Best balance scale available?

[Reloadron]

Starting a thread, any thread, with "Best balance scale available" or for that matter best anything available in my humble opinion is just plain foolish. What is the best something for under $200 USD available would seem to make more sense. Since you want a beam scale that excludes digital and narrows down things but without a price point it opens the doors to a whole lot of scales. Mechanical scales, especially higher end ones normally read out in Grams but the hand loader wants Grains. Unlike a digital scale we can't just push a button and switch from grams to grains. Something else to consider is the resolution of the scale and simply put we can define resolution as the ability to read an instrument or of the instrument to be read. We don't want to confuse or mix accuracy or uncertainty with resolution. Measuring grains and having a resolution of 0.01 grain isn't much good with an uncertainty of +/- 0.1 grain is it?

Anyway, you want a scale? Then define your expectations, features, and above all budget.

Ron

 

[jski]

Mechanical scales, especially higher end ones normally read out in Grams but the hand loader wants Grains. Unlike a digital scale we can't just push a button and switch from grams to grains.

Would you consider the Ohaus 10-10 a higher-end scale?

 

[JFrank]

Would you consider the Ohaus 10-10 a higher-end scale?

OHaus 1010 was their flagship so to speak.
IF working properly they resolve.1gr
IF TUNED they are capable of single kernel accuracy
you can also get a lemon on the used market that simply won’t repeat

 

[Reloadron]

Would you consider the Ohaus 10-10 a higher-end scale?

High end? No but based on all my reads it is highly praised by those using them. Now high end as far as an overall excellent reloading scale? Then yes but just based on my read. It ran with Ohaus for a long time. I would not consider my old Lyman M5 high end but it is likely one of the best beam scales I own. So what do I consider high end? Some of the Ohaus triple beam scales are nice but the problem always goes back to a mechanical balance beam scale which had graduations in grains in a world where most are grams and not aimed at the hand loader market. Keep in mind also, this is strictly my take or view.

Ron

 

[JFrank]

Here’s an option for those who demand the finest

www.prometheustoolcorp.com

 

[jski]

Here’s an option for those who demand the finest
www.prometheustoolcorp.com

Pricing starting at $3800 !!!

Thanks for helping to make my point: to get a digital scale as good as a good analog scale requires a lot more money than what the analog scale cost you.

 

[Dudedog]

Gravity doesn’t drift ...

google Gravity survey (as used in Geophysics)
Gravity is assumed to be a constant but it can vary

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24068-gravity-map-reveals-earths-extremes/

 

[1066]

google Gravity survey (as used in Geophysics)
Gravity is assumed to be a constant but it can vary

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24068-gravity-map-reveals-earths-extremes/

For the average reloader, I don't think this is a problem - I would think relatively few load half a batch up a mountain and the other half in a valley.

 

[TimRB]

google Gravity survey (as used in Geophysics)
Gravity is assumed to be a constant but it can vary

It doesn't matter. As a reloader your only requirement is that gravity be the same at both ends of your balance. If the gravity at your location is different from the gravity at BFE, well, that's interesting but immaterial.

Tim

 

[Dudedog]

Don't think we need to worry about it, just pointing out that gravity can vary slightly.
Not going to worry if it is high tide or low tide when I reload!