Quick tool question:

[Centurian22]

I'm placing an order for reloading equipment with midway. I have all the basics (and then some). I have a balance scale, calipers, dies, press, books, trimmer, puller etc. My question is a toss up between a Frankford arsenal digital scale $30, to go along with the lee scale:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/17...grain-capacity?cm_cat=Cart&cm_pla=ProductDesc

Or a Lyman case prep tool $19 (leaving $11 more for components) to go along with or replace the lee case prep tools:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/135615/lyman-case-prep-multi-tool?cm_cat=Cart&cm_pla=ProductDesc

Only have enough $ for one or the other and looking for experienced Reloader input on which would be more useful right from the start.

Thanks!

 

[Mike 27]

Between the 2 scales I would go with the Lee beam scale. I have had a cheap digital and found it unreliable especially after time. I think it was a frankford. As for the prep tools I have been loading for a 4 years and still using the Lee trimmer and chamfer tools. I like them well enough. I have upgraded a lot of the lee stuff but that is one thing I am still using. My 2 cents, hope it helps.


Mike

 

[Centurian22]

Thanks. Exactly what I'm looking for. I am getting the lee scale definitely just thought about adding the digital for ease of use / viewing, or taking to the range. But obviously if it was (or became) inaccurate then it wouldn't do me much good. Reviews seemed to be mostly good (for the price) but some negative ones did say it lost accuracy over time.

 

[cfullgraf]

Thanks. Exactly what I'm looking for. I am getting the lee scale definitely just thought about adding the digital for ease of use / viewing, or taking to the range.

In my opinion, the inexpensive digital scales are just not up to snuff. Potential accuracy issues aside, they have some operating idiosyncrasies that are aggravating at least to me. If you want a digital scale, plan to spend around or north of $100. You will be happier.

A basic beam scale is hard to beat. The Lee scale, being bargain priced, does not operate as nicely as some of the other reloading scales, but accuracy is more than fine.

(Side note, I use a digital scale when reloading.)

 

[Blackrock]

The Lee scales will work OK but there are better for a little bit more $,
That Lyman tool is about the best I have found. Has a nice beefy handle and good sharp tools.
Lee case trimmers work pretty good chucked into a cordless drill.

 

[ssyoumans]

Not what you want to hear, but I would save up for a RCBS 505 scale. I didn't like the lee scale or any digital ones (<$100).

The RCBS scale is easy to use and very very accurate.

 

[beatledog7]

Unless you plan to load on the ragged edges of the range for a given round, a decent digital is more than accurate enough. For me, a beam scale's supposed accuracy edge does not outweigh its added complexity in use. Digitals are dead easy to use; they almost instantaneously re-zero so you can operate in tare mode, they can quickly shift from grains to grams to ounces or even carats in some cases, and they respond very well to calibration with check weights.

Beam scales require no power, of course. I don't like having my batteries die, so I bought a digital with an AC converter (it's a Hornady LNL Bench Scale). If the power's out, I'm not loading anyway since my reloading room doesn't have enough natural light to load by.

While I agree it's best avoid the really inexpensive (say, <$25) ones, a good digital wins out for me in terms of versatility and ease of use. It's more than accurate enough for the loads I build.

If you're going to load any sort of volume and you're picky about prepping brass, I recommend a powered brass prep station. It's a tremendous time saver, saves wear and tear on your shoulders and hands, and produces very consistent results. Mine's an RCBS, but I replaced the toolheads with Lyman.

 

[RandyP]

I presume you are loading for rifle, not pistol? I only load pistol and have never used any case prep tools or trimmers.

 

[littleguns223]

I agree save up and buy the RCBS 505.I have used this scale for several years.

 

[Centurian22]

I will be loading .308 and .32 S&W long to start, 9mm and 7.62x54r (possibly) to be added later.

 

[ngnrd]

You have a scale. Get the chamfer/deburring tool. (I have the same one.)

I didn't have one when I loaded my first batch of .270. After getting 20 loaded, I tried chambering a round, only to discover that they were a very tight fit in my rifle. Turns out that there was a burr on the inside of the necks that I hadn't removed. So when I seated the bullets, the burrs forced the case mouth to expand a little.

 

[GLOOB]

The Lee scale is very accurate. It takes awhile to settle, though. The only damper is a thin strip of plastic glued to the bottom. I affixed some "blinders" on mine, a fraction of an inch from center both up and down, to speed it up.

It's very fast, now. Instead of slowly swaying up/down before finally settling somewhere that could ultimately be well off from the center mark, a twentieth of a grain too high or low and it immediately hits and stops (without bouncing up/down) on one of the blinders. I just have to find out where it switches to know the exact weight. This also means I don't have to be eye level with the center line while weighing.

 

[Centurian22]

Ngnrd: I am ordering the lee case prep tools so I will have some but the Lyman looks much easier / more comfortable to use for long periods of time. Thanks for the input.

Gloob: thanks for the insight, the lee scale claims to be magnetically dampened but we know how advertisements can be. Could you send / post pictures of you improvement possibly with more discription of how you did it? Sounds like something I might want to do.

At this point I'm leaning more toward either the Lyman tool or neither item (saving the most for components) and upgrading to better stuff as I can. I'm eager to begin reloading and by starting out how I plan to, I'll be able to fully appreciate the upgrades later and can have backups or pass on the 'starter' equipment to help someone else get into the hobby.

 

[quaid]

The Lyman tool looks like a handy tool, if you do a lot of rifle. If you're using a volumetric powder measure the scale won't see much use except first powder thrower setup.

Neither tool (scale is duplicative) is a must have. I vote neither.

When I learned to reload my mentor was not using a volumetric thrower. He hand weighed individual charges on a lee scale. Drove me crazy with volume 45 acp loading and I bought an rcbs chargemaster before I bought my own press.

Use your simple tools first, decide what you want later.

 

[Hondo 60]

My life is waaaayyyyy too important to be cheap on the scale.
So if it was me? I would NOT by a $30 scale.

 

[Jnestle]

My two cents on the scale.

My experience with the Lee scale has not been good. It can be quite accurate but I find it very finicky to say the least. Even drafts in the room can cause the scales to be a little off. I do use the cheap Frankfort digital scale. I have the Lee and another one to double and triple check accuracy. So far (3 years of use) it has never failed and has been perfectly accurate. The time saved keeps me at the loading bench longer too. This is just my experience- your mileage may vary.

 

[Kp321]

Find some other place to save money. Don't scrimp on reloading equipment, especially scales. I have been using Lyman digitals for 20 years and have never regretted the $100+ I paid.

 

[ngnrd]

Ngnrd: I am ordering the lee case prep tools so I will have some

Ah... I missed that somehow.

I also have other case prep tools in addition to the Lyman tool you're looking at. If you're on a tight budget, there's no advantage to spending your last bit of cash on a redundant tool. Save your cash. Once you get started loading, there will be something else you will want. If not, you can always spend it on more components.

The Lyman multi-tool is good, but if you have others, I don't think it's worth the extra cost. The inside cutters are sharp; the outside cutters are ...meh. Having the different tips stored in the handle is pretty convenient, but they're noisy and I find it easier to use my $4 Lee primer pocket cleaner. And, it is BIG. Like tough to hold in your hand while you're using it kind of big. When I first got it, I found it very cumbersome to use when fully assembled. I have since gotten used to its size, and now can easily flip it from one end to the other . On the plus side, it does unscrew in the middle, so you can use only half of it if you want. But even then, it's not the most ergonomic tool on the planet.

I like it well enough, but it wouldn't take much to talk me into trading it for a couple of Lyman's individual case prep tools with screwdriver-type handles.

Edit: If I was looking at getting an "upgraded" case prep tool set, it would be the Lyman Power C/D Tool Set that I could use with one of the many cordless drills I have. It's only $33, and it would actually make the case prep process a lot easier.

 

[RustyFN]

I have a Lee scale and find it very accurate but not fun to use. I also have a $100 Pact digital that has worked very well for six years. I bought a RCBS 5-0-2 because I wanted a beam scale that is easier to use than the Lee. I would agree to the others and buy a better beam scale like RCBS or Dillon.

 

[Centurian22]

Thanks to all for the input. I chose to go with the Lyman tool.

NGNRD: thanks for the detailed info and 'inside scoop' on the Lyman tool. I also plan to make use of my cordless drill for my tool operations. If I'm not horribly mistaken I should be able to use the lee lock stud (part of the cutter tool) in my cordless drill, turning the case. I'll be able to trim, deburr and chamfer (and deburr the inside of the flash hole if neessisary) while the case is spun in the drill. Then just have to clean the primer pocket turning by hand.

I also agree the lyman 'screwdriver handle' tools look nice. After a better scale (if I feel the need), those will probably be a nice upgrade. I don't mind having the lee and Lyman case prep tools because I ordered a lee hand press in addition to the classic turret. I can keep the lee tools with the hand press for the 'range kit' and the Lyman tools on the bench.

Again thank you everyone for the input and info I take it all into consideration and appreciate the scale recommendations.

 

[rfwobbly]

Between the 2 scales I would go with the Lee beam scale. I have had a cheap digital and found it unreliable especially after time.

+1 That's great info.

The Lee balance beam, for all it's drawbacks, is going to be more consistent in all temperatures and environments for at least 30 years, whereas any digital scale under $50 will be in the junk pile within a very short time. The Lee is not the best balance beam scale, but once set up is dependent only upon gravity to return trustworthy readings. And when talking about scales, 'trustworthy' is far, far more important that 'fast'.

Consistent load accuracy is 99% dependent upon consistent powder weights.


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