Which scale?
- Thread starter Citadel99
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Third_Rail
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Personally I bought an inexpensive digital scale off of eBay for $50, it measures to the .1 gram, which is close enough for military loads.
Cortland
Member
I've got a PACT electronic scale with which I'm very happy. I also have a Dillon mechanical scale which I got before the PACT. A lot of people seem to think a you should always have a manual scale to verify the electronic scale's reading (ehh... ok).
There are cheaper electronic powder scales ($80ish I think?) but the PACT scale gives you the option of adding the electronic trickler at some point down the road. If you go electronic, I'd strongly recommend you get an actual powder scale--.1 gram accuracy doesn't cut it when you're measuring pistol loads.
There are cheaper electronic powder scales ($80ish I think?) but the PACT scale gives you the option of adding the electronic trickler at some point down the road. If you go electronic, I'd strongly recommend you get an actual powder scale--.1 gram accuracy doesn't cut it when you're measuring pistol loads.
ocabj
Member
If you go digital try the Pact (same one RCBS sells) Digital Precision Powder scale for $129.95 shipped from www.pact.com. The Pact BBKII is $89.99, but many say you can trickle better on the DPP scale.
You may want to look into the Dillon Terminator scale.
If you want to go beam, the RCBS 10-10 is really nice.
You may want to look into the Dillon Terminator scale.
If you want to go beam, the RCBS 10-10 is really nice.
Third_Rail
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Yeah, but I don't load pistol rounds... yet. When I do, I'll be getting a proper scale.
Waitone
Member
Mechanical scales are quite satisfactory for gov't work provided you get and use check weights.
Check weights is (are) safety equipment.
Check weights is (are) safety equipment.
scale
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2690766556&category=34088
I just got one of these about a week ago and its a decent scale for the price, it weights to .01 grams which is .15 grains or there about. It is very accurate so far, the only thing that you have to worry about is if you really overload it or push too hard on it you will need to re tare it which only takes a second. For 30 bucks you cant beat it if you are planning on loading rifle shells, you do need to make a grain to gram conversion table which only took me a few minutes. If you dont want to bother with the auction you can email the guy thats selling them and he will sell you one directly for $31 which includes the shipping cost. GL
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2690766556&category=34088
I just got one of these about a week ago and its a decent scale for the price, it weights to .01 grams which is .15 grains or there about. It is very accurate so far, the only thing that you have to worry about is if you really overload it or push too hard on it you will need to re tare it which only takes a second. For 30 bucks you cant beat it if you are planning on loading rifle shells, you do need to make a grain to gram conversion table which only took me a few minutes. If you dont want to bother with the auction you can email the guy thats selling them and he will sell you one directly for $31 which includes the shipping cost. GL
BluesBear
member
I want consistency in my loads. I won't settle for anything that isn't accurate to .1 grain.
Even the cheap reloading scales from RCBS, Lyman, Lee or any of the other companies will do this.
Electronic scales may be a little faster, but I know I can trust a mechanical scale.
Even the cheap reloading scales from RCBS, Lyman, Lee or any of the other companies will do this.
Electronic scales may be a little faster, but I know I can trust a mechanical scale.
redneck2
Member
I have
a PACT. Supposedly exactly the same as RCBS without the $40 green or $70 blue paint.
Can't figure out why these are supposed to be inaccurate but mechanical ones so good. Use the check weights that come with it and calibrate before you use it. Takes maybe 30 seconds on a slow day. Drop in a very few flakes of Unique and watch the scale change. Every bit as sensitive as a mechanical but WAY faster and easier. And WAY easier to read.
I wouldn't take a mechanical free after using the PACT YMMV
If you get one, set it on a separate bench as the vibrations will keep changing the readings. Set it on wood (static) and keep air currents off of it(furnace and AC).
a PACT. Supposedly exactly the same as RCBS without the $40 green or $70 blue paint.
Can't figure out why these are supposed to be inaccurate but mechanical ones so good. Use the check weights that come with it and calibrate before you use it. Takes maybe 30 seconds on a slow day. Drop in a very few flakes of Unique and watch the scale change. Every bit as sensitive as a mechanical but WAY faster and easier. And WAY easier to read.
I wouldn't take a mechanical free after using the PACT YMMV
If you get one, set it on a separate bench as the vibrations will keep changing the readings. Set it on wood (static) and keep air currents off of it(furnace and AC).
30Cal
Member
I like a beam scale. It doesn't wander, isn't sensitive to drafts, battery age, time of day, etc. For the general reloader, it provides exactly what you need--a quick visual indication of too high, OK or too low without any checking against data tables. I had a Lee scale but didn't like it--the slider vernier thing is a PITA. Any of the other 5-0-5 type scales are A-OK.
The only time I wished I had an electronic scale was when I got the bug to do truly meanial weighing tasks like checking the weights of an entire box of bullets or segregating cases by weight (a superfluous task for anyone that doesn't shoot astonishingly tight groups with regularity).
Ty
The only time I wished I had an electronic scale was when I got the bug to do truly meanial weighing tasks like checking the weights of an entire box of bullets or segregating cases by weight (a superfluous task for anyone that doesn't shoot astonishingly tight groups with regularity).
Ty
Kamicosmos
Member
Been using a RCBS 5-0-5 for a long time, hard to beat.
Was drooling over getting the Lyman 1200 DPS, but bought a nice powder thrower from Midway on sale, so I'll still be going manual for awhile yet.
Was drooling over getting the Lyman 1200 DPS, but bought a nice powder thrower from Midway on sale, so I'll still be going manual for awhile yet.
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