Yes -- looks very similar, but not having used the Hornady model, hard to compare objectively. The scale seems stable after about a 15-20 minute warm up. It has a much higher capacity than my GemPro scale. It calibrates with 100 gr weights (2x50's) vs a 10 gram weight with the GemPro. Pretty good precision after adjusting the trickle speed. I found the recommended adjustment on the on line video way too slow for my preference. The auto trickle doesn't stop until the target weight is reached. It overshoots by 0.1 grain not infrequently at trickle speeds that make it more efficient than just hand trickling. I will set, for example, 6.7 gr of Unique, accept 6.7 or 6.8 grains, and label the reloads as 6.75 grains. Cross check on the GemPro is consistent. If It overshoots by 0.2 grains, I dump the charge and start over. For more precise loads, I undershoot by 0.1 grain, then manually trickle the last 0.1 grain using its manual trickle feature. The powder hopper is fairly easy to drain with the side port. I have dispensed Unique, Universal, Varget, and H322 powders with acceptable results.Maximumbob54 wrote:How is that Smart Reloader powder measure working for you? It looks a lot like a lower cost clone of the Hornady Autocharge.
Shortcomings?
The scale comes with no detailed instructions, whatsoever. On line videos are available, but are amateur videos and not that great. Saved load functions are cumbersome but this is offset by a very easy sequence to calibrate, zero tare, set desired weight, then touch dispense. It then returns to zero before dispensing, wont dispense if the zero drifts, and will continue to dispense loads at the set weight every time the pan is replaced on the scale unless the zero has drifted, or the CANCEL button is pressed. The scale seems very sensitive to RF interference. A cell phone, iPad, or laptop on the bench within a foot or two of the scale drives it whacky, but it is obvious when this is happening. The trickle spout centers over the pan, which is good, but it makes weighing a standing case in the middle of the pan impossible. If I weigh empty rifle cases, I lay them on their sides.
Hints/tips: use a foam hearing protector to plug the trickles spout if you want to avoid spillage and use the scale to weigh something other than a trickled load. Replace the supplied aluminum pan with a Lyman electronic scale powder funnel pan
The current price point of $165 is much less than similar other models, for example the RCBS version at $290 (natchezss.com) or the. Hornady at $240, but I can't give an objective comparison in performance, service or warranty issues.
Overall rating: 4/5 stars