I'm looking for a digital scale

[leadchucker]

I do a lot of small loads, like starting at 2.9gr and maxing at 3.1gr. I use a beam scale, and it's plenty accurate, but it's a pain to set up and use.

Every digital scale I've looked at claims accuracy to a tenth. That means plus or minus a half a tenth, and that's just not good enough on those small loads.

Are there any affordable digital scales out there with accuracy and resolution to more than a tenth of a grain?

 

[jcwit]

I've got a scale that cost $39.00 and reads out to 3 places past the digit. I seriously doubt its accurate to a thousanth of a grain, but I never go that far anyway.

I'd stick to the beam scale.

 

[Josh45]

I know Hornady sells one for about $85+. You can find it at Grafs. It's just a scale. Does not come with a dispenser. Also to what I understand you have to let it warm up a bit before using it.

And get some check weights to insure its accuracy.

Like JCwit, I would stick with the beam scale. Your charges are not that far apart hat it would make it hard to change over to what charge you want.

 

[cfullgraf]

You will get lots of opinions, both pro and con on digital scales.

In my opinion, get one that can run on 110v and stay away from the inexpensive, battery powered units. The inexpensive scale i purchased works, but is inconvenient to use.

I recently got the scale offered by Berry Mfg. It is performing well so far.

I have had Pact scale for 10 or so years that works without issue although it did not like being dropped.

Some folks have trouble with various electronics upsetting the operation of their scale. I have not experienced that.

I like my digital scales, but I am not sure they are any easier to use than the beam scale.

 

[beatledog7]

Beam scales are famously accurate, with the most bang for the buck being, apparently, the RCBS 5-0-5. Never can find one in stock.

I have just ordered a companion for my cheap but surprisingly accurate Hornady GS 350 digital, which ships as part of the L-N-L Classic kit. I like the flexible functionality of a digital (e.g., placing each case on the pad and zeroing before throwing a powder charge into that case), and I figure with two of them I can crosscheck to ensure consistency and accuracy.

 

[nojoke]

I really like my new Hornady digital.
But, as you mention, its accuracy is to .1 g

 

[jack44]

stick with a beam scale! they are better.

 

[Shmackey]

I have a $330 digital scale on my bench, and I'll be the first to tell you that a good beam scale (RCBS 505, Dillon Eliminator, Redding #2) will be--to use scientific terminology--less flaky.

 

[beatledog7]

When does a reloader need better than .1gr accuracy?

 

[rcmodel]

An affordable digital, by their very nature, are not going to be as accurate or repeatable at +/-0.1 grain then a decent beam scale. A lab grade transducer to do better then that would cost more then most reloaders would pay.

I have a Cabala's branded PACT, and an RCBS 5-10 Beam.

The digital needs a 30 minute warm-up, then re-calibration every time I use it.
Then I can weigh the same 3.0 grain check weight on the digital and get 3.0 flashing to 2.9 one time, 3.0 the next, and maybe 3.0 flashing to 3.1 the time after that.

If I weigh it over & over again on the RCBS beam, I get 3.0, time after time after time.

The digital is great for fast checking, but when I want balls to the wall accuracy I can trust, I use the Beam scale.

My solution has been to start a used Lyman #55 powder measure collection.
I have three of them, and a Herters rifle measure I haven't adjusted off 26.3 grains W-748 since 1970 something.

I set each one of the Lymans for a load I use a lot, and don't change them again.

rc

 

[Blue68f100]

Here is the only high accuracy I know of for reloading without spending $1000's of dollar for scientific lab scales. https://www.storesonline.com/site/696296/product/T1251

btw. 1/10 accuracy means ±0.1 not 0.05 grains

 

[JohnM]

Same way with my Lyman M-5.
Even though it's going on 50 years old it's still constantly repeatable to the same reading.

 

[john16443]

Leadchucker - the Jennings Mack 20 will get you the resolution you need for the small loads for under $80. As mentioned before, get it with the AC adapter. n The resolution is 0.02 grains, more than enough for what you want.

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/jennings-jscale-mack-20.html

 

[kingmt]

When does a reloader need better than .1gr accuracy?

I just thought it needed said again.

 

[AABEN]

I have two Pact scales 110V and they are very good. I check them about every 30 days with my Lyman PRO 1000 I like the Pact for the powder dispense the powder fast.

 

[leadchucker]

When does a reloader need better than .1gr accuracy?

With .1gr accuracy, the amount is rounded off to a tenth.
When the display shows 2.9gr, that can mean as little as 2.85 or as much as 2.95, depending on how it rounds.

 

[Hondo 60]

I don't know of any digital scale that's accurate to more than +- .1
That's 2/10ths of a grain accuracy.

That's about as good as they get unless you spend into the thousands of dollars.

 

[jcwit]

I should add, I just purchased a cheapy cheap digi scale from E-Bay, total cost with shipping was less that 12 bucks. It reads out to hundreths "they claim". It is a battery operated scale which is OK with me as CR2032 batteries are available from E-Bay for less than .50 cents shipping encl., these are name brand batteries. This scale will work fine for reloading at the range, and it does weigh accurately with check weights.

So in this case it will work fine for me. I still feel the OP should stick to the beam scale, not knowing him at all.

 

[FWest]

I have a RCBS 505 and a range master 750. The digital works great but I still double check with the 505 once or twice when setting up.

 

[john16443]

With .1gr accuracy, the amount is rounded off to a tenth.
When the display shows 2.9gr, that can mean as little as 2.85 or as much as 2.95, depending on how it rounds.

It may be worse than that leadchucker. With +/- 0,1 grain, you may really be getting 2.8 or 3.0 grains in your example. That is one of the beauties of the Mack 20. Why settle for a potential range of powder charge of 0.2 grains (+/- 0.1) when you can easily obtain well inside of +/1 0.1 grains IF you need it? The OP's desired range is only 0.2 grains, so any electronic scale that only indicates tenths of a grain will be on little use to him.

I have to agree that for the type of charges he's indicating he wants, a beam may be his best bet, but one that doesn't have the pain to set up and use that he indicates his does. By the time you get a real good balance beam scale, you've spent just about as much or more than you could buy the Mack 20 for.

 

[leadchucker]

I am the OP.

I'm currently using a Lee Safety powder scale. It is very accurate, but it's a pain to get set up, and it's very touchy, easy to upset the calibration on.

I don't want to start another thread on the vices and virtues of the Lee scale. If an affordable digital scale with the accuracy I want is not available, perhaps someone can recommend a beam scale that is less tedious to use than the Lee.

Edit: I'm going to look a lot closer at the Mack 20. It may be just what I need.

 

[jcwit]

Bigest problem with the Lee Perfect Scale IMO is its light weight. You could either secure it to a chunk of 2 x 4 or similar opject to increase its stability. Or purchase an RCBS, Lyman, Hornady, Redding, beam scale. All of these are also accurate but are alot more stable because of their weight.

You might find a good deal for a used beam scale on E-Bay.

 

[Jdillon]

I have using an RCBS 1500 for several years now without issue. Recalibrate on a regular basis as well as verify with check weights. Always dead on.

 

[cfullgraf]

I just looked at the RCBS web site. They show 4 beams scales.

They say all four have an accuracy of 0.1 grains.

www.rcbs.com

 

[LiveLife]

perhaps someone can recommend a beam scale that is less tedious to use than the Lee.

I started out with the Lee scale and still have it (it almost got thrown out the garage window once ). Yes, I did not like the "tediousness" of the scale and now recommend RCBS 5-0-5 ($80)/Dillon Eliminator ($55) as they are faster/easier to use than the Lee scale.

I have an Ohaus 10-10 now and like it very much but it will cost you around $130 for a new RCBS 10-10 (same scale).