RCBS 5-10 beam scale Vs. MTM mini digital scale

[MacTech]

What a difference between these two scales, the MTM was my first scale, and was fine for the small charges I was weighing out for my .45ACP, but now that I'm reloading for .30-06, I wanted something a little more reliable and precise

My biggest problem with the MTM Mini is it's "wandering zero" problem, when I set it up and weigh the 50 gram test weight with it, there's no consistency, sometimes it measures 49.98, sometimes 50.03, rarely does it measure a flat 50.00, I can take a powder pan with a charge in it, and the scale can read +- .3 grains, it also has a problem with not registering some powder charges properly, IOW, my target weight would be 4.9 grains, for example, and the scale would count up 4.6..4.7..4.8..5.0..5.1, completely skipping the 4.9 grain measurement, it would flop between 4.8 and 5.0

when I started metering out my 58.4 grain .30-06 charges, it would read 58.1...58.2...58.3...58.5 it refused to display the 58.4 weight

So, the scale was clearly tempermental, and it was time for a better scale, I stopped off at the gunshop, where I picked up a used, but in new condition, and calibrated OHAUS-made RCBS 5-10, the older style scale with the rotary fractional weight wheel, it looked to give much more control over the tenth of a gram weight than the much cheesier "sliding leaf spring" design of the current scale

It's amazing how much more sensitive this scale is, with the MTM Mini, it doesn't readily respond to my RCBS trickler, I have to lift the pan off the scale and put it back to have it re-weigh the trickled charge, with the RCBS scale, I swear I can see the beam move every time a single granule of powder fall into the pan

I have a LSWC bullet that measures out to be exactly 200 grains that I use as a calibration weight, it weighs out perfectly at 200 grains in the RCBS, yet it will weigh anywhere from 199.8 to 200.8 in the MTM Mini

the Mini will be relegated to backup purposes and range reloading use, all my powder charges will be weighed in the RCBS 5-10 from now on

It's funny, I would have thought the digital scale would be more precise, but in this case, it clearly isn't

 

[lgbloader]

I have somehow ended up with 2 of these RCBS 510 scales and even though I have a 1010 and a Chargemaster Combo, I just can't bring myself to sell either one of them.

LGB

 

[kelbro]

I wouldn't trade my 5-10 for any digital scale.

 

[Larry Burchfield]

scales

If I'm loading for precision I use my beam scales. If I'm loading plinking rounds I might use a digital scale. There is too much that can effect the digital scales readout such as ceiling fans, AC ducts to close or just a fan.
Then you always have to let the things warm-up and stabalize and while I'm waiting on that to happen I can already be loading with my beam scales.
MHO
Larry Burchfield
SEABEES/VIETNAM/67/68/69/
DAV

 

[krs]

You can trust the 5-10. Any of the electronic scales will just make you crazy if you're anal, as you should be to reload ammunition safely.

It's more important to have a powder dropper that you trust than to have a precise scale anyway. Use a scale to set up a powder measure then you only need to check your throws once in a while or when you change calibers/loads.

A few grains one way or another isn't going to make a lick of difference either on target or on chronometer - in loading, the powder is the easy part.

 

[ranger335v]

I was a life long electronix tech, repairing and calibrating electronic instruments to factory specs. Wouldn't be caught with any consumer type digital scale!

The 505 is an excellant scale. So is the 1010 and Redding's scale too. They all work off gravity, it's constant, never changes. Sorta trustworthy, you know? A lot of people still make a living fixing broken electric gadgets, not many needed to work on beam scales tho.

(Does my distaste for our common, vastly over-priced, HIGH profit margin digital scales show?)

 

[The Bushmaster]

Oh Come on guys. Break out of the pre-historic days and get a QUALITY electronic digital scale. Even my 20 year old RCBS Powder Pro is as accurate (and repeatable) as my RCBS 5-0-5 beam. But a whole lot faster. Get away from the cheap digitals!!!

 

[TimRB]

"The 505 is an excellant scale. So is the 1010 and Redding's scale too. They all work off gravity, it's constant, never changes. Sorta trustworthy, you know?"

+1

The weighing balance has been in use for about 7000 years. It's a technology that's not only wrung out, but still completely viable and reliable today. My 505 has worked perfectly for well over 30 years.

http://history.nih.gov/exhibits/balances/index.html

Tim

 

[MacTech]

Another reason I decided to upgrade to a beam scale was because I wanted a scale that didn't require batteries, I weigh all my charges before seating a bullet, my Lee Pro 1000 auto-disk powder measurer tends to throw a light charge (4.5 grains) which I have to trickle up to 5.5 grains, the MTM has already eaten two sets of batteries in under five reloading sessions, there's no batteries to wear out in the RCBS scale, the MTM uses those annoying button cell batteries

 

[The Bushmaster]

There are digital scales out there that do not use batteries such as my RCBS Powder Pro.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Digitals are great for finding the weight of an object, beams are better for verifying an object weights a given amount.
I`ve a Pact digital, dads old RCBS 505, a 5-10 and 10-10 beam scales. The Pact wgt sorts brass and bullets, the beam verifies I`m getting the proper wgt powder charge when loading ammo.

 

[oneounceload]

The 5-10 is a great scale...no batteries or circuits to go bad

A few grains one way or another isn't going to make a lick of difference either on target or on chronometer - in loading, the powder is the easy part.

THAT would depend on the caliber being loaded, especially for accuracy

 

[Crowbar Muldoon]

There are only a couple of digital scales even worth considering, and neither one of them are specifically for reloaders. (I will be reviewing one in a few weeks.) The real issue with digital scales is that very few are accurate enough to measure grains--they will do it, but they were actually intended to weigh heavier units like grams (16 grains). Unfortunately, most of the electronic scales that are being marketed to reloaders are not that precise, and like the MTM DS-1250, only accurate to +/- 1/10 grain (at 1250 grain capacity, measuring 1/10 gn. is like trying to accurately weigh a cantelope on a bathroom scale). So plinking perhaps, match grade, no. Not good for minimum or max loads in handguns either. Also, e-scales accuracy goes down as the capacity goes up, so a scale that might be accurate for powder might not have the capacity to weigh a completed round, especially in the case of larger rifle ammo. And finally, the reading is affected by battery voltage, so e-scales that plug into AC current are preferable to those that run on batteries alone. All in all, I think most folks will be better served by a beam balance, as it doesn't need batteries or warm up time, just level it, zero it, and go....until scale manufacturers can design an e-scale specifically intended for reloaders that is accurate, doesn't eat expensive batteries, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg, the beam is king.

 

[MNPyro]

I have almost no expertise when it comes to reloading, the most I've done thus far is shot shells with dad several years ago.
In any case, I was in Scheels today to find some Primers (they had oodles, but only allowed me one brick) and they had their own brand digital scale.

The 1500 Pro Digital Reloading Scale. $89.99
The Spec: 1500 grain
Measures to .1 grain
9v or AC operation
The manual says it is accurate to .05% of allied load (not quite sure what that means)

I couldn't find any reviews on it anywhere, but as far as digital scales go, any one know if it is good?