Where to get a scale for cheap ?

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BigSlick

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Hi guys,

I am helping a newbie to reloading get setup.

He has all the equipment now except a scale and a case trimmer. I am going to give him my old manual trimmer and a couple of pilots, so now all he needs is a scale. I am sure he will go to a digital as funds allow, but for now a used (useable) balance beam scale would do the trick just fine.

I figured, no problem, they're everywhere.

I feel like I am now able to be officially classified as older than dirt. I have used my Dillon digital so long now that I have gotten out of touch with balance bean scale model features and pricing

I have searched ebay until me eyes are red. Lots of scales, but all of them are either priced near new, or have the shipping charges fixed at a price that brings the total to near new price.

Anyone here know of an online/catalog vendor that has used reloading equipment or anyone that might have upgraded to digital that has a poise scale that isn't being used.

I have owned the Hornady, which seems to be among the cheaper models, but it sucks. I gave it away in a trade deal. I have had the best luck with RCBS, Pacific or Lyman scales over the years.

Are there any other brands options out there nowdays ? Has anyone used the low end digitals that are represented as jewelers scales ? Some of them look ok, but I get the initial impression that most of those are no name Chinese junk, so I wonder about accuracy and repeatability.

If the only choice is to buy new, what do you guys recommend ? You know the drill, tenth grain accuracy, the ability to zero and a pan is pretty much all that's needed.

Most of the RCBS models start at almost $60 and some of the others look similar enough to be made by the same OEM.

What's the best bang for the buck in scales now ? What should he stay away from ?

Can someone point me in the right direction here ?

Thanks

BigSlick
 
A Scale for Cheap

Me personally, I recommend getting some Visine, and going back to eBay. There's a gal in NY parting out her dad's reloading bench. Most of it so far has been RCBS, and at less than half of current retail, not RCBS retail.
However, if you are going to end up taking the retail route, I prefer Redding. Not that they are really any better than RCBS, its just my personal preference. And MidSouth seems to have about the lowest prices I see. They are lower than Lock, Stock, and Barrel, usually.
I don't know from personal experience, but have you looked at Lee yet? They usually have good utilitarian grade gear, and its priced right for a start up. Of course it isn't the high speed low drag equipment we all want, but it is certainly functional.
 
Check your local gun show...you can generally find one second hand in good shape cheap. Check out the beam knife edges to make sure they are undamaged. It's nice to store them with the knife edges in plastic tubing.

Don't forget to have a means of calibrating the scale...you can help out your buddy by providing him with trimmed pieces of thick copper wire about 1, 3, 5, and 20-grains...the idea is to check calibration close to the powder weight he will be using. :D
 
You buy a second hand scale from a stranger with a screen name, put your check weight on it and the scale isn't right. OK, now what?

I maintain that pig in a poke deals should be limited to experienced loaders getting extra gear. The beginner needs this stuff to work right to start with. It will last a lifetime so a few bucks saved on doubtful equipment is false economy. Also second hand equipment has a bad habit of not coming with instructions and maybe not all the little parts. Saw one of those on the Net, by the time the guy figured out what was lacking (with a million questions on the boards), ordered it, and paid for a small part and a large shipping and handling, his savings by buying off cheapbay were gone.
 
Hate to say it, but if your not in a rush, ebay is the way to go. Sometimes it will take weeks of checking in every 3 or 4 days, but soon enough a decent scale will show up for a good price. You just have to be patient, and youll be ok. I got my rcbs 505 on there a few weeks ago for 20 bucks, granted it was used but looks new. Heck yesterday I got a new sony ps2 with games that would of cost 250 at walmart, for 110 shipped, sometimes ebay pays off!
 
If you still need one, PM me and I'll sell you a new, never used Hornady (Redding) for 1/2 of what Midway gets, plus a few bucks for shipping. It came in a set and I bought it for the powder measure. I have a PACT and have never used the Hornady. Kinda always thought I'd run across a newbie that needed some help. Maybe this is my chance.

edit to add: re-read the original post. Don't know if there's more than one model of the Hornady, but this one is all metal. Appears to be equivalent to the RCBS I used to have. It has "Redding" cast into the body. AFAIK, pretty much everything Redding makes is good. I'd use it but I just don't need it.
 
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Keep haunting ebay. Eventually you will (probably) find what you're looking for. I got an older Lyman scale from an Ebay seller for the grand total of $15.

Either that, or bite the bullet and buy new.

If you can live with a 100 grain limit, the Lee scale can be had new for around $20.
 
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I just noticed that RCBS's cheapest mechanical scale is only about $28. That's Graf's dealer price.
 
Correction...

I thought my scale was a Redding (that's what I get for thinking)

It has "Pacific" cast into it. I went out and looked after my post. Anyway, if you want it, I'll sell it at a real reasonable price to a newbie that wants to get started.
 
redneck2,

If'n BigSlick doesn't take you up on your offer, I'd be happy to.
Still setting up my Hornady L&L and need a few more things...

Dav
 
Hi Redneck2,

Thank you for the very generous offer for a great scale at a reasonable price.

I lucked into a freebie, to help him get started. We tried it out tonight... now he is certain he wants to go to a digital :rolleyes:

If one of the other guys here happens to need a good deal on a scale, by all means let them take it.

He ended up ordering a Pact BBK II online. It should be here by weeks end.

So far he is learning the nuts and bolts of cleaning brass properly. I loaned him some of mine to clean, just to get the hang of it :D

BigSlick
 
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