Better beam scale? Especially for light charges?

[Shivahasagun]

I've been reloading for about 2 yrs IIRC.

I've been using the Lee Safety scale that came with my kit.

I only load for pistol, including small stuff like .32 magnum and .25 acp.

I've read many scales are dampened so they don't take as long to settle as the Lee. I read others are easier to read, too.

Once I have a load figured out I use dippers or the Lee Drum on my Lee Turret press.

What beam scale would be an upgrade for me?

 

[ericuda]

I like my little Frankford digital and verify with beam once in awhile.

I like my rcbs beam and for best viewing I set it up at eye level with me sitting.

 

[mcb]

Why not go digital?

 

[PWC]

Well, pour a cup of coffee and make a sandwich and sit down.

Get ready for a onslaught of opinions, all backed up by users performance. You didn't specify what type so you'll hear about digital and beam, lo $ to hi $$. A search of THR will turn up more infothan you ever wanted.

 

[.38 Special]

I haven't done serious work with a beam scale since I got my first digital one around 1990.

 

[Englishmn]

Any.
I'm partial to rcbs but most brands work the same.
I verified my digital with a beam a bunch when I first bought it and they always agreed. So now I just use the check weight with the digital. Still have a couple beams just in case.

 

[mdi]

I have not had good results with digital scales (tried 3). My first scale was a Lee Safety Scale. I liked the locking poise feature and it's accuracy (I did the "tissue test"; a piece of Kleenex about the size of a postage stamp, weighed the same 5 times). I kept that scale for several years. I also have collected 6 scales from old oil dampened Redding #1 to brand new Ohaus 5-0-5. I weigh a lot of my charges, during a load work up every charge. My Ohaus dampens quickly, 99.9% repeatable, and checking with check weight, all very accurate (to about .05 grain). I still use a Frankfort Arsenal digital, but for mass weighing of bullets or brass only.

 

[hoardingthemanual]

I got the Hornady auto charge. I like it.

 

[nettlle]

I have always used beam scales. I have owned several different brands but my RCBS 10-10 is my favorite. It is magnetically dampened. As far as being easier to read I have really never owned a beam that was hard to read.

 

[JCSC]

I have OCD so prefer to keep my whole bench green.

my RCBS has never let me down. I have been thru 3 smaller digital scales and I’m not confident in them.

my first batch of 45 was 4.6 grains and I just ran it thru the chargemaster. Took some time, but no chance of squibs when you are seating them immediately after powder.

 

[BBarn]

Before I almost entirely switched to digital, I used an RCBS 10-10 (and still do on rare occasions). It's a great beam scale, but it’s no longer in production. I imagine there are used ones available.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Well, pour a cup of coffee and make a sandwich and sit down.

Get ready for an onslaught of opinions, all backed up by users performance. You didn't specify what type so you'll hear about digital and beam, lo $ to hi $$. A search of THR will turn up more infothan you ever wanted.

I made popcorn. This ought to be good. The Lee is a good scale.

 

[dredd]

I'm here for the popcorn. I like salt and butter.
Remember when we made it on the stove in an iron skillet?

Back to scales.

If waiting for the scale to settle is an irritation, you can use your finger to buffer the dump, for lack of a better term.
I can't speak for ease of reading various scales.

I started with an old 10-10 and learned to slow the bounce.

I have moved to other methods over the years.

If you like your Lee, try playing with it a bit more.

The only thing I can suggest, is adding check weights to your process.

 

[mdi]

One way to speed up dampening on a Lee scale is to pace one of those "super" magnets on the bench under the pan. Slows down the swing without affecting weight...

 

[JDeere]

Not going to try and start a war on what works best but. I started long ago with one of those Lee scales that comes in the kit. It worked well for quite awhile. I then upgraded to the RCBS 1010 made by Ohaus. Darn accurate scale imo. Then came the Pact digital with dispenser. Accurate as can be but to darn slow. I am now back to the 1010 and the Micrometer setup on the RCBS uniflow. I have the small and large drum setup for rifle rounds. Every throw is on the money so no reason to look elsewhere imo. Leave my primed cases in the tray and move on down the line. The older 1010 and 510 made by Ohaus scales were the best and can still be found. Works well for me so I'm done experimenting...ymmv

 

[Jim Watson]

I have an old Lyman D7 which is accurate but has one bad habit, the knife edge pivot "walks" in the V blocks and when it touches the frame, it does not read right.
I use a PACT digital which is ok but I might want something nicer for a grain of powder in a subcaliber.

 

[Chuck R.]

I've been using a "cleaned-up/tuned " RCBS 10-10 (Ohaus) since I started loading. I also have a digital scale, but mostly use it for weighing brass and cast bullets for segregation.

For the 10-10 a simple document camera does wonders. I can see the impact of a single kernel of 4320 and H4831SC. A combination of Harrel's, auto trickler, and a web camera:

 

[Shivahasagun]

Well, pour a cup of coffee and make a sandwich and sit down.

Get ready for a onslaught of opinions, all backed up by users performance. You didn't specify what type so you'll hear about digital and beam, lo $ to hi $$. A search of THR will turn up more infothan you ever wanted.

I did try a couple searches and only got a couple results of old threads. I was surprised at the lack of results.

 

[Shivahasagun]

I had forgotten that I did buy one of the lower-priced electronic scales.

I didn't like it. A little inconsistent and more sensitive to air currents.

I just don't think I can trust a digital yet.

I don't think I need to spend more than $100 for a scale I like.

What would be neat is a beam scale with a digital display. My calipers are digital and that's fine, too.

 

[RKRCPA]

I have mine set at eye level, no problems reading it.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I did try a couple searches and only got a couple results of old threads. I was surprised at the lack of results.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ding-equipment-basics-read-this-first.238214/
There’s only one post. Read item 4. Pretty much summarizes the question. Also, in @LiveLife testing of various beam scales, the Lee scored very high on accuracy. The bouncing is because the beam has a very low mass; but, the low mass contributes to the accuracy - a lower mass beam will be more sensitive - so it’s a trade-off.

 

[Reeferman]

No matter if you use a beam or digital a check weight set is a must.

 

[Nature Boy]

@South Prairie Jim has experience with an accurized beam scale. Maybe he will pop in with some feedback

 

[mcb]

I work with an 86 year old engineer that, half serious, likes to say digital is a fad that will pass. He still has a triple beam balance in his workshop. It works if a bit slow compared to comparable digital scales. In my experience good digital scales are more reliable and less reliant on proper use than beam balances. As others have mentioned check weights are a must for either technology. As with most things you get what you pay for, dont go cheap on your scale.

 

[Nature Boy]

I stepped up to a mechanical balance scale with integrated auto trickler and can’t imagine reloading without it.