Better beam scale? Especially for light charges?

[Shivahasagun]

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

I have some that came with the digital scale. I should use them more often.

 

[PWC]

My 86 yo Pacific Powder balance with original check weights (round tin) and 2010 RCBS weights. All weigh the same except for the original .2 gr which is lost. Pivots sometimes do "walk" and pointer will stick, just push back into center. I have a Lyman Digital Pocket Scale (not pictured) and it is accurate (given all the usual digital precautions) but only used to weigh bullets and brass. "Educated" thumb and finger of left hand reduce pointer swing.



Here are my measuring tools except the digital scale. For handloading, the feeler gauges are sufficient to check cal of the calipers. A micrometer really isn't necessary unless you are going to do some gunsmithing. Dial caliper get more use than the digital.

 

[Slamfire]

During winter, in the icy cold of the reloading room, I had experienced drift with a digital scale. So much so, I don't trust them in cold conditions. Warming the area with space heaters also caused drift. So, when Old Man Winter puts his frosty fingers out, I break out my old Redding balance beam scale.



You can used ones on fleaby, look for ones with agate bearings in the base. Agate is pretty hard stuff, will last forever.

Someone still has new ones:

Redding Reloading - Powder & Bullet Scale #2 Master

This Redding may be the same OHAUS scale, with styling changes, for sale on Amazon.

 

[mdi]

I didn't use check weights for many years, but I did use new coins (weight available on US Mint site). Since powder charges don't need to be "laboratory precise" as long as the weights are repeatable, consistent, it's good. I start at manuals' starting loads for every load work up and as long as the scale is consistent there are no problems. If my scale reads. 7.2 every time I'm OK, even if the manuals' loads with scales checked and certified read a "true" 7.1. I normally don't go to max book loads but for my 44 Magnums I occasionally would use max loads of WC820 no problems...

 

[jdsingleshot]

I gave away a Redding oil dampened scale years ago because I thought it was a crude idea. (Young and foolish at the time.) I had bought an Ohaus on sale for $3.50, IIRC. Still have that one and it still works fine after more than 50 years.

 

[splattergun]

I've been reloading for about 2 yrs IIRC.

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.
/QUOTE]
The Lee really doesn't take that long to settle. Just a few seconds. At least mine does. Compare it to my old Bonanza balance beam, which will literally teeter-totter for 30 seconds.
A lot of the time it takes to use the Lee Safety scale is in the technique. As for reading a vernier scale... it seems to be a dying art.

I have made scoops calibrated to my favorite loads. Consistency in my scooping technique equals consistency in weight, which means that I usually don't need to weigh every charge. I weigh every 10th charge when loading pistol and my charges are usually spot on.

 

[JFrank]

I use a tuned beam scale to load long range rifle ammunition to single kernel accuracy but I have zero experience loading pistol cartridges.

 

[Shivahasagun]

I do use and make custom scoops, setting them up using the Lee scale.

I use them for the really small charges and small batches. I enjoy using scoops but it's a bit slow.

I also use the scale to set up and verify multiple drums for my Lee drum.

Perhaps there really isn't a benefit for me with a different scale.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I do use and make custom scoops, setting them up using the Lee scale.

I use them for the really small charges and small batches. I enjoy using scoops but it's a bit slow.

I also use the scale to set up and verify multiple drums for my Lee drum.

Perhaps there really isn't a benefit for me with a different scale.

I’m not trying for ebabler of the month but, I will point out that sometimes having a variety of tools can be a part of the hobby. Maybe try out a 505 or 10-10 if you find one in fair condition cheap enough and do a thorough fixer-upper job on it. If you like it better, cool. If not add it to your stash as a backup. If you really hate it, just post it on the FS/FT forum. It won’t last long.
Just a thought.

 

[DMW1116]

I thought the Lee was dampened. It seems to act like it.

 

[jmorris]

What beam scale would be an upgrade for me?

Just about anything. The little Lee isn’t a bad scale, just not the easiest to use.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I have two of the Lee powder measures that came with reloading set ups I bought over the years. They are sill sitting in a box. I have an old ohaus beam scale that is my main scale.
I tried a digital scale once and put that away. I don't trust digital stuff.
Beam scales are the most reliable in my opinion.
I have a few RCBS scales A couple Hornady scales and a couple extra old ohaus scales.

For loading serious cases for accuracy I drop just under the charge weight and use a Hornady electronic powder trickler to bring it to the right weight.

 

[hc18flyer]

I was convinced I needed and could trust a digital scale, so I sold my balance beam. Over a couple years I tried and sold 3 smaller digitals, they didn't to maintain zero and 'bounce around' too much for my trust. So I went back to a beam scale. I also had problems seeing the needle, so I raised my scale about 6" and at another's suggestion, I bent a small piece of sheet metal to position my phones camera to cover the needle. I also use a free magnifying app on my phone, works great! I have since had a Lyman M5 scale tuned and use it almost exclusively. Tom

 

[Howa 9700]

When I resumed reloading a few years back, found a guy kind enough to sell me the better part of a Lee reloading kit, as he had two. One of the items was the dinky little Lee powder measure. I took one look at it and wrote that off and went on a hunt for an RCBS measure. The RCBS struggled with the lincoln logs in form of IMR 4064, IMR 4350, etc and shortly after buying the Lee reloading book, and reading up on the powder measure, ran into a problem where frustration set in and on a lark, pulled out that little measure to try it. Turns out it is now my favorite. There are a lot of things to like about it that are not obvious until you start using it, but it does work and is accurate.

I have 4 balance beam scales and the Lee is as accurate as all of them. The one I use is a Lyman D5 by ohous and what I like about it is the ergonomic shape of the powder cup. The small cup on the Lee works, but seems awkward to me when in use. But once you get use to the different way it works, the weight it comes up with is the same.

To the OP, if you have the powder measure, once it gets calibrated to the weight you want, it will work fine.

 

[nettlle]

Of the different beam scales that I have owned accuracy was not an issue with any of them.

 

[alsaqr]

Few years ago my son bought me an expensive digital scale for Christmas. Scale was not accurate or consistent. It was exchanged for another that was also unsatisfactory.

My reloads are weighed with the Redding #2 with agate insert and an RCBS 1010.

 

[jmorris]

Of the beam different beam scales that I have owned accuracy was not an issue with any of them.

That’s not the issue I have with the Lee either, I prefer others because they are easier to use.

That said, the OP is using dippers once he knows where he wants to be. I’d suggest (and put the money towards) a good powder measure and just set it with the Lee.

 

[mcb]

Random thought, digital scales especially those on the cheaper side of the scale (pun intended) are more temperature sensitive, even to the power flowing through their load cell. Us them in temperature controlled space and if possible turn them on early and let them come to a stable internal temperature helps with drift, a lot. I have the AC adapter for my RCBS Range Master and I pretty much leave it on 24/7 and that really helps make it a very stable scale. Worst case I try to turn it one when I first start getting read to reload and by the time I am ready to set my powder drop or start weighing individual charges the scale is warmed up.

 

[JFrank]

The biggest downfall to inexpensive strain gage scales is the drift and inability to trickle small amount of powder with consistent resolve.

 

[Nature Boy]

As digital scales go:

Tier 1 - Load cell type scales - $25 to $150. These are the cheapest option but are less accurate, susceptible to drift and slower

Tier 2 - nothing - $150 to $400. I would avoid anything priced in this range as it’s probably load cell scale and you’re wasting money if you buy one.

Tier 3 a Mechanical balance - $500 and up. More accurate, fast, no drift and some come with serial ports to integrate accessories like auto tricklers.

 

[Slamfire]

Just about anything. The little Lee isn’t a bad scale, just not the easiest to use.

Gave my Lee balance beam scale away. I recall that making corrections with the fine adjustment slider, and the major adjustments round ball bumped the device excessively. It was easy to knock the beam off the base. And that included removing and reattaching the pan. The pan is hooked to the balance beam, it was too easy to jar the beam and knock the adjustments.

 

[drband]

Gave my Lee balance beam scale away. I recall that making corrections with the fine adjustment slider, and the major adjustments round ball bumped the device excessively. It was easy to knock the beam off the base. And that included removing and reattaching the pan. The pan is hooked to the balance beam, it was too easy to jar the beam and knock the adjustments.

I found the Lee balance beam hard to read, but easy to use once I discovered the fine adjustment poise could be locked in place by pressing the little plastic pin in. Easy enough to use then— the powder is either over/under/just right on the balance. No jiggling of the fine adj poise necessary. Also was not bothered by taking/replacing the little pan when it was locked.

I upgraded to a vintage Ohaus 505 I found on eBay for a magnetically damped beam. Faster readings. More substantial base. Stays in place better.

Like this one… https://www.ebay.com/itm/2851210077...lC095CPSUm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

or this one…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1449997848...lC095CPSUm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[sksshooter]

over the years i've ended up with a couple of the inexpensive lee perfect powder scales. while they have been serviceable they just didn't give me a bunch of confidence so i never relied on one. i used an rcbs 505 scale for the last 10+ years. i recently picked up an ohaus 1010 (same as rcbs 1010) and an ohaus 10-0-5 (same as lyman M5) and have come to like these older scales. i got rid of the 505 and am mainly using the 10-0-5 right now. these scales balance out much quicker than even my 5-0-5 did. i prefer the 2 poise over the 3 as well. i now have an inexpensive digital but it is only used for quick reference such as validating bullet weight or a quick ruff weight or an item. i'm pretty set on using a beam unless i at some point fall into a great deal on an fx120i i will continue to use the beam. as others have stated i'd be on the hunt for a decent powder thrower. i have been pleased with my rcbs uniflow but hear good things of the lee as well. i currently have 2 of the auto disk which i have not tried but i hear the autodrum is hard to beat as well.

 

[deadeye dick]

I too started with the Lee setup. Ten yrs later and thousands and thousands of reloads later still have them., Got used to the Lee scale pretty quickly. When the poise stop pin wore out and wouldn't hold i went to a Hornady 5O5

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I too started with the Lee setup. Ten yrs later and thousands and thousands of reloads later still have them., Got used to the Lee scale pretty quickly. When the poise stop pin wore out and wouldn't hold i went to a Hornady 5O5

Y’all are talking me into a Lee Safety scale.