Welcome everyone to the TFB Armorer’s Bench! As mentioned in the little blurb, this series will focus on a lot of home armorer and gunsmith activities. In this article sponsored by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal, I decided to take a closer look at the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale. Recently I have been preparing to work with a few of Frankford Arsenal’s products in order to reload some ammunition for one of my rifles. I have always owned their more budget-minded DS-750 digital scale that I covered in a previous Closer Look segment but this Platinum Series Precision Scale is a whole different animal. That being said, let’s dive right into it and see what makes this scale tick!
TFB Armorer’s Bench: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale
Welcome to our recurring series of Armorer’s Bench which is made possible and brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal who are our sponsors. Here, we at TFB hope to inform, entertain, and even inspire any would-be gunsmith or armorer out there. Ideally, with the information I provide and with the help of our sponsors, you can have some useful knowledge pertaining to the conservation and improvement of firearms technology while at the same time sharing experiences and teaching each other new tips and tricks along the way in the comments. Digging deep into what it is to be an armorer or gunsmith has significance but what is important is what those people do to show they’ve earned that title. I am happy to share my experiences and knowledge and hope it is informative!
Make your personal safety a priority:
- Practice proper gun safety. Always make sure before the firearm hits your bench that it is unloaded and safe to be handled.
- Wear the proper safety equipment. The main one would be safety glasses (decent ones) since parts are often under spring tension and you may work with high RPM tools. Other honorable mentions would be latex gloves or a respirator when working with potentially harmful solvents and oils. Also hearing protection when working with loud machinery or test-firing firearms.
- Modifications, alterations, and customizations will void your firearm’s warranty 9.5 times out of 10. Please take that into consideration before attempting any at-home gunsmithing.
- If you are unsure about proper safety practices, disassembly procedures, or warranty standards, stop, put down the tools, and consult a competent gunsmith.
Brief Overview: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale is Frankford Arsenal’s mid-tier scale for measuring gunpowder. It is capable of measuring grains, grams, carats, and ounces. As far as their as-is scales go, technically this would be the top-tier digital scale if we ignore their digital powder dropper scale setup we will cover in the future. It features a digital screen, easy-to-use buttons, and can be powered via four AAA batteries or by electricity with a cord. This scale is capable of a max capacity of 1500 grains and will measure to 1/10 grain accuracy. It is bigger than the Frankford Arsenal DS-750 scale but I would wager just as lightweight and handy.
The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale comes cased In a foam-lined hard plastic case. The case has cut-out spots in order to accommodate any piece of the scale such as the calibration weights, powder pan, scale plate, cord and plug, and the scale itself. The scale has a protective and removable see-through plastic cover that is on simply by friction. I am unsure if it is intended to prevent air pressure fluctuations while powder is in the pan. If it is, it is a tad bit shallow, most likely to cut down on its size. The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale has four buttons. One is the power button (the scale will automatically shut off after 180 seconds), the second button is the calibration button which initiates a calibration sequence, a units button to change the unit of weight measurement, and lastly a zero button which will bring the scales given payload a zero readout to build on top of.
Specifications and Highlights: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale
As I mentioned, the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale comes in a hard case (not unlike that of a hard case for a handgun) with foam inserts that are cut to accommodate all that is included. You have two 50-gram calibration weights to use in order to double-check your scale’s accuracy or to help with the calibration of the scale. Calibration of the scale is achieved by hitting the calibration key and it will ask you to place certain weights at certain times. At the end of the calibration mode, it will display pass or fail. The MSRP of the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale currently resides at $119.99.
- Stronger Case Holds Scale, Pan and Calibration Weights
- Includes 2 Calibration Weights for a 3 Point Calibration
- Measures in: Grains, Grams, Ounces, and Carats
- Auto Shutoff After 180 Seconds
- Included Protective Cover
The Frankford Arsenal® Platinum Series Precision Scale delivers extreme accuracy for precise measurement of powder, bullets, cases or loaded rounds. Featuring 1500 grain capacity with 1/10 grain accuracy, you will be able to achieve the maximum potential of your hand loads. Simple controls allow for easy changes of units or tare weights. Can be operated on 4 AAA (included) or 110V/220V power supply. The performance and features of this scale make it the best value on the market, making it a welcome addition to any loading bench.
Closing Thoughts: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Precision Scale
To be honest, I genuinely think that this is a quality scale. Not just quality but a sensitive one at that with the little experience I have working with it. Unfortunately, I feel more time will have to be dedicated to working with this particular scale to get a full picture but until then I will say this: I believe this is a valuable tool. I think it is fairly expensive, especially with the Intellidropper Electronic Powder Measure already being fairly close in the $200 range. I think the DS-750 is perfectly fine for general use and that the Platinum Series Precision Scale’s sensitivity may warrant the upgrade but I was not persuaded in my couple of sessions of use. It is accurate, easy to use, lightweight, and portable.
I have not worked with many other scales beyond what Frankford Arsenal has to offer but I have heard that this one is a good one for the money. I would be happy and interested in what you guys have experienced and if you have this particular scale. Until next time, stay safe out there!
As always, thank you for reading TFB! Be safe out there, have fun while shooting, and we will see you next time for the TFB Armorer’s Bench brought to you by Wheeler, Tipton, Caldwell, and Frankford Arsenal! Also, let us know what you think in the comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
Caldwell Pro Range Glasses, Clear
The Caldwell® Pro Range Glasses feature a stylish wrap-around design and are a great choice for all shooters. They feature an adjustable nose piece and temples for all day comfort. The scratch resistant lens meets ANSI Z87.1 standards and offers 99.9% UV protection.
Platinum Series Precision Scale with Case
The Frankford Arsenal® Platinum Series Precision Scale delivers extreme accuracy for precise measurement of powder, bullets, cases or loaded rounds. Featuring 1500 grain capacity with 1/10 grain accuracy, you will be able to achieve the maximum potential of your hand loads. Simple controls allow for easy changes of units or tare weights. Can be operated on 4 AAA (included) or 110V/220V power supply. The performance and features of this scale make it the best value on the market, making it a welcome addition to any loading bench.
Frankford Arsenal DS 750 Scale
The Frankford Arsenal® DS-750 delivers extreme accuracy for precise measurement of powder, bullets, cases or loaded rounds. Simple controls allow for easy changes of units and calibration. Powder pan, carry bag and calibration weight included.
Wheeler Universal Bench Block
Made of non-marring urethane, the Universal Pistol Bench Block is perfect for use on M1911 pistols as well as other firearms such as 10/22s.
Frankford Arsenal Stainless Steel Dial Caliper
Reloading ammunition requires attention to many critical cartridge dimensions, including case length, neck and base diameters, overall length, primer pocket depth, etc. Verifying these dimensions is quick and convenient with the Frankford Arsenal® Stainless Steel Calipers. These calipers are accurate to within .001″. The calipers allow you to measure inside and outside diameters, plus depths. You will find them useful for many measuring tasks on and off the reloading bench. Packaged in a convenient and protective case.
Wheeler AR Maintenance Mat
The Wheeler Delta Series AR-15 Maintenance Mat is perfect for any AR-15 owner. It features a screen printed expanded view of an AR-15 Carbine to easily identify the parts of your rifle. The Mat is made of a dark gray non-marring padded neoprene material with a durable non-skid rubber backing to protect firearm finishes while helping to keep track of small parts. Excess oils and solvents are absorbed into the mat, keeping the surface clean and dry. Each mat is machine or hand washable with mild detergent and water, and can be rolled up to easily fit in your range bag.
Tipton POWER SWABS – PISTOL CLEANING KIT, 500 COUNT
Tipton’s new Power Swabs are an essential part of your cleaning kit. They’re disposable, fast, and easy to use, plus they provide no-mess cleaning with all your favorite solvents and oils. They also fit lands and grooves better than a patch for maximum cleaning.