Frankford Arsenal IntelliDropper -- Quick Overview

Quick Update this Frankford has totally failed me. The left side of the touch screen does not work at all now. I am waiting on an RMA from Frankford. They said they were going to send me one on 3/24 and I am still waiting. I do not know why they couldn't send one with the email they sent saying they will follow up with a RMA.
I decided to go ahead and do a quick overview of the New Frankford IntelliDropper. I only published this because a few friends asked me for the video. I did not do a complete review demonstrating every single feature, I am exchanging emails with Frankford asking if the drifting that I am seeing is normal behavior.
The Bluetooth setup with your phone is really easy and very convenient. The Bluetooth feature I am most interested in is the firmware upgrade service. It seems Frankford is planning to continue to evolve this product with future software upgrades. This unit can be fully operated from your mobile phone. It has a ton of data already imported on the app, powder manufacturers, bullet manufacturers and primer manufacturers. This makes it very easy to load your favorite load and send it to the intellihopper in a matter of seconds.
The screen is bright and wide and very easy to use, something I thought the RCBS chargemaster was missing.
The bubble level also adds a nice little touch.
The Intelli dropper comes with a feature called powder calibration, this feature is supposed to provide the best speed and accuracy dependent up the powder loaded into the intellihopper.
The powder drain is like all others; it is on the side of the unit and must be sitting on the edge of the bench to empty easily.
The comparison to my RCBS chargemaster is a bit unfair as it has been reprogrammed for speed, but the Frankford out of the box keeps up. I believe the Frankford may be faster than an out of the box Chargemaster. I am only speculating but this may be because of the powder calibration feature.
Check back for a comparison against the Lyman Generation 6. This is in the same price range where the RCBS chargemaster is approaching twice the cost.

[@wadelandeche8632]

Thanks for your time and video of these scales, Take care my friend!

[@hardybirch3630]

Very informative and thoughtful. I really enjoyed your video and learned a lot. Thanks

[@Dayattherange]

Thank you appreciate the support and glad it helped. It is the reason for doing this.

[@nasenbaerbaernase973]

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.

[@garrytalley8009]

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.

[@Dayattherange]

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.

[@jamesschilling1664]

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??

[@lschultzify]

Great video. Do you have recommendations on how to customize the RCBS?

[@Jerry-dk8se]

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

[@gerrymatheson4020]

I've heard that having a cellphone close to a digital scale will affect it also...just like fluorescent lights...

[@michaeldankert792]

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.

[@Dayattherange]

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

[@4739-g9c]

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.

[@redfishslaya9501]

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.

[@timkourbo3196]

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.

[@chris3383]

I have the Hornady it drifts and it has other issues on higher charges it over weighs all the time

[@tedtaylor313]

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.

[@rogerl9169]

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.

[@Dayattherange]

I have noticed the more I have used this unit the more stable it has become. Definitely worth the buy.

[@CenlaSelfDefenseConcepts]

@@Dayattherange thats good I'm looking at this too how does it do with extruded powder

[@Dayattherange]

@@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.

[@michaellavazza960]

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

[@tomnguyen658]

I have the Frankford, it works with me,

[@Dayattherange]

Works great for me now also after repair. I believe I just happened to get an early model that slipped thru QA.

[@lucass4758]

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

[@Dayattherange]

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 :)

[@volcom84bait]

dang!! that FA siren sound is annoying.. is the normal speed of your RCBS lot slower before you modify it ??

[@PatriotPaulUSA]

Very Nice Mr Revolver, Thanks ! Did You get a replacement or did they refund you?

[@Dayattherange]

Replaced

[@PatriotPaulUSA]

@@Dayattherange OK Good Deal ! Thanks

[@kimetang]

loosen the two screws under and tighten them again, the scale is under tention.

[@Dayattherange]

I don't know which screws you are talking about. This was back when they first came out I sent it back to them and they sent me a new one.

[@woogieman02]

The rcbs seems to have a much smoother running motor. Any info on the programming you did? Planning on grabbing one here before the end of the year.

[@Dayattherange]

John M over at 8541 Tactical kzbin.info/www/bejne/pl6ng315gZV3aaM does a good job of explaining.

[@x1Bryce1]

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.

[@Dayattherange]

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.

[@MakoPCandNetworking]

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?

[@Dayattherange]

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. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pl6ng315gZV3aaM

[@d5-merlin165]

Do you have a fan on in the room? The scale will drift with even a very slight movement of air

[@Dayattherange]

No fan and even turned off the AC in the entire house. There will be another video coming out soon as this one went back to FA.

[@richardbriscoe8563]

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.

[@poke533]

What are your RCBS settings? I have reprogrammed mine and would like to compare as I seem to have a lot of overthrows.

[@Dayattherange]

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.

[@Plainsimple67]

BASED ON ALL THE SCALE REVIEWS ON KZbin, 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!!!😳😬

[@thefrictionzone2801]

What is that brass fitting on the RCBS? On the powder feed tube.

[@Dayattherange]

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.

[@psykoklown874]

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.

[@Dayattherange]

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.

[@psykoklown874]

@@Dayattherange I hope they do. Then it will be hard to beat, especially given the price point.

[@jawsmod]

Any updates on the FA. Considering the or the Chargemster lite.

[@Dayattherange]

I received a new one which is much better than the one I had. It is fast and accurate to .2 tenth of a grain according to my rcbs 10/10 scale.

[@robertwolters]

Any chance your friend will sell the brass fitting like you have in yours?

[@Dayattherange]

I have tried to get him to do this very thing and he says he doesn't have time to take orders and manage it. Sorry.

[@tiaanvermeulen]

@@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.

[@garybenke4941]

I use two trays that weigh the same to speed things up :)

[@Dayattherange]

Nice! Good idea

[@nicovj100]

You can't compare an old Rolls Royce with a new Hyundai

[@peterabrahamse1798]

i wont put a phone close to a rcbs

[@chalder1]

Cover?

[@DLN-ix6vf]

so if you altered your RCBS why do a comparison at all ?

[@seanmetzger4780]

Lyman g6 is easily as fast as your RCBS, maybe even faster. And it’s so stupid easy to disassemble to clean

[@Dayattherange]

I have the Lyman gen6 sitting right next to the Rcbs. It does not even really come close.

[@ssswdon]

My frankford runs much faster throws, it the case of 50gn it slows down at 45

[@chrisjakowlew7387]

Not level

[@Dayattherange]

No it's level -- This has been solved by the way.

[@chrisjakowlew7387]

What was the issue? Cause i have one and it doesn't drift?

[@Dayattherange]

@@chrisjakowlew7387 Had to be sent back. Works great now.