their match ammo! That included 70% of the guys in the top 10 and 68% in the top 25. Basically, the overwhelming majority of guys at the very top of the sport believe that it is the best scale for loading match-grade precision rifle ammo.
The A&D FX-120i is a “precision balance” (i.e., high-end scale) with 0.001-gram or 1.0 mg resolution at a relatively affordable price (starting at $568 street price).
Weighing To The Kernel: The average reloading scale only has a resolution of 0.10 grains, but the gold standard for long-range ammo is a scale that is accurate within a single kernel of powder. Here is what Benchrest Hall-of-Famer, Speedy Gonzales had to say: “I have began to migrate from the short-range game of Benchrest slowly into the long-range aspects of shooting and have come to understand how critical a single grain of powder has become and how paramount its effect is to shooting or competing at any extreme distance.”
Bryan Litz explains in Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting Volume II, “In order to resolve powder charges down to the kernel, you need a highly accurate scale capable of resolving down to 0.02 grains which is about the weight of one kernel of stick powder.”
One kernel of a popular extruded rifle powder like Hodgdon Varget weighs 0.02 grains. The accuracy or resolution of most high-end scales is advertised in grams or milligrams, so we need this conversion: 0.001 grams = 0.015 grains. That means a scale with an accuracy of 1 mg (or 0.001 grams) should be able to differentiate between a single kernel of Varget powder.
Most people pair the A&D FX-120i with an automatic powder dispenser that connects to the scale with a cable. The scale reports the weight to the powder dispenser, and the dispenser is programmed to throw a specific weight of powder. The most popular combo is the AutoTrickler v4 + A&D FX-120i Scale, which you can buy for $1,070 as a combo package. Another option is the SuperTrickler + A&D FX-120i Scale, but that combo starts at $1,400. Here is a great video that compares the AutoTrickler and the SuperTrickler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmWxkON4PhM.
Many of these shooters run 2 of these A&D FX-120i scale setups side-by-side to speed up their loading process. I know a couple who have told me they have 3 side-by-side!
The next most popular scale was the RCBS MatchMaster powder scale and dispenser ($900), which represented 8% of these shooters – although none of the shooters in the top 25 were using it. RCBS had a variety of automatic powder dispenser scales represented among this group: RCBS ChargeMaster ($300), RCBS ChargeMaster Supreme ($430), and RCBS MatchMaster ($900). They combined to represent 14% of these top-ranked shooters, with the MatchMaster being the most popular model.
The primary difference is the MatchMaster is capable of accuracy down to 0.04 grains in “Match Mode”, while the ChargeMaster scales are only accurate down to 0.10 grains.
7% of these shooters said they were using a Prometheus Powder Scale, including 1 in the top 10 and 3 more in the top 25.
The Prometheus was the first auto-dispensing scale that could weigh down to the kernel. It is actually a tuned analog balance. While there is a digital controller/circuit board for the powder trickler, the scale itself isn’t digital (which can be a good thing). It is basically a powder measure that dumps powder into “an ultra-sensitive mechanical balance beam system” that is in a sealed draft-proof enclosure, and it automatically trickles one kernel at a time until it balances at exactly the right weight. Then, you can quickly dump the powder directly into an empty case, and the Prometheus will automatically start the process over. In the time it takes to seat a bullet in case you just dumped powder into, and then prime another empty case and get it back to the Prometheus – it will almost be ready to dump the next precise powder charge.
The Prometheus II powder scale was the gold standard for the longest time. I’d guess from around 2012 to at least 2018, it was what every long-range rifle reloader wished they had. I personally invested in a Prometheus II in 2016, and it cost me $4,450 at that time. That was actually the price to “lease” the Prometheus for 25 years from the inventor/owner, Brand Cole, which is kind of a weird deal – but basically doesn’t give people the right to sell it, use it for commercial purposes, and some other things. The leasing arrangement is strange, but he now offers an option where you can buy it for something like $1,000 more. I’m not sure what the current pricing is, but you can contact Brand Cole for more info.
I will say the Prometheus is still one of the fastest and most accurate powder scales available, which is why many of these guys are still using one (and I am, too). But it clearly doesn’t offer the same bang for your buck as the A&D FX-120i + AutoTrickler – which is why that setup is drastically more popular.
96% of these shooters were using one of the scales above: A&D FX-120i, RCBS MatchMaster or ChargeMaster, or a Prometheus.
There were also 2 shooters running the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Electronic Powder Intelli-Dropper, which has a street price of only $196. That scale is advertised to be accurate to within 0.10 grains. Those were both shooters whose season rank was between 60 and 100, which might sound high – but it would likely put them inside the top 2% of all people who shoot PRS matches. So clearly, their ammo is still very capable.
Two shooters were also using the Hornady Auto Charge Pro Powder Measure, which is accurate down to 0.10 grains and has a street price of $360.
There were also 2 shooters who said they use a Sartorius scale, which is a very high-end pharmaceutical-grade scale, similar to the A&D FX-120i. I personally own a Sartorius Entris II BCE64-1S Analytical Balance that I use in some of my testing, and you can see it is easily able to differentiate between 1 kernel of gun powder in the video below. It is actually accurate down to 0.1 mg, which is overkill for reloading – but can anything ever really be too accurate?! 😉 In true scientific testing, you typically want your equipment to be able to resolve 10x more than you plan to report on. The street price of the Sartorius Entris II BCE64-1S is around $1,600.
Finally, there was one shooter who said they used a Redding #2 powder scale, which is a mechanical balance beam powder scale.
It might surprise a few people to see such an “old school” approach, but honestly – it is still a great option! In fact, an old-school balance scale is a much better option than the average electronic scale. Bryan Litz put that to the test in Modern Advancements in Long-Range Shooting Volume II, and you can see his findings in the table below:
The average electronic scale is capable of measuring down to +/- 0.10 grains, but a good mechanical balance beam can be accurate down to +/- 0.02 grains! That means the average electronic scale is +/- 5 kernels of powder from what you intended, but a good mechanical balance beam can be within +/- 1 kernel! So, if an electronic scale like the A&D FX120 that can measure down to a single kernel of powder is out of your budget, I’d recommend using a Redding #2 balance beam scale, which has a street price of $130.
The Benefit of a High-Quality Scale
I bought my first scale that was accurate down to a single kernel of powder back in 2016 – and it was a game changer. Before that, I would spend days fine-tuning a load by firing various charges and recording velocities and groups. On many cartridges, I might eventually be able to develop a load that produced a standard deviation (SD) of 10-14 fps in muzzle velocity – which is good but not great. For example, 66% of these top-ranked PRS shooters reported that their ammo had an SD of 5 fps or less! (Not familiar with SD? Read this.)
When I started doing load development using my Prometheus scale, it was shocking how easy it was to find a load with SDs in the single digits (i.e., less than 10 fps). In fact, the loads that produced 10-14 fps SDs before dropped to 6-9 fps when loaded on the Prometheus. When doing new load development, I would find several different powder charge weights that produced great loads. With a high-end scale, load development felt almost effortless.
The truth is the powder measure I was using before (an older RCBS Chargemaster) simply wasn’t throwing powder charges consistently. While the digital readout on the scale would say two charges were identical – in reality, their weight likely varied by several kernels of powder. While a difference of a few kernels may not matter for most reloaders, when you are trying to produce super-consistent ammo for long-range shooting – it certainly isn’t helping you. It was simply introducing noise into my load development process, which I attempted to overcome with larger sample sizes.
Since I’ve moved to a scale that was accurate down to a single kernel, I honestly do minimal load development. I’d say I spend 80% less time on developing a load, AND my ammo is better!
Now, is it worth it? The answer to that question always varies from person to person. Clearly, the overwhelming majority of these top-tier shooters think it is worth it. I get asked, “Is it worth it?” so often that I typed out my answer here. But, here is an article that can help put into context how much SD matters, and then you can decide for yourself: How Much Does SD Matter?
I have a lot of nice reloading tools that I would say are NOT required to produce quality ammo. They make reloading more enjoyable or maybe help with some marginal improvement to my ammo. But I feel like investing in a scale that can measure down to the kernel is one of the best decisions I’ve made. It makes producing super-consistent, world-class ammo simple and repeatable. It’s worth it to me!
I’m certainly not saying you have to buy a Prometheus or a Sartorius. I still love my Prometheus and use it to load all my ammo, but the A&D FX120i with the AutoTrickler wasn’t around back when I ordered my Prometheus. I can NOT say that I think the A&D FX120i is better than the Prometheus, but an A&D FX120i + AutoTrickler combo is almost $3,400 less than what I paid for my Prometheus! My Prometheus was $4,450 back in 2016, and the A&D FX120i + AutoTrickler can be bought in a combo package for $1,070!
If I had to do it again today, I would probably invest in 2 of those combos over the Prometheus – and I’d still be less than half of the cost of a Prometheus. The A&D FX120i with an automated powder dispenser (either the AutoTrickler or the SuperTrickler) is a huge value for how much it can help improve your ammo and streamline your load development process.
Coming Up Next
If you enjoyed this content, I’ve already pushed dozens of articles just like it! Check out the other “What The Pros Use” articles that have already been published this year.
As mentioned, this was Part 1 of a 3-part series where I’ll focus on the reloading equipment and process these guys use to load their match ammo. Stay tuned for the next 2 installments, which will be published very soon:
- Reloading Presses & Dies
- Reloading Powder Scales (this article)
- Reloading Process & Each Step Performed
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What brand tweezers are they using to count single kernels of powder?
Ha!
I use an Ingenuity Precision trickler in conjunction with the A&D scale and V3 Auto drop. I was surprised that there was no mention of the Ingenuity Precision product or their pending all in one dropper/ trickler. Are you familiar with setup and do you have any comments on its use. Thanks
Hey, Bob. That could just be because I hadn’t heard of it. I only asked them what scale they used, although a few people did specifically type out that they used a AutoTrickler or SuperTrickler. Most just said they use an A&D FX120 scale and then I added the commentary about how most people are using some kind of automatic dispenser along with it. I just mentioned those two because they were specifically mentioned by a couple of these shooters, but it doesn’t mean the Ingenuity Precision trickler isn’t just as good.
Thanks for pointing it out as another option! Maybe next year when I do this survey I’ll ask about what trickler they use, since so many people are using the same scale.
Thanks,
Cal
I’ve used all three setups: Supertrickler, Autotrickler (V2 & V3), and Autotrickler with the Ingenuity Precision trickler instead of the Autotrickler one. The last combo is FAR superior to the others. The Ingenuity Precision trickler can be purchased alone, to replace the Autotrickler’s trickler in that setup. It uses the Autotrickler trickler’s motor and control card. Or, Ingenuity Precision now has its own complete setup, which I haven’t tried.
Using it, I can charge and set (but not seat) the bullets into 200 cases in an hour.
The Ingenuity Precision trickler differs from the others in that it uses a rotating plate to deliver the kernels, similar to a Dillon case feeder. I’ve heard that the Prometheus has the same system.
Hey, David. Thanks for the insight! I can confirm that the Prometheus does use a rotating plate to grab precisely one kernel at a time as it trickles. But it wasn’t a novel idea. I grew up a cotton farmer, and that’s the exact same design as what our planters used to precisely grab one cotton seed at a time. I feel like it’s a solid and time-proven design, which is more precise than the rotating auger/straw that most others use.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Sure helps to hear from someone who has used all of them.
Thanks,
Cal
Hi Cal
Great information in these articles.
When reading Reloading Presses & Dies, it was interesting to compare what you personally use and comparing that to what the pro’s use.
It was interesting, after reading the Reloading Powder Scales article today to see what the pro’s use and then comparing that to what is available today to get the best results. A few of those scales I never heard of before and really didn’t know that my ChargeMaster scales are only accurate down to 0.10 grains.
Its articles like this that make you feel good about the equipment you have already purchased and also gives you great ideas on how to upgrade your personal reloading equipment.
Looking forward to reading your Reloading Process & Each Step Performed articles coming next.
Paul
Thanks, Paul. I honestly learn about new products as I’m writing these articles, so it’s honestly just as interesting to me as anyone reading it.
And I think the RCBS ChargeMaster is still a great product that does what 90% of reloaders need it to do. But, like I said in the article, I was pretty surprised how easy load development became when I upgraded to a scale that could measure down to a single kernel. It took a lot of the black magic out of load development. I was shocked at the difference it made.
You can see lots of these guys aren’t just going with expensive tools and equipment just because “you get what you pay for.” I mean the most popular press was a RCBS Rock Chucker press! But, the overwhelming majority have invested in a high-end powder scale, which says something.
And I’ve already started working on the next article. It might be a couple of weeks before that one comes out, because I’m at the PRS finale this weekend in Idaho. I doubt I have much time to work on it up here, but it’s be the next one I publish in my What The Pros Use series. So stay tuned!
Thanks,
Cal
As someone who went trough the whole lot , RBCS chargemaster or matchmaster are extremely good value , now i have a Sartorius + auto trickler combo and over the top precision of the scale slows things down considerably ,over 2k$ package making loads one kernel precise but lacks the speed. In the future expect more of AD-120+SuperTrickler ST101 on that list, especialy if the dude markets his super filler addon that automatical charges 100 cases . Developer already demoed Supertrickler ,Super Filler ,Super Feeder + mark7 for cca1000rds hour insane setup.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Mr. T. I agree that the high-precision digital scales can slow things down. That is why many (if not most) of these shooters use 2 scale setups simultaneously to load their ammo. I know Phil Cashin (owner of MPA and PRS competitor) mentioned that he uses 3 of the A&D FX-120 setups, so that there is always one ready to throw a powder charge when he is ready to load the next bullet.
I’ll say that the Prometheus doesn’t slow down the loading process over the ChargeMaster. I used a ChargeMaster for years before I upgraded to the Prometheus. But, like I said in the article – with the options that are out there today I’d buy two A&D FX-120 setups (or maybe even 3) over the Promethues, and probably still have some money in my pocket! 😉
The MatchMaster is so close to there (i.e., 0.02 grain precision) … but it would be hard for me to know it wasn’t throwing to-the-kernel accuracy. I’ll admit that is probably more of an OCD/mental thing than something that might actually matter at 1000 yards though. 😉
I always appreciate you sharing your thoughts! You clearly have a lot of experience in this area.
Thanks,
Cal
I think you will find that if you buy the Autotrickler Version 3 with the Ingenuity Precision trickler, or possibly the entire Ingenuity Precision setup, that it will dispense powder as quickly as you can take the powder cup off the scale, dump it, put the cup back on, move the funnel to the next case, and put a bullet in the case you’ve just filled. You will have no idle time.
You won’t need two setups.
On the picture for the article what’s the tray thing with the funnel and cylinders sitting on the auto trickler? Great article, I’m really enjoying this series as can’t wait for the next one.
Great question! That is the Area 419 Master Funnel Kit. You can find it here: https://www.area419.com/product/master-funnel-kit/
Thanks,
Cal
Awesome thanks