Cheap digital scale?

[Cheeseybacon]

I'm getting tired of constantly tinkering with the scale that was included with my Lee press. I don't use it too often, just every 15 rounds or so to make sure my Lee Auto Powder Disk doodad thinger is still dispensing the proper amount of powder. Can anyone here recommend a CHEAP digital scale that would fit this bill?

 

[Doug b]

I'm thinkin' if you want a CHEAP scale, your gonna keep on tinkering with the thing.For no more than you weigh your charge a good balance beam with magnetic dampering would be plenty fast enough.Also check to be sure you have no drafts in your reloading space, such as forced air heat, air conditioning, a fan, etc. they will send any scale in a tizzy.


On edit an open window will do the same

 

[lev83]

Just my opinion but this is not the piece of equipment to get cheap on. Stick with reputable compnay like RCBS with just a little effort you can find one of thier digital scales for $90 - $100. My reasoning is that most guns will cost significantly more than this and any medical care you might require will quickly offset any savings you might percieve.

 

[T-Mac]

"Pass" on those cheap $35-$40 electronic scales.
Get a good one for $140-160...then, you'll be happy, and confident.

 

[ezypikns]

Do you really need that kind of precision for handgun loads?

I'm assuming that you're not trying to load match grade ammo. A digital scale (or a good balance scale) with a good powder trickler would seem to be fine for that. I think consistency in throwing a charge is what you really want, and as long as the Lee equipment throws consistently, you should be OK.

 

[Cheeseybacon]

I'm assuming that you're not trying to load match grade ammo. A digital scale (or a good balance scale) with a good powder trickler would seem to be fine for that. I think consistency in throwing a charge is what you really want, and as long as the Lee equipment throws consistently, you should be OK.

Yes, you're correct, match grade ammo is not on my agenda. My friend and I just like blasting targets a lot with a .45 and a .357 mag, we're not looking to win any matches. From what I can tell using the crappy scale I have now, the Lee powder dispenser thinger seems to be sufficiently accurate for my purposes. However, I've just been told by fellow reloaders and warned in the manuals to religiously check it's consistency anyway to make sure something didn't go haywire with the dispenser and suddenly give me double amounts of powder.

I guess if the powder system has been constant and accurate up until this point, I could quit worrying about trying to measure it's accuracy all the time. I can't help but think that is a very dangerous thing to do though...

Whats the worst that could happen if I shot a double-charged round? Images of that one guy from Sin City with the slide stuck halfway inside his forehead come to mind.

 

[Larryect]

I have A Pact digital and am very happy with it. It does need to be warmed up good, do a calibrate on it - about 30 second job, An your good to go. Very quick at weighing loads after that. For a quick calibration check, I just weigh the powder pan.

I got this one because It came with the power adapter and I can add their power dispenser to lt in the future if I want to.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=707006


I did have trouble with the first one which was frustrating. The calibration kept difting. I sent it back to Midway and they sent me a new one. No problems now for several years.


.

 

[cabowabo]

My buddy has a cabelas scale it seems to work pretty well. Pact makes the RCBS scales right?

 

[dtalley]

I just ordered the Cabela's XT1500 for $80 plus shipping. I hope it is going to be a good one.

 

[WayneConrad]

How cheap is cheap?

If you get one, get one you can plug into the wall. My RCBS (a Pact in disguise) ChargeMaster 750 neither drifts nor needs calibration when left on continuously. Every time I use it I check it with the two check weights that came with it, and every month or so with my set of RCBS check weights, and it's always right on.

Costs about a hundred clams, so it probably doesn't qualify as "cheap," nor do any of the other scales we've been telling you we like.

 

[revolverman357]

I used the lee scale also, it was always accurate, but hard for me to read.
I bought a RCBS 505 and it is much easier to read than the lee.
They both agree with each other as far as weighing charges. I too thought about a cheap digital, but decided against it and just got a balance scale I could use and trust.

 

[highlander 5]

powder scale

I have a Dillon a little pricey but it sure beats trying to read them little lines with 50+ year old eyes

 

[gandog56]

I don't see any better accuracy specifications from the pricey name brand ones to the ebay specials. They all seem to be +/-0.1 grain. Unless you want the ones that pours the charge out for you, might as well go cheap.

 

[Doug b]

Cheesybacon as to the double charge worry I would advise to use a slow enough powder that you have around a 50% load density(powder charge fills half of the casing), this will make it easy to see a double charge.Use a flashlight to double and even triple check each casing before starting a bullet.

Nosler #4 reloading guide lists load densities,mine shows several powders for .357 rem that are over 50% density but only AA-No.5 comes close in the .45 ACP.

 

[Master Blaster]

They sell them real cheap at Calamity Jim's reloading supply, Right next to the Home suture kits, and the glass eyeballs and 10 packs of replacement fingers.

Seriously gravity works great doesnt need batteries, and cant be fooled by flourescent lights or electrical noise from you neighbor's hairdryer.

Get a good manual balance, a set of check weights, and zero it before every reloading session.

Scales are cheap compared to eyes and fingers.