1858rem
Member
has anyone here ever gotten the cheap lee 100 grain scale and later found it to be off by a half grain or more or had it some how go bad? i need a little history on failures with this scale please
how inaccurate can the LEE 100 grain beam scale get
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Sport45
Member
I don't use mime much any more but don't see how it could become innacurate. All beam scales should last forever as long as you keep them clean.
Bush Pilot
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Lee scales make great targets.
1858rem
Member
target loads.......
....or actually shoot them?
rfwobbly
Member
On any balance beam type scale you have to clean the pivot points and keep the fulcrums rust-free. Before beginning a loading session you should always set the weights to 0 and make sure the beam balances.
On most scales the pivot points are made of gem stones, but some of the Lee scales don't do this. So those cheaper ones would be highly susceptible to being dropped or misused.
On most scales the pivot points are made of gem stones, but some of the Lee scales don't do this. So those cheaper ones would be highly susceptible to being dropped or misused.
1858rem
Member
i think the lee scale relies on a razor edge as the pivot point.
there is a brass weight that you can use to set the scale to zero.......... so if you zero the scale every time, is there any way (short of breaking the razor or the body itself) the scale can read zero, but actually weigh a charge of half a grain or more than what the scale is set to weigh?
there is a brass weight that you can use to set the scale to zero.......... so if you zero the scale every time, is there any way (short of breaking the razor or the body itself) the scale can read zero, but actually weigh a charge of half a grain or more than what the scale is set to weigh?
1SOW
Member
I've got the Lee Safety Powder Scale cheapie too. Magnetically dampened and uses a stainless razor edge to pivot on. I made a small box to protect it from dirt/dust because I reload in the garage.
If yours is like mine with the little sliding plastic .1 gr set-up, it takes some pretty careful adjusting AND reading to set it to zero. The instructions say zero is set so that the little .1 gr marks are visible on both ends of the scale reading. For me, it takes some really careful adjusting to get that set just right.
Has anyone got a 4.2 gr precision weight they want to sell??
If yours is like mine with the little sliding plastic .1 gr set-up, it takes some pretty careful adjusting AND reading to set it to zero. The instructions say zero is set so that the little .1 gr marks are visible on both ends of the scale reading. For me, it takes some really careful adjusting to get that set just right.
Has anyone got a 4.2 gr precision weight they want to sell??
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1858rem
Member
anyone know a friends friend or any case you ever heard of with one of these things failing? first hand is not necessary but i want to know there has been a incident with the scale failing at all and if possible how it happened?
1858rem
Member
this may be my problem, i zero by first pushing the plastic slide totally to the right, lock, zero, unlock and proceed to load..... something wrong there?
1858rem
Member
HOTDAMN YER A GENIUS! ok so the way i zeroed it put it consistently on the .5 grain past the zero, so i think i have been loading .5 over this whole time from improper zero.
thanks everyone
thanks everyone
jfh
Member.
I've got the Lee scale, and others, too--
and I find the Lee scale can work just fine. Personally, it is my preferred scale at my bench, but mostly because of its smaller size. However: I had one Lee scale go bad after some years because that SS razor pivot did get damaged. (I suspect it was handled carelessly during a household move.)
Other foibles of the Lee scale include:
1. Not setting the beam correctly on the balance point;
2. Having the ball-bearing counterbalance jump a bin--thereby changing the setting by 10 grains;
3. Not using the vernier scale correctly;
4. excessive fluctuation if the charge weight is significantly different from the scale setting.
Many find it cumbersome to set and use; I don't.
Here's a tip for setting the charge weight accurately and 'easily:'
Pick up the beam and hold it with both hands. Leaving the 'friction pin' in so there is drag, now put your thumbs on either side of the vernier slide, and adjust it to your chosen weight by pushing with either thumb. The friction pin maintains the setting you've chosen, without fumbling to push in the pin after setting the chosen charge weight.
A related advantage to this technique is that you can get it "in front of you" to accurately read the scale--IOW, a real benefit for those of us with "older eyes."
The disadvantage is that 1) the ball bearing counterweight can jump a bin (or more), and 2) you have to ensure that you set the beam back on the balance point correctly. (Usually, but not always, if it is not on the point correctly, the magnetic dampening will 'drag' / be off-center.
Is it the best scale? No, not by a long shot (so to speak), but it will work accurately if you know how to use it.
Jim H.
and I find the Lee scale can work just fine. Personally, it is my preferred scale at my bench, but mostly because of its smaller size. However: I had one Lee scale go bad after some years because that SS razor pivot did get damaged. (I suspect it was handled carelessly during a household move.)
Other foibles of the Lee scale include:
1. Not setting the beam correctly on the balance point;
2. Having the ball-bearing counterbalance jump a bin--thereby changing the setting by 10 grains;
3. Not using the vernier scale correctly;
4. excessive fluctuation if the charge weight is significantly different from the scale setting.
Many find it cumbersome to set and use; I don't.
Here's a tip for setting the charge weight accurately and 'easily:'
Pick up the beam and hold it with both hands. Leaving the 'friction pin' in so there is drag, now put your thumbs on either side of the vernier slide, and adjust it to your chosen weight by pushing with either thumb. The friction pin maintains the setting you've chosen, without fumbling to push in the pin after setting the chosen charge weight.
A related advantage to this technique is that you can get it "in front of you" to accurately read the scale--IOW, a real benefit for those of us with "older eyes."
The disadvantage is that 1) the ball bearing counterweight can jump a bin (or more), and 2) you have to ensure that you set the beam back on the balance point correctly. (Usually, but not always, if it is not on the point correctly, the magnetic dampening will 'drag' / be off-center.
Is it the best scale? No, not by a long shot (so to speak), but it will work accurately if you know how to use it.
Jim H.
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1SOW
Member
Genius? I should ask for a pay raise!
R.W.Dale
Member
I have no Idea as mine would never stop fluctuating long enough to measure charge one
Remo-99
Member
LEE make many good products at a reasonable price, imo their beam scale is not one of them.
Yeah, there is! You've got to use the verniers, even at zero. For zero, there should be lines in both the 1 & 9 vernier openings, as well as 0. Any other weight, the target 10th is flanked by the two vernier lines, and 3rd exactly on the weight.
Nate1778
Member
Mine has been fairly accurate and repeatable, what is scary is how much difference between the scale and the bushings. With some loads of Unique I have to go up 2-3 bushings to get the weight intended.
Marlin 45 carbine
Member
I carefully check mine for zero every time I'm makeing up a dipper - usually I do this by pressing in punched out stiff paper discs into the dipper to drop the volume it holds.
I haven't had any problem but IMO yes this scale is fragile.
I haven't had any problem but IMO yes this scale is fragile.
Spencer Hart
Member
I had the same problem as Nate1778. Had to go up two bushing sizes. this made me concerned about the scale. I bought the adjustable powder dispenser, and a small digital scale. No more removing the powder bin. The digital came with a 20 gram weight. Used the weight on the beam scale and found it to be accurate.
ranger335v
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"...so i think i have been loading .5 over this whole time from improper zero."
Don't feel too bad. Most of the problems Lee Safety Scale owners experience is themselves, not the tool!
Any scale sensitive enough to differentiate weights within maybe half of 1/70,000th of a pound can be damaged by mishandling, easily. The little Lee is perhaps slightly more susceptible to physical damage than others but not by a whole lot. But then, for the difference in cost for anything noticably better, you could buy what, five to eight Lee's? Keep it clean, zero it when starting and don't drop hammers on it. All should be well.
The Lee scale certainly isn't my favorite but I wouldn't feel handicapped if that were all I had to reload with.
Don't feel too bad. Most of the problems Lee Safety Scale owners experience is themselves, not the tool!
Any scale sensitive enough to differentiate weights within maybe half of 1/70,000th of a pound can be damaged by mishandling, easily. The little Lee is perhaps slightly more susceptible to physical damage than others but not by a whole lot. But then, for the difference in cost for anything noticably better, you could buy what, five to eight Lee's? Keep it clean, zero it when starting and don't drop hammers on it. All should be well.
The Lee scale certainly isn't my favorite but I wouldn't feel handicapped if that were all I had to reload with.
1858rem
Member
i would have thought the zero would be on the very far right of the slide, but apparently it is just a little short of the end consequently making it a little different to zero than i thought, now i can get back to safe accurate reloads.
atblis
Member
Never had a problem with the Lee scale. Agreed exactly with my RCBS and Dillon scale (both made by Ohaus).
ljnowell
Member
That will explain those hot bullseye loads. 5.5 is a little different than 5.0
1858rem
Member
yup, i started this thread to help figure out what i was doing wrong..... i was just glad to find out that i was not over max, or at least not +P loadings
D. Manley
Member
I agree...horrible excuse for a scale. While I have no doubt it "can" weigh accurately, the light plastic construction make it far too "touchy" and don't even mention how difficult it is to actually read those faint little in-between lines accurately. I still have one somewhere used no more than 3 minutes. I'd have given it away but think too much of my friends.
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