Compared some of my scales last night.

[BAD_KARMA]

So I was bored last night and decided to break out a few of my balance scales I have acquired over the years.

They were and RCBS 1010 and 510, Redding 1,2 and oil damped. That is 5 scales.

I used the weight from the 1010 which is 250 grains when used as a check weight. Some of the Reddings only went to 350 gr.

Long story short.. All the scales were right on and repeatable time after time. If your eyes are good I think the reddings are faster to adjust the weight on but you can lock the weight on the RCBS models. Not bad considering I am pretty sure 2 of the Reddings were a lot older than me.

As to speed. The Reddings were fairly slow to settle down. The 510 was a little better. Then I tried the 1010.

The 1010 was far and away the fastest scale to use. One bounce then right to the line. The 1010 is the scale I use day to day. And now I remember why. I usually keep the 510 out to double check things once in a while.

I don't own a digital scale so I could not throw one of them into the mix.

 

[Soybomb]

I just bought a 10-10, sounds like I made a decent choice

 

[CBS220]

Am I the only one who prefers beam balance scales over digital? I was really excited to buy a digital, but I just don't like it as much as my normal scales.

 

[WayneConrad]

Where the digital scale really shines is if you want to check bullets to see how much the weigh, for example. Checking the weights of unknowns is truly a chore with a balance beam scale.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I too prefer the mechanical scales.

Dave

 

[Rmeju]

I bought a digital at first, spending $200, thinking I was ahead of the game.

Later, I bought a $45 beam scale with $25 check weights and realized I wasted 200 bucks on the digital. I'm a convert.

I've never tried to measure unknown weights such as bullets, so maybe I'll hang onto the PACT.

Reid

 

[Idano]

Well guys I guess I am the exception. I started out 30 years ago with a RCBS 5-10 and couple of years later upgraded to the 10-10. Two years ago I bought a digital scale from Cabalas in their bargain cave for $40; it is a Cabala's Model EG1500 Reloading Scale. Since I bought it, the only reason I have opened the 10-10 was to use the 250 grain weight, like BAD_KARMA, to check it's calibration. I come to like the digital better for checking loads because with a beam scale I tell how much high or low the charge is if isn't dead on. The one advantage the beam scale has over the digital is that it doesn't require power. Personally I don't think one type is any better then the other, I think it just comes down to what you like and what your comfortable with using.

 

[BAD_KARMA]

Idano brings up a point I did not mention. The Reddings do have graduations that will read up to .5 gr over or under at the indicator end of the beam. Checking items of unknown weight is the one thing that keeps tempting me to try a digital scale.

 

[345 DeSoto]

The "unknown weight" factor is what edges out the digital scale over a beam scale, for me...

 

[Ol` Joe]

For powder charges you want to know the exact wgt, for example 45.7 gr. If it doesn`t weight this amount what it actually weights isn`t important just that it is high or low so we can adjust it. Balance scales are fine here and are my choice.
If you are weighting bullets, brass, or other things that vary in weight and you want the exact weigth of, digital scales can`t be beat.

I`ve a RCBS 10-10, 5-10, and Pact digital. They all have a place on my bench. If I was limited to just one, the 10-10 would be it.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Hey Walkalong. This looks right up your alley...

 

[Hook686]

Boy do I feel old. My RCBS scale has no Model Number on the box, the instructions, or the scale itself. It simply states it is a Powder Scale'. I suspect it goes back to the late 60's, or early 70's. It has a small cup under the scale pan that holds lead shot. The only thing the instructions say is that if I change any of the components and I cannot get the scale to zero using the adjusing screw, then I will need adjust the number/size of the lead shot to get a zero. I have always figured that if the scale is zero'd, then it reads close enough to the correct weight to not get too uptight.

Where the magnetic dampener is located, there is a -.5 grain scale and a +.5 grain scale. For some reason I've never doubted the accuracy of the scale, but then I do not load maximum loads, nor shoot bullseye. I figure 10.3, 10.4, 10.6 ... no big deal ... my bullets hit the pie plate at 75 yards. What more does a plinker need ?

Does anyone have an idea on why/how RCBS might have figured this scale did not need a 'check weight' ?

 

[Ol` Joe]

Does anyone have an idea on why/how RCBS might have figured this scale did not need a 'check weight' ?

None of the RCBS scales I`m aware of come with check weights. I`ve a 10-10 and 5-10 as I stated above and my dad has an old 505 from the early `60s that is marked "Ohaus". The 10-10 does come with a 250gr weight that attaches to the beam to increase the weight capacity to 1000 from 500gr. Check wgts are reasonable in price and a good investment for reloaders. I have a Lyman set that goes to 100 gr with all the wgts totaled and find it very useful to verify my settings. To be honest though I`ve never had a bad reading. Comparing one scale against another though, does nothing but tell you either both are reading the same, or one is wrong. It says nothing as to which is wrong if there is one.
The old scales work fine IMO and as long as they are not damaged they should do so for your kids too.

 

[peterotte]

The 10-10 does come with a 250gr weight that attaches to the beam to increase the weight capacity to 1000 from 500gr.

That 250gr weight doubles as a test weight. It must zero when added, at it's stated weight (without adjustments to the scale). I checked mine on a lab scale and found it to be a lot closer to stated weight than the scale is capable of registering.

 

[WayneConrad]

The other place a digital scale can't be beat is if you are setting your measure, provided you have the micrometer insert for your measure. Since the digital scale measures unknown weights quickly, and the micrometer can quickly dial in precise settings, you can use interpolation to, in only two throws, come quickly to a throw that is very close which can than refine. Eliminates a whole lot of futzing around.

You will have to remember a little bit of that linear math that your algebra teacher tried to pound into your head when you were busy staring at the cute girl in the second row.

 

[peterotte]

You will have to remember a little bit of that linear math that your algebra teacher tried to pound into your head when you were busy staring at the cute girl in the second row.

Now that brings back memories! What's linear math?