I have a chance to buy a RCBS beam scale made by OHAUS for RCBS but I would like to know if they are any good, what is your opinion? I have looked at it, it is used but in great shape. There are no model numbers on it, it only says made for RCBS by OHAUS. I know it is old but most of them work fine, I will take my RCBS weights and make sure it measures what it should. Let me know, he only wants less that $40 bucks for it, I think it would be a bargain???
ARE OHAUS RCBS BEAM SCALE GOOD??
- Thread starter 74man
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stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
OHAUS made good scales the Lyman m5 and rcbs 10 10 are the same. I stopped using my tcbs 505 after inheriting the m5 Lyman.
entropy
Member
I don't think you can go wrong at that price.
Yes they are good. Look at the "knife edges" on the beam and the surfaces they ride in on the base. You don't want dented edges or bearing surfaces. A great balance to find is one that has agate bearings.
Forty dollars is a great price. I paid for a NOS OHAUS $130.00 in 2018.
And, your balance will work in the cold. Digital balances go haywire in cold weather, drifting with temperature.
burrhead
Member
I've been using a 505 for 45 plus years. It's the only scale I have and it keeps on ticking.
nettlle
Contributing Member
Anything Ohaus is good and well worth $40.00. Got a picture of it?
Driftertank
Member
Sounds like a 1010.
I have one, it's worked fantastic for me.
Funny enough, my father-in-law has a white Ohaus scale that he uses; I learned a lot from him when I got into reloading. When I looked online for advice about what beam scales worked the best for precision loading, the 1010 came up a lot. Found one locally for about $65 several years ago, and on setting it up, realized it was basically the exact same scale as his white Ohaus, except with a green crinkle-finish paint.
With a steady hand and good eye, I've found that scale typically lets me get charges consistently less than .1gr variation...possibly within a few kernels. Any slight breeze in the room can make it wander a little, though. Very precise, if kept clean and well maintained.
I have one, it's worked fantastic for me.
Funny enough, my father-in-law has a white Ohaus scale that he uses; I learned a lot from him when I got into reloading. When I looked online for advice about what beam scales worked the best for precision loading, the 1010 came up a lot. Found one locally for about $65 several years ago, and on setting it up, realized it was basically the exact same scale as his white Ohaus, except with a green crinkle-finish paint.
With a steady hand and good eye, I've found that scale typically lets me get charges consistently less than .1gr variation...possibly within a few kernels. Any slight breeze in the room can make it wander a little, though. Very precise, if kept clean and well maintained.
If you're lucky, it might even be the more rare RCBS 5-10. It's the same as the 10-10, but has a weight capacity of 500grs rather than 1000grs
jmorris
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The Chinese ones used the same casting (that has ohaus NJ USA… cast into the bottom) but placed a “made in China” sticker beside that. So all one would have to do is remove the tiny sticker to fool some.
They had pretty poor QC and killed the 10-10 and 505, they were so bad, they changed names completely and created new ones for the next try.
Scott Parker (RCBS scale “tuner” of some note) wouldn’t even work on them. The photos I have seen were mostly of the pivot/beam area, not being square.
If it’s pre China production, they can be quite repeatable.
They had pretty poor QC and killed the 10-10 and 505, they were so bad, they changed names completely and created new ones for the next try.
Scott Parker (RCBS scale “tuner” of some note) wouldn’t even work on them. The photos I have seen were mostly of the pivot/beam area, not being square.
If it’s pre China production, they can be quite repeatable.
Charlie98
Member
Same here... my brother got it in an RCBS Reloading Special starter kit in the mid-'80's... and I've since stolen from him when he quit reloading. Unfortunately, he's decided, now that he's retired, to get back into reloading... so I had to find him something... I was lucky to find a nearly NIB old Ohaus RCBS 5-0-5 on eBay... so he gets that. He even made me give him his old RS3 press back. Jerk. Good thing he's my brother.
W/Vickers1938
Member
I have a RCBS 510 and an Ohaus 1010. The 510 is a bit quicker to settle down. I use the 1010 to weigh my cast lead 50 cal Sharps bullets (540-600 grns) the Ohaus is a bit more precise +/- .1 grain easily discernable. I use both, do not own a digital I am biased toward things mechanical.
GeoDudeFlorida
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If you haven’t already bought it pm me the guy’s info so I can buy it.
FROGO207
Member
Having been a Ohaus 10-10 user from when I started in about 1970. You can't go wrong if it is a vintage one. I like the rotary grains dial as it is more adjustable than a full tenth of grain.
nettlle
Contributing Member
I have been using a Ohaus 10-10 for about the same length of time. I consider the 10-10 the best beam ever made.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Buy it, do it now. My old Lyman M5 is one of my best scales and made by Ohaus. Ohaus makes great stuff. At that price I would be all over it.
Ron.
Ron.
JFrank
Member
Can you post a picture of the scale? There are several variations.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
OHAUS scales are the scales all others are compared to and the 10-10 is probably the best beam scale ever produced. All beam scales want to be the 10-10 when they grow up lol...
@$40 you should jump on it as fast as you can. My fingers would fly off my hands trying to get the money out!
Even if it's not prefect they will repair it free of charge. Example, I lost the doubling weight on mine. I contacted them asking if I could buy one. The nice lady on the phone wouldn't let me buy one, she sent it to me free and they paid the shipping!
My 5-0-5 wasn't working correctly, the blade seat was worn so I sent it in. They reconditioned the entire scale and replaced the entire beam because they said it was no longer up to their standards. I only paid the shipping getting it there, they shipped it back free.
Excellent scale and excellent company and unmatched CS.
@$40 you should jump on it as fast as you can. My fingers would fly off my hands trying to get the money out!
Even if it's not prefect they will repair it free of charge. Example, I lost the doubling weight on mine. I contacted them asking if I could buy one. The nice lady on the phone wouldn't let me buy one, she sent it to me free and they paid the shipping!
My 5-0-5 wasn't working correctly, the blade seat was worn so I sent it in. They reconditioned the entire scale and replaced the entire beam because they said it was no longer up to their standards. I only paid the shipping getting it there, they shipped it back free.
Excellent scale and excellent company and unmatched CS.
A picture or a bit more of a description would certainly help. While I'm sure you are on a real winner at $40, not all RCBS scales are gold dust - anyone remember the RCBS R130? A real turkey and at $40 would make you cry.
All RCBS/Ohaus scales (with the exception of the R130 and a couple the big upright 304 types) use exactly the same knife edge/floating agate bearings set-up - so, none is actually more sensitive than the other - the basic old 502 is just as sensitive as the 10/10. The longer beam of some scales makes them easier to see the deflection and make them appear more sensitive. The 10/10 and the 5-10 share the same beam with both using the rotary poise - works very well until a bit of slop/backlash develops in the barrel and can't be fixed. The 10/10 and 5-10 also share the "approach to weight" mechanism not found on other scales (except the Lee). All 5-10 scales are USA made. 10/10 and 505's made in the last 10 years or so were made in China or Mexico.
So - Does this scale have a plastic dust cover? If so, it'll be a 10/10. If it has a rotary barrel poise for the 10th grains and no dust cover it will be a 5-10. If it's neither of those and a two poise scale it's a 502, if it's a 3 poise scale it'll be a 505.
If it's complete and undamaged, $40 is a gift.
All RCBS/Ohaus scales (with the exception of the R130 and a couple the big upright 304 types) use exactly the same knife edge/floating agate bearings set-up - so, none is actually more sensitive than the other - the basic old 502 is just as sensitive as the 10/10. The longer beam of some scales makes them easier to see the deflection and make them appear more sensitive. The 10/10 and the 5-10 share the same beam with both using the rotary poise - works very well until a bit of slop/backlash develops in the barrel and can't be fixed. The 10/10 and 5-10 also share the "approach to weight" mechanism not found on other scales (except the Lee). All 5-10 scales are USA made. 10/10 and 505's made in the last 10 years or so were made in China or Mexico.
So - Does this scale have a plastic dust cover? If so, it'll be a 10/10. If it has a rotary barrel poise for the 10th grains and no dust cover it will be a 5-10. If it's neither of those and a two poise scale it's a 502, if it's a 3 poise scale it'll be a 505.
If it's complete and undamaged, $40 is a gift.
sage5907
Member
Yes, I have a RCBS 10-10 that I have been using for many years. I wouldn't think of using anything else.
JFrank
Member
While I’ve had the Lyman D-5 tuned to a level as accurate as any A&Dfx120i scale, I’m parcel to the large chassis models - 10-0-5 / M-5 /10-10’s with the dust covers, I got lucky with my latest Ohaus 10-10 ( originally sold to Walt Berger and I have the sales receipt still in the box) as it tuned up perfectly, resolving to one kernel with no backlash, I use it for 1000 yard Benchrest ammo loading.
A reliable beam scale is a joy to use - with a set of basic grain checkweights you have peace of mind and a system that will last a lifetime and you can still hand it onto your grandkids.
Seedy Character
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I have only been using my RCBS since 1983.
So far, so good.
So far, so good.
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