Scale Suggestions

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Eskimo Jim

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Hello,
I've been reloading for about three years now. I have been using a Dillon 550 press and a Lyman 500 magnetic scale. I'm thinking of upgrading my scale.

Could anyone suggest a good magnetic or electronic scale? I'm interstest in pros and cons to any models that you have experience with as well as any features I should look for.

I reload handgun calibers now but plan to reload 30-06 and other rifle calibers in the future.

Thank you for your suggestions.

-Jim
 
I use an RCBS 505 beam scale which seams to be very acurate. I am looking to upgrade to a Dillon digital scale though, its much faster and easier to read and calibrate.
 
I'm happy with my Redding scale (mechanical); very accurate.

May someday switch to digital if my eyesight starts degrading.
If I went digital, I would want one that had A/C capabilities.
 
Jim,
I have a 35 year old Lyman Ohaus manual magnetic scale (identical to the current RCBS 10-10 scale) and a much newer RCBS digital scale. The digital scale is faster but I consider the old magnetic scale to be more reliable. Just my .02.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
I stepped up to the digital world this year....2X!

First up was a DPSII - inaccurate. Returned it, stepped up to the plate and bought an RCBS combo - also inaccurate.

Neither electronic scale was repeatable. I reloaded close to 500 rounds total with both units - comparing both to an RCBS 505 scale and a Hornady scale.

To speed up and help accuracy of my reloading, I ended up spending a little bit of money on a precision mic for my Uniflow powder measure - a LOT easier to adjust than a small thumbscrew.

Keep throwing manually, it is faster and more accurate.

There is NO WAY that I would reload for pistol calibers with either of the electronic powder measurers.
 
I bought a Durascale low cost unit good to 50 grams w .1 grain accuracy about 18 months ago...very impressive...repeatable, accurate, consistent center-edge, lifetime warranty...if you poke around the web you can find it for about $65 + S/H...They also offer a larger 100 gram unit.

http://myweigh.com/pocketscales_Durascale.html
/Bryan
 
Just why do you need to "up grade" to a new scale??
What do you need the new scale to do the old one doesn`t?

The Lyman is likely as accurate as any "loading" scale from any of the reloading tool suppliers. The scale is just as fast when checking powder charges as a digital, it either is the weight you want or it isn`t, and requires no "set up". The digitals also are more easily affected by near stray electrical magnetic fields (floresent lights, radios, TVs, cell phones, ect) or line voltage problems. Any little breeze moves them, static from foam cartridge box trays near by on the bench, ect, can also cause problems.

I own both, and RCBS 10-10 and a Pact, both have their use. The digital weighs bullets and brass for uniformity where the exact weight of each piece is needed to be found. The beam scale is used to check the weight of my powder charges to insure they do weigh what I set my thrower to drop. If the powder is charge is more or less then wanted, the true weight is moot, the charge is wrong and that is all that I need to know.

Which ever you decide to go with I suggest getting a set of "check weights". The sets will allow you to check your scale in the wgt range you are useing. Lyman, RCBS and others sell them and the price the last I saw was under $20, they are good insurance.
 
I use the Lee Saftey scale. The verneir(sp?) 10ths grain reading is uber easy. It only goes to 110gr, but none of my cartridges require more than 46.

As with any beam scale: Mount it level and at eye level.
 
The Bushmaster said:
And then again...My RCBS Powder Pro is as accurate as my RCBS 5-0-5 and it repeats the load weight every time...:D
Click to expand...

Same experience I'm enjoying with mine.

Jeff
 
My PACT BBKII electronic scale is working well for me. I bought a set of inexpensive Lyman check weights to verify its accuracy. It is almost always right on. If not, it is only + or - .1 grain.

I suggest everyone buy an inexpensive small check weight set ($20). It really increases your confidence (or not) in your scale.
 
I recently got a Lee Safety Scale and it seems very accurate so far. Its readings exactly match those of my RCBS 505 at lower volumes, and the scales are within .1 or .2 grain of each other at rifle-weight charges.

The Lee is harder to zero, set, and read than the RCBS though. But it's about 1/3 the price.
 
Matthew T. said:
The Lee is harder to zero, set, and read than the RCBS though. But it's about 1/3 the price.
Click to expand...

To zero: set ball on 0, set slider to 0 with the vernier scale on 1,0 and off the scale. Allow scale to settle, adjust counterweight. Time? 2 minutes. Difficulty? Not at all.

To set: set ball on 10's, vernier on desired weight, set friction lock. Time? a few seconds. Difficulty, I can't see how.

Read: powder in pan, adjust ball for 10s, then vernier scale for 0-9 and thenths. When the beam pointer is pointing exactly at the metal notch, the charge is weighted. Read 10s, ones and tenths. Time? However long you want to wait for the scale to settle.

The process is probibly just like every other beam scale.
 
PACT

fast, accurate, repeatable

the only guys that don't like electronics are the ones that have never had a good one

I wouldn't trade my PACT for a dozen beam scales if I couldn't get another. In fact, I've had 2 new beam scales since I go the PACT. sold one and gave the other away
 
How can you break a beam scale? If you are dropping them, than thats not a beam scale issue... thats you breaking stuff.

I don't like warm up times or the fact that some are affected by flouresent (sp?) lights.

Since I don't weigh every charge I don't need the cost of an electronic scale when a $20 beam works perfectly.
 
redneck2 said:
fast, accurate, repeatable
Click to expand...

So how is a beam scale not fast, accurate, or repeatable.

Hows this... take a beam scale and a digital one. Time how long it takes to measure one charge. By the time the digital warms up, calibrates etc you can weight several charges on the beam scale. Once the digital is warmed up and running it can be faster that adjusting sliders on a beam. But I don't weigh every charge.

Digitals are no more accurate than a beam scale. The sampling error on a digital scale can be just as off as a beam scale with a bent arm (if you use the Lee Saftey Scale then as long as the beam is not chipped/broke it is accurate).

Digital does not mean better, or easier. Just more expensive.
 
I have both balance beam and electronic, both by RCBS, each is very accurate, I check one against the other often, the beauty of a eletronic scale is weighing bullets/brass, seperating them into groups weighing equal weights. Very quick compared to balance beams.
 
Ditto Yellow lab.
Why though when weighting powder do you want to slide the balances? I want a set weight. I care less what the acual weight is if it isn`t right. The balance scale tells me the charge is too heavy, too light, or just right. I can estimate by looking at the pointer if the charge varies by more then a couple tenths with just a glance. If I`m charging a case with 5.5gr of powder I don`t care if the last drop was 5.9, 6.3gr or whatever, it was too heavy and that`s all I need to know.
I do own both, two with the 5-10 I inherited from dad, balance scales and a Pact digital I bought. The Pact is used, as I stated above, to find the unknown weight of a object. The beams are used to tell me the object weights what it is supposed to. Both will weight powder charges and are likely able to do so in the same accuracy range.
I don`t dislike digitals but they have their quirks and are no faster then beams at telling you if you have a given weight. And they are a lot less durable IMO
 
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