Trikerider
Member
What is the best scale to look at for 100 or less? I have a small cheapie, but would like something a bit better. I don't reload a lot, so not looking to spend big bucks. Just want best I can get for the money. trikerider
Best electronic scale under $100
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cheygriz
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Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that all of the electronic powder scales, regardless of "brand name" are made by Pact. 
So, there's not a heckuva lot of difference between them. :banghead:
So, there's not a heckuva lot of difference between them. :banghead:
rfwobbly
Member
To my knowledge, the BEST low priced scale is the Dillon Eliminator made by Ohaus. This scale lists for $54. It is a balance beam scale, not digital, but it will be accurate for the next 30-40 years with little or no maintenance. No digital scale can make that claim.
cheygriz
member
I agree with Wobbly about the balance beam. A good electronic makes an excellent backup to a beam, but everyone should have a beam.
One point not often made is quality check weights. Whether you use electronic or beam, or both, a set of quality scale check weights is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
I check both of my scales with the check weights closest to the powder charge I'll be using before each reloading set up or conversion.
Maybe I'm overly cautious, but I still have ten fingers and two eyes after 45 years of reloading!
One point not often made is quality check weights. Whether you use electronic or beam, or both, a set of quality scale check weights is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
I check both of my scales with the check weights closest to the powder charge I'll be using before each reloading set up or conversion.
Maybe I'm overly cautious, but I still have ten fingers and two eyes after 45 years of reloading!
Topgun 30-06
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Definitely agree with the two previous posts! As a retired State of MI W&M Inspector/Investigator with 30+ years on the job, I have an Ohaus beam scale and have never even messed with that cheap electronic garbage. Take care of a beam scale and it will last several liftimes!!!
jcwit
member
Then explain why they use electronic scales to weigh diamonds, gold, and chemicals in labs ect., ect. Not saying the beam doesn't have its place, but so does the electronic. Also we have no idea how long a electronic scale will last as they have not been out that long. This same logic could also be used for calculators & how long they will last. Who knows?
rfwobbly
Member
Who'd want to buy any diamonds weighed on sub-$100 digital scales ??
"Sub-$100 scales" is the subject of the thread, not what some chemical company or diamond cutter can afford. I fail to see how discussion of a $1000+ professional diamond scale helps the OP.
ColtPythonElite
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I've been using a Pact BBK for 15 years with no troubles...Matter of fact, I just used it tonight.
I just got a Jennings JS-VG 20 and I'm really happy with it. I had a MTM one before and that thing was garbage; the JS-VG makes that thing look like a toy. The Jennings scale reads much faster and is just better built than the MTM one. It also reads to .05gr.
They also have a plug in scale called the MACK that i was interested in getting, but its sold out everywhere and wont be in stock for a few months.
The scale cost me $80 from Amazon, and I think I wold trust anything any cheaper than this.
They also have a plug in scale called the MACK that i was interested in getting, but its sold out everywhere and wont be in stock for a few months.
The scale cost me $80 from Amazon, and I think I wold trust anything any cheaper than this.
jcwit
member
That is a point well taken! Bet you didn't expect that answer.
mptrimshop
Member
i'm thinking about getting into reloading....i was very interested in what a good digital scale would cost. I was hoping to learn something from this thread. Other than a beam scale is reliable for 30-40 years i have got nothing........when did this site get like this....the fighting and bickering seems to be at a all time high
jcwit
member
I will post this but will more than likely get bashed for it. I have a inexpensive "cheap" scale $40.00 that I bought 5 years ago. It battery powered and works very well. It does weigh a trifel heavy 2 to 3 tenths of a grain but is always consisent in that weight. This gives me a trifel lighter load than what it says so it means nothing. It has no bragging rights that came with it as it didn't cost $200 bucks but hey it works.
Hope this post helps
Best jcwit
Hope this post helps
Best jcwit
BigJakeJ1s
Member
I thought the OP asked for ELECTRONIC scales under $100. Discussions of beam scales are just as OT as those of $$$$ digital scales.
My $30 scale from midway works great, and has for several years. Not everyone who has bought one has been as lucky though.
The only issue I've heard about some electronic not-designed-for-reloading scales' suitability for reloading is when trickling powder. Some scales stop updating the display when the weight change reduces below a certain threshold. This can cause problems if you try to trickle up to a target weight. I don't know of any specific examples of this happening, just repeating what I've heard, so it may be bogus.
Andy
My $30 scale from midway works great, and has for several years. Not everyone who has bought one has been as lucky though.
The only issue I've heard about some electronic not-designed-for-reloading scales' suitability for reloading is when trickling powder. Some scales stop updating the display when the weight change reduces below a certain threshold. This can cause problems if you try to trickle up to a target weight. I don't know of any specific examples of this happening, just repeating what I've heard, so it may be bogus.
Andy
rfwobbly
Member
"Fighting" and "bickering" require animosity. I detect no animosity in this thread, just a good and lively discussion of weighing. As in all things, there are differences in opinion.
Thank God for differences!
mbruce
Member
Can't we all just get along -- sorry I couldn't pass that up -- how did that not already get posted --
Just don't mention a kitchen scale and a measuring cup....LOL -- rfwobbly will keep u in line!!
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Bush Pilot
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If you consider this to be "bickering" you probably shouldn't be reloading. You "ain't seen nothing".
Offfhand
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I work (part time) for an engineering consulting firm that does bata testing on firearms related products. We have tested quite a few digital scales, some of which are highly accurate and some that were questionable at best. A minimum of twenty units of each make/model are required to make a valid assessment, for allowing us to measure unit to unit variations. Generally speaking, quaility (meaning accuracy) is directly related to price, with lower priced units invariably showing the greater unit to unit variation, as well as increased instability. In other words, in the lower price ranges you might get a usable scale and might not. Of the lower priced makes, the one that proved most accurate and consistent was a compact scale made by CED. Don't remember the price but as I reacall it was in the $100. or less category. If I were looking to buy a small, inexpensive scale this is the one I would choose.
cheygriz
member
I'll start off by asking the moderator to correct me if I'm wrong!
To me, at least, "fighting and bickering" would be if one member that likes beam balances tells another member that "only a frikkin idiot would use a p.o.s. like a digital scale," or vice versa!
If one member tells another member that he has tried both, or still uses both, or that he is so well pleased with his electronic that he hasn't even bothered to try a beam balance due to his/her personal experience, that isn't bickering, that's healthy discussion that we can very often all learn from.
no one dislikes sdarcasm, pettiness or bickering more tham me, but so far at least, I haven 't seen it on this thread. Just good healthy discussion, mostly based on personal experience or observation.
(Well.....maybe a little bit of sarcasm! )
To me, at least, "fighting and bickering" would be if one member that likes beam balances tells another member that "only a frikkin idiot would use a p.o.s. like a digital scale," or vice versa!
If one member tells another member that he has tried both, or still uses both, or that he is so well pleased with his electronic that he hasn't even bothered to try a beam balance due to his/her personal experience, that isn't bickering, that's healthy discussion that we can very often all learn from.
no one dislikes sdarcasm, pettiness or bickering more tham me, but so far at least, I haven 't seen it on this thread. Just good healthy discussion, mostly based on personal experience or observation.
(Well.....maybe a little bit of sarcasm!
)mbruce
Member
I weigh my powder to the .0001 using only the palm of my hand.
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Trikerider
Member
OK guys, have got some helpful info here and some laughs on some other posts. To clarify what I use now, a Lee safety powder scale (beam type), but it is very slow to use. The electronic is DS-750, Frankfort Arsenal from Midway, not sure on cost as I bought on sale. I like using the electronic because it is much faster, but as someone mentioned, when adding small and slow increments, it does not add on the readout accurately. You have to add some weight and take it off to let it settle to correct weight. Both scales seem to read exactly same when the electronic settles. I normally use an old bushing type powder measure, but don't have bushing small enough to measure out 3.4 gr of titegroup, so have been weighing it. I did make a dipper from 22lr case that weighs 3.4 gr and makes loading a little faster. Keep posting guys, I love to read good feedback and also the the other feedback. trikerider
mbruce
Member
thank you sir -- i always pride myself in providing good feedback. haha
Crowbar Muldoon
Member
mbruce, that sounds like the first line of a great song......
To the OP, check out a Jennings Mack 20, around $75. Not the smallest scale around, and the lid might be a bit cumbersome (until you customize it), but it always agrees with my RCBS 505 and is accurate to +/-0.1 gr. When trickling powder, it responds very quickly. The optional AC adapter is worth the extra $5-10. The Jennings scale OC mentioned (JS-VG 20) is also a worthy scale. Jennings scales are not marketed to reloaders, but they are often more accurate than many that are.
To the OP, check out a Jennings Mack 20, around $75. Not the smallest scale around, and the lid might be a bit cumbersome (until you customize it), but it always agrees with my RCBS 505 and is accurate to +/-0.1 gr. When trickling powder, it responds very quickly. The optional AC adapter is worth the extra $5-10. The Jennings scale OC mentioned (JS-VG 20) is also a worthy scale. Jennings scales are not marketed to reloaders, but they are often more accurate than many that are.
check weights
Why buy a set of fancy checkweights, when you already have a set at hand?
We already know that 1 gram = 15.4323584 grains, and we all have access to the friendly local dispensing pharmacy. I asked my pharmacist to weigh some copper jacketed bullets and some coins, on his medical grade electronic scale.
Results by object (note that each object has its own weight due to manufacturing tolerances so don't rely on my figures):
.224" Nosler HPBT match = 3.34 grams = 51.5440 grains; i.e. 51.5 grains.
dime = 1.74grams = 26.8523 grains; i.e. 26.9 grains.
Now I need to get my pharmacist to weigh a paperclip, which weighs less than a dime.
Once you've got your objects weighed, store them carefully and keep them and your hands clean so that their weight stays constant.
Why buy a set of fancy checkweights, when you already have a set at hand?
We already know that 1 gram = 15.4323584 grains, and we all have access to the friendly local dispensing pharmacy. I asked my pharmacist to weigh some copper jacketed bullets and some coins, on his medical grade electronic scale.
Results by object (note that each object has its own weight due to manufacturing tolerances so don't rely on my figures):
.224" Nosler HPBT match = 3.34 grams = 51.5440 grains; i.e. 51.5 grains.
dime = 1.74grams = 26.8523 grains; i.e. 26.9 grains.
Now I need to get my pharmacist to weigh a paperclip, which weighs less than a dime.
Once you've got your objects weighed, store them carefully and keep them and your hands clean so that their weight stays constant.
jcwit
member
twofifty, the very last word in your post is /was the most important, "constant".
Consistency is vital, one can be off a tenth or two but as long as its constant you're good to go. One stipulation tho is stay away from max, but even then ones probably OK as for the built in safety factor. Now then we're talking of tenth's or less of a grain, not grains.
Consistency is vital, one can be off a tenth or two but as long as its constant you're good to go. One stipulation tho is stay away from max, but even then ones probably OK as for the built in safety factor. Now then we're talking of tenth's or less of a grain, not grains.
rfwobbly
Member
Mr Rider -
And therein lies one area of misunderstanding. Good Ohaus scales, to which we keep referring, pivot on knife edges which sit on agate gem stones. The teeter-totter is nearly frictionless, and with an additional magnetic damper system, loads can be measured in about 2 seconds.
While Lee makes a great product for the price (frankly I'm amaze they can sell anything in their product line up for as little as they do), the scale is one of their items that is definitely "bargain basement". While great for loading mid range plinking loads, as you are finding out, it is neither fast or accurate.
I hope that settles some confusion for you.
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