RCBS 505 beam scale vs. a high-end electronic.

[eyeshot]

I am getting back into reloading after a bad motorcycle accident in August of 2020. My scales have been gathering dust until today when I started reloading 6mm Remington for my 788.

The beam scale was always right on vs. the electronic scale but I lost my quarter that I used for a check weight and rechecked both with a 1976 5 Deutsche Mark coin that I figured I wouldn't lose.

Weighed the coin first on the 505 and then the electronic. Pretty sweet. Love the beams. In case you're debating.

 

[Engineer1911]

My 1974 RCBS Model 510 is still weighing along. I use 224 diameter bullets for check weights.

 

[rocirish]

the 505 is the only scale I use. I think I bought it in 1982 to replace my herters. It still looks and works like new.

 

[kalielkslayer]

I have a 5-10. But I always use my RCBS electronic one.

I don’t know how accurate it is, but I know it’s consistent.

 

[Charlie98]

I still have my original 5-0-5 from 1985'ish... I still use it exclusively. I just bought another, used, off eBay as a spare.

 

[jmorris]

I added a photo electric switch activated by the beam on my 505 to control a trickler and used my A&D to test the results.

 

[doubleh]

Gravity never changes. I have had electronic gadgets fail. I use check weights with my old RCBS scale and check it every time I use it. Not fast, it's old, but accurate tech. I never hurry when reloading so that is OK with me. For rifle I get it close but slightly on the low side and trickle to exact. For pistol I get it right on and check after every 15 drops, 10 when I am close to a max load.

 

[Rule3]

Gravity never changes. I have had electronic gadgets fail. I use check weights with my old RCBS scale and check it every time I use it. Not fast, it's old, but accurate tech. I never hurry when reloading so that is OK with me. For rifle I get it close but slightly on the low side and trickle to exact. For pistol I get it right on and check after every 15 drops, 10 when I am close to a max load.

Actually is does

So all those guys with high priced scales that live up in the Mountains can do some calculations depending on altitude and proximity to the equator.
We must be precise and calculate individual sticks" of powder!

I use the Dillon version, same scale different color ( I got it at a great price not because it's Blue!)

https://byjus.com/questions/how-does-gravity-decreases-with-increase-in-altitude/

 

[Highland Lofts]

I had a new Hornady electronic scale that came with the kit. It started to go bonkers.
I put the pan of powder on the scale, takeit offand replace it and it came up with another reading, took it off again and replaced it and another reading.
So I strictly use my old ohaus beam scale, I bought a few more bean scaled for out in the shed I am converting over to my reloading man cave to do reloading classes.

 

[doubleh]

Actually is does

Not enough to affect my reloading efforts. My altitude seems to stay steady at the same 3,964' from year to year.

 

[WVRJ]

I have a 5-0-5 that I bought back in the 80's and a M1000 RCBS scale that I bought 5 years ago.Both work well,but the 505 is more precise.Been around the block with electronic scales,and I don't have one any more.

 

[Rule3]

Not enough to affect my reloading efforts. My altitude seems to stay steady at the same 3,964' from year to year.

I am at 3-4 feet!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I am at 3-4 feet!

21 ft. average here. Drive west for half-an-hour and unless you have pontoons on your car - or drive one of those James Bond Lotus' - you'll be in the Gulf of Mexico, which is below sea level.

I've been using a 505 for decades. I had a Dial-O-Gram for a while and it was excellent but translating grams-to-grains for every load workup can be a drag. It was stoled a long time back and I replaced it with a 505. I've had a few electronic scales and they're okay but I'm a creature of habit.

Don't nobody go and challenge me to explain why I like a balance-beam better than a strain-gauge scale. I just do and it's got nuthin to do with nobody else, so there!

 

[eyeshot]

I am at 3-4 feet!

What the hell you jumping around while reloading. Nice vertical though for an old guy.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Ohaus 10-10 beam scale since '78. See no reason to change.Slow and sure.

 

[ParallelCode]

I use multiple electronic scales concurrently, ensuring I detect drift or failure. That said, I would definitely like to get a high-quality beam scale I the near future.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

Thinking about commenting ..... about how I prefer good beam scales and gravity over electroni..........

::: looking around nervously to see if LiveLife is here :::

UH OH I THINK I SEE HIM COMING!

 

[Varminterror]

Gravity never changes.

The fact gravity DOES change is the reason for analytical BALANCES, rather than scales.

MASS never changes. Weight changes, because gravity changes.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

The fact gravity DOES change is the reason for analytical BALANCES, rather than scales.

MASS never changes. Weight changes, because gravity changes.

And herrrrrrrrrrrre we go.

Okay .... lol.

So gravity only changes in cases of extreme changes in mass both in the object being influenced and the object doing the influencing.

Yes, a black hole, while much smaller in diameter, exerts far more of a gravitational influence over another object than does, say, our planet thus causing a change in weight. But it has to do with enormous differences in mass, particularly the black hole's mass .... it's all about General Relativity, one of Einstein's famous field equations and .... anyways ....

However, when we're talking about the mass of smokeless powder .... ummmmm, no.

When we're sitting here on this earth .... well, you've heard or read or seen the old analogy about Galileo and the Tower of Pisa with his stone ball and bird feather (myth btw ... I've been there a half dozen times and heard the real story) ....

So no, in our case as handloaders gravity does not change. Might a slight breeze or someone's breath cause issues?

Wait ..... how did I get baited into this. LiveLife is going to ..... I gotta go. Bye.

 

[Otto]

The 505 doesn't weigh anything....it simply compares masses. It would work on the Moon just as well as it does on Earth.

 

[doubleh]

OK, I give up, uncle, calf rope, whatever. The fact remains that I have been using the same old RCBS scale for around fifty years and it still works. In fact I just finished loading some 223 with it this afternoon.. Yes, I have had to take it apart a few times and clean it. My first electronic scale has been residing in a landfill for quite sometime. My second seldom ever gets turned on.

 

[doubleh]

The 505 doesn't weigh anything....it simply compares masses. It would work on the Moon just as well as it does on Earth.

True. Just like the one the lady is holding to represent the scales of justice only a lot more precise and fair.

 

[Otto]

Comparing a balance beam to a digital scale is like comparing a slide rule to a calculator.

 

[Engineer1911]

I have Orville's microwave popcorn, Come and Get You Some ! ! ! ! !

 

[Varminterror]

Comparing a balance beam to a digital scale is like comparing a slide rule to a calculator.

There is no scale in the OP’s thread.

Both devices pictured are balances. The difference in reliability and performance between a SCALE and a BALANCE is significant.