RCBS Rangemaster 750 scale

[SquirrelNuts]

I bought a RCBS Rangemaster 750 scale from Midway. I got the package, opened it up, and immediately turned it on. I tried to calibrate it, but when I would remove the check weights, it would come to -0.9 grains. I kept trying to calibrate it, and it eventually worked its way up to -0.4 grains after a fresh calibration. I checked the manual and it said to let it warm up if it has been in the cold. Well, it was outside at my door all day in very cold weather. I let it sit for an hour inside the house, and then tested it again. SUCCESS!!! I let it warm up and it would read "0.0 gn" when I removed the check weights.

I put the scale on my temporary bench and use it to load a few days later. I power it on, calibrate it, put the powder pan on it, zero it out, and then measure out 47.0 grains of powder. I pour the powder into a primed case and return the powder pan to the scale. The scale now reads "-0.1 gn." I zero it back out, measure the powder again, charge a case, and return the powder pan. Once again it reads "-0.1 gn." I must have done this 20 times until it would return to zero consistently.

Do I need to turn this scale on for an hour before I want to load to let it warm up so it will always return to zero? I like to take my time and trickle the powder until it hit the exact load to the tenth of a grain, so I would really like for it to zero each time. I don't seem to have any troubles once it starts returning to zero, but getting it there seems to take a while.

Has this happened to anyone else? Other than that, I love this scale.

-SquirrelNuts

 

[SquirrelNuts]

...and I am using a wall adapter to power it, rather than a battery. Also, the temperature in the room is consistent and kept at 70 degrees.

 

[lgbloader]

That sucks big time!!! I hate when you are waiting on something and get it and something is wrong with it.

Hope you get if figured out soon and it turns out to be nothin'.

LGB

 

[D. Manley]

See the .pdf file in my post in THIS THREAD. Written by Lee Love, contains some very good tips for electronic scales. FWIW, I have the same scale as you and a lot of the problems can be eliminated by just leaving it powered on.

 

[SquirrelNuts]

...but that would increase my carbon footprint!!!

 

[SquirrelNuts]

D. Manley,

That is very helpful. I am glad it's not "just me." I appreciate it.

-SquirrelNuts

 

[D. Manley]

Electronic scales are great and I wouldn't want to do without one. That said, I'd personally never be comfortable without a quality balance beam to confirm the weights.

I use both, sitting side-by-side. When adjusting the PM I do it in 10-throw averages using the electronic. Once the combined 10 throws is "spot-on" with the electronic I'll transfer the pan contents to the balance beam. Every 100 rounds (primer tube change) I'll throw 2 or 3 charges into the pan (weighing together & dividing by # of throws) to confirm intended settings. Takes a bit longer to set up but the throws are as accurate as they can possibly be with the equipment you're using. You might be surprised just how accurate PM throws can be with a little fine-tuning.

 

[brush_buster]

My rangemaster keeps giving me an error message when I try to calibrate it. Anyone have an answer to this?

Thanks

 

[D. Manley]

My rangemaster keeps giving me an error message when I try to calibrate it. Anyone have an answer to this?

Remove both AC and DC power sources and then, power it back up. If it continues to do it after that, time to call RCBS.

 

[Claude Clay]

i have been thinking and putting off getting the model under topic---not any more.

 

[Bear2000]

I have one and have been pretty pleased with it overall. It usually holds zero, maybe slips .1 grain after a long reloading session. But overall, it calibrates quickly and easily and is pretty accurate.

 

[BikerNut]

Mine works perfect, which I really appreciate since my powder measure (Lee Perfect Powder Measure) is so leaky and inconsistant and imperfect.

 

[something vague]

I also have recently purchased this item and have been using it for about 2 months and think it's the cat's ass. Much better than my two beam scales. The only issue I have had with this scale is when I take the platform out of it to put a dust cover over it, sometimes I get a static charge thing that happens when I replace it. I replace the plastic platform and continue on to calibrate, when the weight gets near the tray the scale starts reading in the negative the closer I get with the weight. My scale never measures accurately until it snaps out of this static charge. I just don't take the tray out anymore. Other than that my scale works great. I never have to recalibrate it as it shows right on every time I turn the scale on. Good purchase IMHO.