What’s in the Box?

[frjeff]

Looking to buy a used RCBS 5-0-5 beam scale.
Can anyone share what all should be in the box?
Do not want to buy and then find I am missing parts.

Thank you.

 

[hdwhit]

An RCBS 5-0-5 balance should have:

* A base
* An adjusting wheel that screws into the base
* An arm graduated from 0-500 left of the fulcrum and 10-0 and 1-0 to the right.
* Three weights to go on the arm.
* A tray for hanging the powder cup
* A powder cup

Also make sure the pivots for the arm are in place (they are under the silver clips at the fulcrum).

Most balances (mine included) are used in open air environments and are subject to dust accumulation on the pivots and this can impact accuracy, so carefully check their condition.

If you do need to clean the pivot points, use a wooden object like a toothpick rather than a steel tool.

 

[rfwobbly]

► Here's photos of the above:

► The RCBS 505 is actually made by Ohaus Scale Co and rebranded in many forms. So if you are looking on eBay, you might also search for...
• RCBS 505
• Ohaus 505
• Dillon Eliminator
• And others

► The main difference in this scale and others is the triple (3) poise which helps with direct reading in units of "10". (See the second photo above.) There are numerous scales with poise readings that only go to "5" and they are not the same.

► Most of the time used scales can be brought back to useful condition by 1) cleaning the gem stone pivots with alcohol and a cotton swab, and then 2) removing any rust from the 2 knife edges used as the pivot point. I find that a light coating of lanolin-based sizing lube (such as Imperial Sizing Wax) will retard the growth of any new rust.

Hope this helps.

 

[jmorris]

The old 505 I have has a different base than the Dillon scale.



When you do find one, look it over good. At the end, they used the same casting (that shows US MFG) but put a ‘made in China’ sticker underneath. Many of those were not up to the same quality standards, to the point they killed the good name of the 505 and 10-10, they dropped the models all together at that point.

If someone chunks the box and removes the China sticker, they could fool an unsuspecting buyer.

 

[frjeff]

Just took a chance and bought a RCBS 5-10 from an eBay seller. An oldie, but it looks super clean, complete and seller has a 14 day return allowed. So, should have time to make sure she is clean and will zero, etc.
If not, will return it and consider a new brand/model.

 

[Lefty38-55]

Buy sample 'check weights' if that scale doesn't have any!

 

[Bob529]

Buy sample 'check weights' if that scale doesn't have any!

Slightly off topic but....
Where can someone buy check weights in grains? I see hundreds of ads for check weight sets in grams but I would like to have a set of 1,2,3,5,10 grain check weights for verifying scales in pistol power range.
I could make my own but the real ones are coated and/or polished so that they will not tarnish or rust which will change the weight.

 

[frjeff]

Slightly off topic but....
Where can someone buy check weights in grains? I see hundreds of ads for check weight sets in grams but I would like to have a set of 1,2,3,5,10 grain check weights for verifying scales in pistol power range.
I could make my own but the real ones are coated and/or polished so that they will not tarnish or rust which will change the weight.

I have seen a few by Lyman, etc. But damm expensive for a few pieces of SS and a pair of tweezers.

 

[film495]

when you get some check weights also get some check guages to sanity check you calipers. If I recall correctly I found close, but odd sizes on Amazon for like a buck fifty each, like .224, .36, .53, 1.003, etc. etc. When I did this I retired two calipers I had been using and got a new one. I still use the old ones, but - one was real old and just not worth refirbishing and the other and electronic set, was off .002 or .003 every other time it was turned off and on, but still read zero - so, it appeared correct.

 

[deadeye dick]

when you get some check weights also get some check guages to sanity check you calipers. If I recall correctly I found close, but odd sizes on Amazon for like a buck fifty each, like .224, .36, .53, 1.003, etc. etc. When I did this I retired two calipers I had been using and got a new one. I still use the old ones, but - one was real old and just not worth refirbishing and the other and electronic set, was off .002 or .003 every other time it was turned off and on, but still read zero - so, it appeared correct.

I check my calipers against my mic by micing a drill bit or something similar and compairing the two. Also, RCBS makes check weights up to 20 grains

 

[jmorris]

I checked with someone I thought I remembered had one of the China made 10-10’s. He purchased it in February 2015 new and remains happy with it to this day. However, many of them seem to have had beam/trunnion issues, that got past QC. Enough of them that Scott Parker (known ’tuner’ of Ohaus scales) won’t accept them.

Anyhow, he snapped this photo of the bottom of his. A couple more years and it looks like the China sticker is going to fall off on its own.

 

[Lefty38-55]

Good point about the grams to grains for 'check weights' availability, but even my own are measured in grams, but I know that the grain weight should be ...

Realize that the rest of the world works in grams, so naturally buying weights valued in grams will be a less expen$ive option.

 

[LiveLife]

Where can someone buy check weights in grains? I see hundreds of ads for check weight sets in grams but I would like to have a set of 1,2,3,5,10 grain check weights for verifying scales in pistol power range.

Good point about the grams to grains for 'check weights' availability ... naturally buying weights valued in grams will be a less expen$ive option.

damm expensive for a few pieces of SS and a pair of tweezers

Most "reloaders" check weight sets are made with aluminum (Better ones are made from stainless steel). Troemner makes check weight set in grains - Made in USA Troemner 0.5 gr - 200 gr ASTM Class 6 (10-200 gr SS/0.5-5 gr aluminum) check weight set $30 + free shpping


If you want/need to verify scales down to .015 gr, then here's Ohaus stainless steel check weight set I use (BTW, it's on sale at the moment down from $86) - Ohaus 1 mg (0.015 gr) - 500 mg (7.7 gr) ASTM Class 6 (stainless steel) check weight set $67 + free shipping (Made in China)


My Ohaus/RCBS/Dillon/Lee beam scales verify check weights down to 0.1 gr. Creedmoor Sports/Vevor digital scales down to .05 - .08 gr - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-unlimited-budget.912629/page-2#post-12479980

 

[LiveLife]

when you get some check weights also get some check gauges to sanity check you calipers

I use Vermont Gage plus/minus pin gages in .355"/.400"/.451" to verify my calipers along with Brown & Sharpe micrometer - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-unlimited-budget.912629/page-2#post-12465906

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You don't need check weights in grains, grams are just fine. If you check the scale with 1 or 2 different weight and it's accurate is will probably be accurate across the board.

You bought a much better scale than the 5-0-5 so you did well. If you can't level it you need to add or remove weight in the bottom of the pan from underneath. Lead shot works well.