Favored digital scale?

Status
Not open for further replies.
The scale is the one thing I'd never cheap on. Proper powder charge weights are just too important.

I use the RCBS range master.
 
I like the rcbs chargemaster 1500, but my favorite scale is the Dillon terminator because I can run it on batteries. Makes it easy to move around.
 
I have a question regarding the digital scales. All posts that I read emphasize how important the accuracy has to be and not to scrimp on cost, and etc. Agreed.

I use a balance beam scale that I've had forever so I'm good to go as far as that is concerned. However once I started reloading high volumes of pistol ammo I bought an inexpensive Franklin Armory digital scale for less than $30 to use. I've now used it for at least two years and have repeatedly spent the time to check it against my other scale - and every single time it has been spot on. It even worked accurately when the battery got low, which is something I have read should have made it read off.

For over two years the cheap digital scale has matched the accuracy of my other one and is much simpler and quicker to use. I'm using this for pistol reloading not max rifle loads and see no reason to continue taking the time to use my old scale.

My question: in all threads about scales that I read on forums, using digital scales as the primary measure is frowned upon by all of the internet experts. Am I misreading advice or making a mistake that I have not anticipated yet? Why not simply depend on the digital scale?
 
Hootus said:
My question: in all threads about scales that I read on forums, using digital scales as the primary measure is frowned upon by all of the internet experts. Am I misreading advice or making a mistake that I have not anticipated yet? Why not simply depend on the digital scale?
Click to expand...

There's always going to be someone who will look down on others who have different beliefs. These are usually the same guys who only fly fish with barbless hooks and match the hatch by tying flies streamside. Then there's me and you with our cheap digital scales. We're the guys who come stomping up to the fishing hole and drops a nice juicy night crawler on the nose of the largest brown trout in the river, and then take it home to eat instead of practicing catch and release.

I have two cheap electronic scales and an older Redding beam scale. I've checked them all with calibration weights and they all measure accurately. The plastic funnel/pan that I own weighs 67.4 grains, I'll zero the scale then put the empty pan on it. If it weighs 67.4 grains, I'll tare the scale and start loading. Someday when I have enough Bass Pro reward points saved up, I might buy one of the more expensive scales. Until then I have the pocket scale that I bought on E-Bay for $14.
 
Hootus said:
My question: in all threads about scales that I read on forums, using digital scales as the primary measure is frowned upon by all of the internet experts. Am I misreading advice or making a mistake that I have not anticipated yet? Why not simply depend on the digital scale?
Click to expand...

I have an RCBS chargemaster 1500.

I also have an RCBS 10-10 beam scale and it is precise enough to pick up on single granule (not grain) differences in long extruded powder, such as H4831SC.

When I'm loading ammo for < 300 yard matches I use only the Chargemaster 1500. The difference in velocity from the +/- .1 grain I get on the chargemaster 1500 isn't enough to notice.

For ammo over 300 yards I use the chargemaster 1500 to dump the charge then re-measure it on the 10-10 scale to get it "dead on". (This usually involves adding / subtracting a tiny bit of powder). That 10-10 scale makes it possible to see the margin of error of the Chargemaster 1500. I find that maybe only 1 of 15 to 20 dispenses is "true" to the target weight. The others are within .1 grain (as measured on the 1500) but visibly off the mark when re-weighed on the 10-10 beam scale.

Electronics are handy .. but gravity don't lie.

Unless you are after the absolute most precision possible charge weight the accuracy of the electronic scale is plenty good enough. The differences in velocity from a .1 grain spread on most powder loads on cartridges is insignificant (unless you're talking about something miniscule, like the 5.7x28mm, in which case .1 grain can be a big deal).

Anyway.. the speed and convenience of an electronic scale are easily worth it. Don't hesitate - get one. But don't get rid of the beam scale, having a cross-reference is always handy!
 
For a little more than your $100 budget, I can recommend the RCBS 750. I've been very pleased with mine.
 
Digital scales seem to fall into that category of either love them or hate them, or I use one but always check my charge on a balance scale. :)

The below RCBS is an older one of a few I own and has always been reliable and accurate when I check it. This scale is left on 24/7.

Scale%204.png

Digital scales can be a lot like a Sears Roebuck shotgun or rifle. We know that Sears never built a rifle or shotgun in their lives but sold tens of thousands with their name on them. The same is true of most digital scales. The scale pictured above was actually made by PACT. So it may be green and it may have RCBS on it but it was made by PACT.

Regardless of your choice in make and model I would strongly suggest investing in a good set of check weights like those pictured in Ks5shooter's post number 5. A good set of weights can exceed the cost of an inexpensive digital scale.

Ron
 
I got a GemPro 250 a couple of months ago. Great scale and worth the price.
 
Another +1 for the RCBS Rangemaster. And a good set of check weights.

As to the inexpensive FA scale comments, they echo my experience as well: it's never missed a beat!

For my purposes, these two options work fine. I do mostly pistol loads and usually avoid max charges.
 
I just got a MyWeigh iBalance 201 for Christmas. It's right at $100 and so far, so good. Lifetime warranty. It's only drawback is the precision is rated at +/-0.01 grams, which is equal to about 0.15 grains. Not a problem for me. The scale settles very fast and you can trickle accurately on to it.
 
I use and have zero problems with an MTM DS-1250 that I picked up online for about $30 or less. Works great.

I check it against my Lee balance beam and it matches. I reload on my turret using the Lee Pro disk system on the press. I use a scale to verify that the disk is throwing the right amount and then just run a batch of ammo. I don't verify each charge, I wanted faster than single stage speed and that's why I bought a turret and automatic powder dispenser.

All my reloading is done with mid-range charges and I believe the minor potential variances in charges will not affect performance of the round at all.

I appreciate that some folks enjoy maintaining near NASA levels of accuracy in this hobby and there's nothing wrong with that approach, but it just doesn't interest me.
 
I got an MTM with the reloading kit I bought. It has worked very, very well for about 15 months now. Repeatable to within .1 gr, always matches a calibration weight. Maybe if I was weighing charges to .01 grains for bench shooting or something it would be insufficient, but it has been plenty good enough for me. Lots of reloading things I would buy before a more expensive scale.
 
I've only been reloading for 5 years. Started with a Lee scale which was very quickly replaced with an RCBS Rangemaster 750. Worked fine for about 2 years, or so I thought, then I noticed the randomly wandering zero. I then bought a Dillon beam which works great every time. I always use check weights. The Rangemaster still works ok most of the time, but I won't trust life and limb to it unless it works great all of the time. Electronics work until they don't, but the problem is all you see is the digital readout which may not indicate anything is wrong.
 
RandyP said:
I appreciate that some folks enjoy maintaining near NASA levels of accuracy in this hobby and there's nothing wrong with that approach, but it just doesn't interest me.
Click to expand...

I only do it when I have to. :)

It took the better part of 10 hours this weekend to assemble 110 rounds for my 300 WM for 1,000 yard shooting. It takes longer to build the ammo than it does to spend a day shooting it.

When I load cartridges it generally falls in to 3 categories.

  • Volume production. No weighing other than to set the drop cylinder and to check for drift, dump by volume. (9mm, 45 ACP, 5.56x45 plinkers)
  • Accurate production for short or midrange rifle (let the Chargemaster dispense the charges and load what it drops, +/- .1 grain or even .2 grain doesn't bother short range ballistics enough to matter)
  • "throw the kitchen sink at it" accuracy. I reserve this only for my long range gun. Weight sorted brass, Neck turn brass, bushing neck size, air gauged seating die, primer pocket uniformed, flash hole uniformed, neck tension set precisely, and powder is weighed on the beam scale to ensure it's 100% uniform.

There's some exceptions; e.g. short runs of 45 colt or ALL max load pistol charges I weigh out individually (e.g. 357 mag or +P loads for 45). Also some ball powder doesn't meter for crap out of the RCBS chargemaster, but it dumps by volume real close. So I skip the auto-dispenser for it, dump by volume, and use the electronic scale to get it on target.
 
Another vote for the GemPro 250. I know others aren't into that kind of accuracy, but it appeals to me for the way I reload. If you want speed/ accuracy the GemPro is worth every penny.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
Anyone know of a good digital scale?
Replies
23
Views
2K
camille2785
C
T
  • Locked
Checking Digital Scale Accuracy
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
blarby
B
Mark_Mark
  • Locked
Digital scale
Replies
10
Views
411
Reloadron
Reloadron
K
  • Locked
Do I need a digital Scale?
2
Replies
45
Views
2K
snuffy
S
W
  • Locked
New reloader - scale question
2
Replies
34
Views
1K
jcwit
J
Back
Top