Dillon Precision D Terminator Manual
D-Terminator Electronic Scale (10483). Manuals; Power Factor. Dillon Precision Products, Inc. 8009 East Dillon's Way Scottsdale.
I just recently got into reloading and I spent quite a bit of time looking at product ratings, forums etc. In the process I came to the conclusion that most of what is out there is Chinese junk with poor reviews. I wanted a good scale (w/o powder tricker) and Dillon seemed to be the clear choice (imagine my annoyance when I figured out I paid $140 for a scale made in China for a PA company that Dillon buys from). I've been playing around with it the past few days and I'm beginning to wonder if I got a defective scale. I've tried it right after power on and after letting it warm up for hours and it behaves the same.
Every thing goes by the book when zeroing but afterwards the 50 gram weight sometimes weighs 50.00 grams and at different times it will go - at 49.99 or go to 50.01. Its been on a while now with the weight and its reading 50.01 (then again the bottom of the weight looks like it was hand filed).
I've tried it in multiple locations with and w/o the air shield and it behaves the same. I also noticed that sometimes after removing weight it will not return exactly to zero (+- 0) requiring a manual zero. I know the specs are +- 0.1 grain/0.01 gram so some of the float I'm seeing is in range but I really did not expect to see float.
I really got suspicious when I got a batch of Zero 124g FMJ and they weigh 125 grains. I weighed about 40 bullets and they all weigh at 124.9 - 125.3 initial reading.
Leave one on there a minute and it will start floating. Unfortunately the beam scale I have won't weigh those bullets so I have no real comparison. Any thoughts or suggestions?
My piece of Chinese crap is working marginally now It's in a different location further away from electronics and zero air flow. Its still flakey but I figured out its pattern of behavior and it is somewhat usable. The initial weight lock seems good and anytime after that it starts to float 0.3 grains. I was just going to say I haven't had time to call Dillon but decided to see if they were open on Saturday and this would be my first time dealing with Dillon support. It turns out they were. I explained the situation and the only suggestion I got was if I had tried it on battery power. They did give me an RMA number to send it back at my own expense and said they would repair or replace it if THEY determined anything was wrong with it.
We'll see what the outcome is but I don't call that no hassle warranty. Not to mention I'll be without a scale for probably 1-2 weeks.
I'm going to put a copy of the receipt in the box and if they say nothing is wrong with it they can keep it and I will get something else. I never took the plunge so I can't give a first hand review, but check out what the benchrest guys are using. Very impressive BUT. Most people do not need the accuracy benchrest shooters strive for.
For most pistol work, charges that are within a tenth of a grain (+-) are more than adequate. My Dillon handles that with ease, and since it's a early model, I don't know if it's Chinese junk or not??? Having said that, some of the things bench rest shooters do to obtain the smallest possible group are fascinating, and if I had the money, I would probably try my hand at it. I just recently got into reloading and I spent quite a bit of time looking at product ratings, forums etc. In the process I came to the conclusion that most of what is out there is Chinese junk with poor reviews. I wanted a good scale (w/o powder tricker) and Dillon seemed to be the clear choice (imagine my annoyance when I figured out I paid $140 for a scale made in China for a PA company that Dillon buys from).
Dillon Precision D-terminator Electronic Scale
I've been playing around with it the past few days and I'm beginning to wonder if I got a defective scale. I've tried it right after power on and after letting it warm up for hours and it behaves the same. Every thing goes by the book when zeroing but afterwards the 50 gram weight sometimes weighs 50.00 grams and at different times it will go - at 49.99 or go to 50.01.
Its been on a while now with the weight and its reading 50.01 (then again the bottom of the weight looks like it was hand filed). I've tried it in multiple locations with and w/o the air shield and it behaves the same. I also noticed that sometimes after removing weight it will not return exactly to zero (+- 0) requiring a manual zero. I know the specs are +- 0.1 grain/0.01 gram so some of the float I'm seeing is in range but I really did not expect to see float.
I really got suspicious when I got a batch of Zero 124g FMJ and they weigh 125 grains. I weighed about 40 bullets and they all weigh at 124.9 - 125.3 initial reading.
Leave one on there a minute and it will start floating. Unfortunately the beam scale I have won't weigh those bullets so I have no real comparison. Any thoughts or suggestions? I have the exact same problem with my terminator scale.i wondered what was going on for awhile, i've been warned about air draft making the scale dancing over.02.03 all the time.annoying.every movement make the scale reading quite sensitive.