Reloading Scale Recommendations

[Alex G]

Reloading scale recommendations-

Hello all,
I currently use a Hornady G2 1500 pockets scale that I’ve had since 2016. In the past year or so, I’ve noticed it begin to have issues with creep (.1-.3grains) and lag when trickling powder. I use it for both pistol and 30-06 target loads, and feel its lack of precision is contributing to SD’s higher than I’d like, even with dutiful case prep on my end.

What would be a good, tested, quality scale that is accurate for trickling, as well as just weighing charges outright? Would like to keep the overall cost under $175 if possible. A trickle feature would be nice, but is not required. Open to beam scale options as well if they offer a significant accuracy advantage over a digital.

Thanks!

 

[Alex G]

Here is my powder throwing setup when doing single-stage:
Lee PPM to throw just under the target charge (to all the Lee haters out there, it’s the only powder measure I’ve found that does NOT bind with stick powders, and I trickle anyway so it’s accuracy isn’t an issue)
Place the charge on the Hornady scale, and trickle to desired charge.
Repeat as needed.

For progressive loading, I use the Hornady LNL powder measure which I’ve found to be exceptionally accurate.

 

[LiveLife]

What would be a good, tested, quality scale that is accurate for trickling, as well as just weighing charges outright? Would like to keep the overall cost under $175 if possible.

I use Ohaus 10-10 and RCBS 5-0-5 that verify Ohaus ASTM Class 6 check weights down to 0.1 gr.

I have used American Weigh Scales Gemini-20 for several years now and it has verified check weights down to 0.04 gr consistently over the years. It warms up fast and handles trickling quickly with increasing charge weight (Only downside is small platform that requires you to use the small powder pan that comes with) -
https://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-GEMINI-20-Portable-MilliGram/dp/B0012TDNAM

Smart Weigh GEM20 (Different company) is similar looking scale with larger platform that can be used with regular powder pan but I have not used it so I can't comment on sensitivity and repeatability - https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Weigh-...51efb&pd_rd_wg=pkt8g&pd_rd_i=B00ESHDGOI&psc=1

WAOAW W-01-50 milligram scale has also worked well for me going on several years with verification of check weights down to 0.06 gr and will display trickling charges but bit slower than Gemini-20 - https://www.amazon.com/WAOAW-Milligram-Reloading-Calibration-Batteries/dp/B06W5VXN53

Unless you are shooting matches, both Gemini-20 and WAOAW digital scales will resolve better than my Ohaus/RCBS beam scales and many shooters have won matches and set records with Ohaus 10-10 with only .1 gr resolution.

issues with creep (.1-.3grains) and lag when trickling powder.

Due to many internal and external variables, "creep" you are seeing may actually be "zero drift" and my Gemini-20 and WAOAW scales at worst drift by 0.1 gr.

Recently, I did threads to fix zero drift of digital scales including this "analytical lab" scale which verified check weights down to 0.08 gr -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-scale-zero-drift-and-can-it-be-fixed.893402/

It resolved Varget down to single kernel of trickling and depending on the length/shape of cut, displayed 1mg, 2mg -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lab-scale-for-120.873830/page-2#post-11627511

Recent search showed current listing of $136 - https://www.ebay.com/itm/194223086500?_trkparms=aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20200818143230&meid=6ccd50ce73df475181556a22cd72c4ce&pid=101224&rk=3&rkt=5&sd=184464255904&itm=194223086500&pmt=1&noa=1&pg=2047675&algv=DefaultOrganic&_trksid=p2047675.c101224.m-1

 

[MFInc]

I'm running an Ohaus 10-05 that I got off Ebay for about $120. I got some decent check weights too to check. It's fairly kernel sensitive. I just trickle up to my target weight. I wish my Throw(FA) was more consistent as I have to check every drop.

 

[LiveLife]

To be honest, if you have a check weight verified scale (beam or digital) down to 0.1 gr that is repeatable, I believe it is good enough for reloading and you should focus on other reloading variables to reduce your group size.

Now, if you have worked on other variables to reduce group size and resolving powder charge down to single kernel will reduce group size further, then I believe more precise scale would matter.

 

[1RedSoxFan]

I really like my RCBS M1000. I recommend it.

 

[BJung]

I use an RCBS 5-0-5, a Harbor Freight Electronic scale, and test weights I bought on Ebay. The balance and scale measured the weights as the same.

 

[BigBoreBubba]

I like my RCBS 5-0-5 really well. I have a Lee balance scale as well, but I don’t think I’ve ever even used it.

 

[Hugger-4641]

For $175 you cam get the Lyman gen6, which I have and happy with, or you can get the Frankfort Arsenal Intellidropper, which has a lot of good reviews here.
I also have a Hornady pocket scale that I use for checking cases and setting up my auto drum, but it was too frustrating to use for trickling due to the lag and drift you mention. When I was using it for that purpose, I actually had to compound my process by staging each powder drop into a communion cup. After poring a charge into the cup,, if the scale didn't return to zero when I put the powder pan back on, the scale got re-zeroed and that charge got re-issued and re-weighed until it was right and kept zero. Some charges got weighed two or three times, and it was a P.I.T.A. to constantly take out a few grains or dribble a few in, but at least that way I knew the weight was accurate for every charge.

 

[edwardware]

Open to beam scale options as well if they offer a significant accuracy advantage over a digital.

Well, I don't think a beam scale will offer finer accuracy than any cheap electronic scale per se, but the beam scale will still be working in 30 years, and the <$1k electronic job will probably have become unreliable in less than 5 years.

I'm partial to old, magnetically damped, Redding scales. Prior to the 2020 Coup you could buy them for $30-40 on ebay. Now they're more expensive, but remain my suggested tool.

 

[Dale Alan]

<$1k electronic job will probably have become unreliable in less than 5 years.

Now you are just making crap up , or shall we say spreading BS.

 

[JFrank]

Well, I don't think a beam scale will offer finer accuracy than any cheap electronic scale per se, but the beam scale will still be working in 30 years, and the <$1k electronic job will probably have become unreliable in less than 5 years.

I'm partial to old, magnetically damped, Redding scales. Prior to the 2020 Coup you could buy them for $30-40 on ebay. Now they're more expensive, but remain my suggested tool.

An age old dispute' a tuned beam scale, ( vintage scale made in USA) will resolve 1-2 kernels reliably, gravity doesn't lie.
If you must have an electric, I suggest you get a
Chargemaster lite and if you don't think it's good enough than ask Jackie Schmidt what he uses for his competition scale.

 

[JDeere]

I use an older Ohaus made 505 and my over 10 year Pact digital scale and cross check. I then set my RCBS micro on the powder dispenser and go to town. The repeatability with the small micrometer drum is spot on so no need to check every throw.

 

[Alex G]

For $175 you cam get the Lyman gen6, which I have and happy with, or you can get the Frankfort Arsenal Intellidropper, which has a lot of good reviews here.
I also have a Hornady pocket scale that I use for checking cases and setting up my auto drum, but it was too frustrating to use for trickling due to the lag and drift you mention. When I was using it for that purpose, I actually had to compound my process by staging each powder drop into a communion cup. After poring a charge into the cup,, if the scale didn't return to zero when I put the powder pan back on, the scale got re-zeroed and that charge got re-issued and re-weighed until it was right and kept zero. Some charges got weighed two or three times, and it was a P.I.T.A. to constantly take out a few grains or dribble a few in, but at least that way I knew the weight was accurate for every charge.

Interesting! I like that idea for ensuring they’re all consistent!

I'm partial to old, magnetically damped, Redding scales.

I’m somewhat partial to Redding equipment myself, as the majority of my dies are Redding and my single stage is a Redding Big Boss 2.

 

[1066]

I would always recommend a beam scale over a cheap digital - A good reliable beam scale is a joy to use and, if not abused will last a lifetime. What ever you decide, a set of basic grain check weights should be factored into the cost.
Unfortunately good reliable beam scales are not so readily available as they once were. There's no doubt about the fact that the quality of beam scales has deteriorated over the last 20 years, many of the classics like the RCBS 304 and 10-5, Lyman M5 and Hornady "M" all dropped and more recently the manufacture of the Dillon Eliminator, RCBS 505 and 10/10 all outsourced to China or Mexico. Likewise the Redding No 2 has suffered from corner cutting over recent years.

The current beam scales on offer from RCBS, the M500 and M1000, although both made in China do seem to work well with few faults. They have exactly the same knife edge/floating agate bearings as the previous RCBS range with effective magnetic damping.
In my opinion, the M500 has two faults. Although the scale body is cast metal, it's very light, this doesn't effect accuracy but does make the scale feel cheap. This is easily fixed with a hot glue gun and a few old bullets stuck in the base.
The second problem I have found with the M500 is that the scale is designed for left or right handed use with the beam being printed on both sides. The problem with this is the the beam is actually about 1/4" behind the zero pointer, this can lead to parallax error unless the scale is viewed from exactly the same point every time. A fix for this is to use a camera of some sort, webcam or even your smart phone to view the pointer.
This is my M500 in use: