Powder scale recommendations please.

Are you loading for plinking or trying to get precision loads? Are you loading a lot or a few? What's your price point?

I’ve tried RCBS, Hornady and am now happy with the Frankfort Arsenal Intellidropper.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019601974?pid=685263

Good question asked by slf_gunner though, depending on your reloading needs.

I had the chargemaster lite, but it crapped out after 4 months. I replaced it with the hornady version and it seems to be working well for me.

Have the Frankfort scale for small batches and a Lyman gen 6 auto scale for larger runs.

Flycaster1977 said:

I had the chargemaster lite, but it crapped out after 4 months. I replaced it with the hornady version and it seems to be working well for me.

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Not sure of your specific failure, but I have had the power plug go bad and cause major drift issues.

I own two chargemaster lites and realized both acted up when one of the two power adapters was used with either. Using the other adapter solved the issue.

Lyman Gen 6 four years and counting. Works great but you have to trust it. I did tests weighing charges on another scale that read to the hundredths and 20 straight drops with 4064 were between .06-.08 accurate. But the Gen 6 was reading .1 under. Came to find it rounds up to not overthrow. Use away from your bench. On the odd charge that reads over I pick out a kernel or two. All else goes right into the case. I had a Hornady as well. Much less precise.

If not wanting to break the bank.........I'm using a balance beam scale and trickler. That last little bit is only a few specs of powder and accurate to 0.1 grains. Can get the rough part done with either a measuring scoop (what comes free with some Lee die sets) or powder measure like a RCBS Uniflow. Recently noticed a like new Lyman D7 on ebay for buy it now price of $35. Good trickler less than that. No batteries included.

Would not want to do 1000 rounds like that, but wouldn't anyway.

I've been using the Lyman 1500 for years. I paid about $45 then, now could be around $75. There are better but for my style of reloading this is perfect. I measure all reloads and I don't reload by the bushels.

See if you can find a RCBS 10-10 tuned by Scott Parker, you're gonna be happy

There are many based on an Ohaus 505. Those are a good balance of cost, ease of use, accuracy, etc. Better scales out there for sure, but a 505 is a good all around workhorse as far as scales go


Sorry.....I saw NOT looking to buy a digital scale. Oops. My digital is the Hornady dispensing scale. It's pretty good overall. Wait on it often, & have to keep an eye on it wanting to drift, but once you know it's little quirks, it's a pretty neat tool.

This one has worked very well for me.

I have the frankfort arsenal scale and it works pretty good. one thing that bugs me about it is trickling to .1 grain differences. it will not register small changes sometimes and then jump .2 or .3. not always but sometimes, usually with light loads 2-3 grains. if I think I've put enough powder for it to move, and the reading does not change, I now just lift the tray and put it back down - and that seems to get it to register a new reading.

ms6852 said:

I've been using the Lyman 1500 for years. I paid about $45 then, now could be around $75. There are better but for my style of reloading this is perfect. I measure all reloads and I don't reload by the bushels.

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+1 for the Lyman 1500 (mine is the Microtouch). Happy with it so far, loading batches of less than 50 at a time. I've experienced the same issue as film495 described having with the FA, even measuring charges of 30 or more grains. Doesn't bug me too much. I've learned to be patient.

National Metallic. I much prefer it over my smaller Frankford Arsenal DS-750 and similar Lyman 1500. It comes with a wall power adapter as well which seems to work much better than the batteries of the other two.

BBarn said:

National Metallic. I much prefer it over my smaller Frankford Arsenal DS-750 and similar Lyman 1500. It comes with a wall power adapter as well which seems to work much better than the batteries of the other two.

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I always use the AC power on the Lyman.

There are quite a few scales available on Amazon that will work just fine. The important part is getting a good set of check weights to certify your process. Simple things like if and how long your scale takes to warm up can be checked.

I second the Amazon scale recommendation. My favorite scale cost 13 dollars and is much better than the Lyman or the Frankfort Arsenal. I actually gave the Lyman away to a new reloader.

These entry level scales are strain gage load cell technology until you get to lab scale quality $500ish and upwards so just pick your favorite flavor or list of options, myself I have a Bald eagle that resolves .01 grains but will drift as do most.

AJC1 said:

There are quite a few scales available on Amazon that will work just fine. The important part is getting a good set of check weights to certify your process. Simple things like if and how long your scale takes to warm up can be checked.

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I had great luck with the "Homgeek Digital Milligram Pocket". Shockingly good for something under $20; I bought two of them.

I use this digital scale from Lyman, been very reliable and is very accurate. No problems after years of use,

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101286312

+1 on the Homgeek Digital Milligram. To remove the "stick-tion", I polished the contacting plastic parts of the pan and retaining ring with 10000 grit micro-mesh, then applied a little graphite with a Q-Tip. Repeatable +/- 0.001g weighings. Blow on it, and the Homgeek returns to the same number.

Spare Parts said:

+1 on the Homgeek Digital Milligram. To remove the "stick-tion", I polished the contacting plastic parts of the pan and retaining ring with 10000 grit micro-mesh, then applied a little graphite with a Q-Tip. Repeatable +/- 0.001g weighings. Blow on it, and the Homgeek returns to the same number.

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I haven't tried touching up the scale, definitely something I'm now thinking about.

ImjinScout85 said:

I use this digital scale from Lyman, been very reliable and is very accurate. No problems after years of use,

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101286312

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I can never figure out why they send the giant oversized check weight for such a small scale. I would prefer a couple 20 gr ingots instead of a 100 gr or a 250 gr

South Prairie Jim said:

I can never figure out why they send the giant oversized check weight for such a small scale. I would prefer a couple 20 gr ingots instead of a 100 gr or a 250 gr

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The charge master has 2 50s. In calibration one would want to cover the area of intrest and 50-100 grams of powder is way above anything I would need. A 5 grain and 100 grain would make a lot more sense. Heck a 5 and a 50 grain would be fine.