Weighing Powder - Method and Scale

My elegant solution was to build a dust cover box out of wood to cover the scale when not in use.

The scale is set on top of the box when in use.
That raises the scale high enough off the bench to cure the parallax problem.

Air currents? Breathing on it? Bumping the weight?
I got nothing for that.

Any decent reloading scale will be sensitive enough to cause air currents to upset the balance.

rc

If you zero the scale then use it with your head in the same position, your readings should be consistent. The beam scale readings are a relative thing.

While I have a beam scale as back up, I have been using an electronic scale for the last 15 years or so. The scale gives me the weight without me having to make any adjustments. But, some folks do not seem to have confidence in the operation of an electronic scale.

If you are hitting the 1/10th weight when removing the pan, an easy solution is just do not hit the weight. I ma not trying to funny but it seems an easy fix to alter your methods so that to not hit the weight. Also, get in the habit of looking at the setting each time you weigh something.

I have a PACT powder dispenser and scale that measures each charge. I find it too slow to use for regular reloading as i am always waiting on it. The current crop of dispensers may be quicker. I use it only for load development but since I got a a Harrell Custom 90 Culver style powder measure (see below), I use the PACT less and less.

With my drum style powder measures (Uniflow, Redding 10-X and Midway Indispensable), I try to minimize vibrations to the measure once I get a good uniform powder column and am throwing consistent charges. To that end, the powder measure is mounted to its own floor stand to isolate it from the press activities. As far as cutting stick powder kernels.it is what it is. I try to ease the metering chamber through the powder with a constant force. I do not try to bang the drum through or back it up and ram it through.

I recently got a Harrell Custom 90 Culver style powder measure. Nice measure. I cannot remember if I have used it with stick powders as I last did a bunch of loading with fine grain powders with the measure.

I'm Not going to bash on the green koolaid but my Lee Safety Scale that most people seem to be so quick to hate on and disregard, has this nifty little push button stop on the vernier slide (used to set the weight from 0-10 gr in .1gr increments) that locks the setting in. I would agree with above statements to check the setting often and be extra careful not to bump it since the RCBS is locking such a valuable feature as a setting lock. As to the breeze yes any properly sensitive scale is going to be subject to air movement. You could build a plexiglass box hinged on the back to cover it each time to go to weigh something but this would obviously be quite inconvenient.

I love the webcam idea and may have to see about implementing something similar to save craning my neck as much.

Plus 1 on the Lee safety scale. I drop powder with the Lee pro auto disc, checks on the safety scale. I have it set up on a shelf so it is right at eye level.

Russellc

I have nothing bad to say against the Lee scale. I have never had trouble using one. I also have a RCBS 5-0-5 scale that I like better that I got very cheap.

Because they are so good you are correct, the slightest bit of "wind" will make them move. Even though that's a problem it's also a plus.

I use a RCBS 5-10, and have for over 30 years. It locks the 1/10th grain adjustment down. I also have it OFF the bench so vibrations do not bother it. It is on a shelf at eye height. I also load extruded for rifle and yes the Uniflow cuts some powder - they all will at one time or another. I always got it close enough (within .2 grain) and then trickled the rest.

Andrew Leigh said:

I currently weigh with a RCBS 5-0-5 Scale. I have a couple of issues with the scale;

1. Parallax - This I have solved through the use of a webcam which connects to the laptop. It works a treat but is inconvenient to set up each time.
2. For some unknown reason I often shift the 1/10th grain weight when removing the pan. The problem it that it always moves right to left increasing the charge.
3. The scale is sensitive to wind so you can't breath to close to it, have to close windows if there is a breeze outsize.

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1. If you zero the scale at a certain line of sight, then the parallax is moot as long as you don't change the line of sight. Even if you do, you would need to rezero it and again any parallax would be moot. Any small variation in the way you hold your head after the scale is zeroed would probably be less than the accuracy of the scale.

2. I used to do that too. The solution was to change the position of the scale on my bench and to become accustomed to using it. Once I found a system of putting the tray on and off without bangin' into the linkage and the weight, I never had a problem. I still visually check the weights regularly to make sure they haven't moved and many times confirm the 5-0-5 with a digital or vice versa.

3. Ain't a decent scale I know of that does not warn against using it in areas of drafts. Again, any scale sensitive enough to be used for making quality ammo is going to react to wind blowing on the pan. Nature of the beast.

Andrew Leigh said:

Now not related to the scale but linked to it I have the RCBS Uniflow Dispenser. 95% of my loading is an extruded powder, one get that irritating resistance often when the disk needs to cut through a powder granule.

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As for the "cutting" of large flakes/granules with the Uniflo, again, just kinda the nature of the beast. When I just throw my charges(as with most handgun ammo) and don't weigh every charge, if I feel excessive resistance when throwing a charge when the thrower cuts thru powder, I throw that charge back in the hopper and go again. Not a big deal. If the thrower is mounted via linkage to a Press, as opposed to using the thrower by itself, one generally doesn't notice. On loads that I do weigh every charge, I throw short anyway and trickle up.

oneounceload said:

I use a RCBS 5-10, and have for over 30 years. It locks the 1/10th grain adjustment down. I also have it OFF the bench so vibrations do not bother it. It is on a shelf at eye height. I also load extruded for rifle and yes the Uniflow cuts some powder - they all will at one time or another. I always got it close enough (within .2 grain) and then trickled the rest.

Click to expand...

Same way I do it. The room I use to reload in has a closet that powder and so forth are kept in. Scale sits on the shelf of the closet, right at eye level. Its just a step away from where the press is, very handy for spot checks. Also, inside the closet is a little less air movement. Yes, ANY scale that can weigh as little as what the Lee scale can weigh is going to move with the slightest breath, wind from fan, or vibration.

russellc

I have the Smartreloader ISD but got it about $100 I think. I have had mine for a while but I really didn't like RCBS balance scales or the Uniflo.

This is my set-up, it's quicker and more accurate than a chargemaster type dispenser.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/trickler/

or if you have a smartphone you could try this:
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/monitor-balance-beam-with-magnified-image-on-smartphone/

I have been using this prism. I can read my RCBS 5-10 scale standing up.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/117653/dandy-products-handy-view-beam-scale-prisim

A trick I learned many years ago as a color weigher in a plastics factory will also work with a balance beam powder scale as well. Take a cardboard box and make the scale it's own little room.Make it large enough that you are not cramped.This worked with very strong exhaust fans as well as AC. It won't help if you are breathing on it so you will have to watch that.As far as the Accu Measure cutting grains wecome to the club. I have learned to hate weighing IMR 4064 & IMR 4350. My cure to that is Reloader 19.

Regarding the 1/10 weight moving, I found that dropping the pan too hard and lifting off quickly makes it jump. Moving slower lessens the chance. I never tried damping with a bumper, but I think that if the pointer movement had bump stops made of soft rubber it would eliminate the small weight jumping around.

I've since given the scale to my brother, who uses it regularly and I moved on to an electronic scale.

I prefer the electronic scales. I just upgraded my RCBS Rangmaster 750 with a GemPro 250. What a huge difference. The Gempro is a lot more sensitive at 0.02gr accuracy. I loaded some BE loads with WST on my Hornady LNL-AP. The powder dispenser dispenses this powder very accurate the most I saw in 40 consecutive loads was one 0.02gr low. This was a 4.10gr charge. A 10 dump measurement showed I was dead on at 41.00gr. You can't get much better than this.

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-gempro-250.html

Be aware these scales are precision enough to detect the error (tolerance) on a M2 class calibration weights.

WOW $113 for a scale with that good of resolution? What's the catch?!? Definitely added to my 'do more research then add to wish list' list.

No Catch.

And it comes with a 30yr/Lifetime warranty.