Electric Scales

[Waldo]

I have been reloading since the mid 1970's. I have an RCBS scale that I have used since I started. I have been thinking about buying an electric scale and powder dispenser. Has anyone here switched to one? Any thoughts on what to look for and what to avoid? Best brands or brands to avoid? How accurate and reliable are they?

[Maximumbob54]

I have a Hornady Autocharge. The only thing I like it for is stick/extruded powders. With flake is painfull slow with the last little bit and then the flakes like to stack up and drop an too much at the last second. With ball, it flows so well it just pours out everywhere if you aren't careful. But it does so well with powder like Varget that I love to use it for that alone.

I should add that I don't like the electric scales and don't trust them. I still use my RCBS 505 to check the tenth drop from my Autocharge. I have had to reset the zero on it and calibrate it a few times. Also, the check weights mine came with are not true and a bit off. But real check weights aren't cheap and these are close enough.

[3five7]

I have an RCBS Chargemater 1500 which I have been using for several years with no problems. I believe that it is possibly the best electronic scale and dispenser on the market. If you do have problems with it, RCBS has some of the best customer service around.

[mtgianni]

I have a Lyman DPS and like it. I bought an upgrade a few years ago. It will drift if in the prescence of cell phones, flourescent lights and some other electronics. I verify every 20th pistol load on a scale and find that it throws very accuratly. I have modified my loading to use my Lee turret press as it is faster to deprime/size, charge and seat each bullet, than to deprime 100, charge 100 and load 100.

[tbury]

Originally Posted by 3five7

I have an RCBS Chargemater 1500 which I have been using for several years with no problems. I believe that it is possibly the best electronic scale and dispenser on the market. If you do have problems with it, RCBS has some of the best customer service around.

+1 on the chargemaster. I even use the balance part to check/setup the powder measure on my Hornady lock-N-load AP press. The 1500comes with 2-100gm standard weights to check calibration. I seldom see any drift I calibration.

[BE Mike]

I have the Lyman 1200 DPS 3. I really like it. I use it mostly for high power rifle loads and small amounts of high velocity handgun ammo. I haven't had any issues with the Lyman. Every time I check it with weights it is right on.

[sps282]

I have an RCBS Chargemaster the accuracy of the scale seems to be right on all the time, I check it several times during loading sessions. It is a little slow but very consistant.

I have found that it works well with most powders although W231 & HP38 seems to ball up in the tube (in trickle mode) and will overfill by 2-5 tenths, so with those powders I go back to the "old faithful" Lyman 55.

[dmar]

I have a RCBS Rangemaster 750, and it works great; fast and accurate. I have not had any issues, and would not go back to a beam scale...

[Rule3]

Guess I just can not see the purpose or advantage of spending money for a electronic scale let alone one that dispenses powder also? I purchased a expensive My Weigh electronic scale with wind screens and used it a few times, it now sits in a cabinet.

With the good balance beams available they are basically fool proof and last forever. Warranty forever also.

Even loading just a few rifle rounds or magnums the electronic dispensers seem painfully slow.

[Hyperion]

I have the old style Dillon D-Terminator electronic scales. Works like a champ. The old RCBS 5-0-5 stays in storage.

Some things to watch for: even a slight breeze can affect it. Keep it out of drafts. It needs to be on a stable foundation. Hmmm.. sounds like what I had to do with the balance beam scale.

[m657]

I much prefer the D-Terminator, so much I wore one out. Dillon replaced it. In the haste to not go without, I happened into a deal with a Pact unit that can be used to trigger a trickler device that I've never bought.

From using the Pact unit, there are some features I don't care for, and wouldn't get another.

I'm going to dig out the Dillon replacement here before long and compare.

My own use finds leaving the old balance 5-0-5 tucked away.

[Kinman]

I'm fairly small time in my reloading but like to weigh every rifle cartridge. I've used the mechanical balance beams and they worked just fine. I switched to a small Hornady GS-1500 and really like it. I set my powder measure to throw .5 or so grains less than total charge, throw it into the supplied cup, set it on the scale, then trickle up to proper charge...it ain't fast but its accurate and rarely does it give me fits going overcharge. I've tried checking the scale with the balance beam and its like comparing wetting your finger to check for wind direction as opposed to electronic measurement...sorry, some electronic gizmos are just flat superior.

[semperfi71]

I'm still using my Ohaus 5-0-5 I bought in 1972.

I tried a small electronic jewelry scale and just didn't like it's unreliability if the battery was not working right.

There might be something better in the electronic scale department but I'm just gonna stick to my Ohaus.

[Nemo288]

I have used electronic scales since the 80's. My old Lyman
refused to boot up after sitting on the shelf for a few years
and I replaced it with their current 1500 model.
Works fine if you are careful. It has to warm up for a few hours
and no wind near it when using it. Otherwise accuracy to the
tenth grain easily. My loads shoot fine. I check the drop
from my Redding every 10th load.
I haven't used a beam scale in decades.
I was impressed with the ability of strain gauge scales when
taking chemistry in college back in the bronze age.

---
Nemo

[blujax01]

I have the Dillon D-Terminator as well. Very accurate and repeatable measurements.

I have access at work to some ridiculously delicate lab scales and when I ran the 5 gram check weight through them, it came in at 4.9995 grams. Not bad. Not bad at all...

I solved the wind pollution problem by putting them inside a plastic shoe box. Excuse the boxes in the foreground please.




But you cannot argue with good old triple beams, either. Whichever way you go, remember that you get what you pay for. Decent lab scales aren't inexpensive. The $30 units at Harbor Freight (and similar) are junk.

[mtgianni]

Originally Posted by Rule3

Guess I just can not see the purpose or advantage of spending money for a electronic scale let alone one that dispenses powder also? I purchased a expensive My Weigh electronic scale with wind screens and used it a few times, it now sits in a cabinet.

With the good balance beams available they are basically fool proof and last forever. Warranty forever also.

Even loading just a few rifle rounds or magnums the electronic dispensers seem painfully slow.

If you change your tactics it is faster than using a hand thrown measure. I size/deprime and reprime on the down stroke of the turret press. Then I neck-expand and pour powder in. As I put the powder tray back on the scale I press for another load of powder. I then seat the bullet and crimp. The powder dispenser beeps to let me know that a load is ready before I have finished priming the next case. This happens whether the load is 75 gr or 2.5 gr. The wait is not on the measure but on me. It isn't a progressive but it works for me.

[Rule3]

I use the Lee Pro Powder measure on a turret press. For the few rifle rounds I load, a RCBS Uniflow. A Dillon (Ohaus) beam balance.

Anything electronic will fail at some time. Subject to static, breeze, power surge, EMP attack After one year there is no warranty.

[Maximumbob54]

I just reeeeeeeealy dislike measuring out stick/extruded powders with anything else besides that Autocharge. That thing is the only reason I would ever buy another bottle of Varget. If it ever dies then I'm going to be all about Win 748 and 760.

[03Fatboy]

Anybody using one of these from Brian Enos?

20 year warranty - BrianEnos.com Electronic Digital Powder Scale

Lifetime warranty - BrianEnos.com High-Performance Digital Powder Scale

I thought the warranty period was pretty darn good compared to others......and I'm considering buying one as well.

[Maximumbob54]

No, but I just added them to my mile long wishlist.

[Linear Thinker]

I use Denver scales, US made and extremely accurate and repeatable.

Not fond of the Chinese made RCBS and Lyman scales.

While I am a 30-year user and big fan of Dillon equipment, their electronic scale has a bad rep. 2 of my reloading buddies had bad units, and Dillon did not cover either under warranty.

Denver scales pop up on Fleabay regularly, I highly recommend them. I use the one with 0.001 grain resolution, but the .01 grain ones are less expensive.

[Rule3]

This is the one I bought when I thought I "needed" a electronic scale after going through two of the cheap Midway pocket versions. It's spot on accurate, 30 yr warranty. Never use it.

My Weigh iBalance 101 (i101)

Yes, I bought it here also.

[johnyakima]

Like DMAR I have a RCBS Rangemaster 750 scale and am very happy with it. No problems.

[Nick B]

Originally Posted by Linear Thinker

I use Denver scales, US made and extremely accurate and repeatable.

Not fond of the Chinese made RCBS and Lyman scales.

While I am a 30-year user and big fan of Dillon equipment, their electronic scale has a bad rep. 2 of my reloading buddies had bad units, and Dillon did not cover either under warranty.

Denver scales pop up on Fleabay regularly, I highly recommend them. I use the one with 0.001 grain resolution, but the .01 grain ones are less expensive.

I've been using a Denver Instruments scale for many years and it has been perfect .

[PDL]

As a side note, I didn't like using the check weights that come with most scales. I guess they're good enough, but they aren't close to any loads that I was actually working with.
Lyman makes a decent check weight set for about $25-$35, depending on the ammount of weight.
The set can be used to check lighter weights. Closer to the actual weight your reloading.

edit to add: Seems like the lyman sets are out of stock, but RCBS sells the same set under their name for a bit more money. Midway's got a sale on now that drops them back to the lyman price.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/493...hts-605-grains

[true_shooter]

rcbs charge master 1500. no dispenser just the scale. garuntee it will weigh safe and consistent enough to produce sub-moa groups out of my aught-6 and ar15. I would recomend it to anyone 100x over

[Forrest r]

Another vote for the rcbs chargemaster & I've never had a problem with the limited types of different powders that I've used to reload with it.

Some of the powders I've used are bullseye, reddot, greendot, bluedot, herco, unique, trap100/ww452, hp-38/ww231, h110/ww296, ww820, clays, universal clays, international clays, titegroup, titewad, bl-c2, reloader-10x, reloader 19, varget, h4895, h4831, h414, ww846 & special ball powder. I'm sure there have been a couple of other powders but I just can't remember them off the top of my head.

The electronic scales are quick & easy to use and are highly accurate. The scale/powder throw combo’s are the cat’s meow. I've loaded 1000's & 1000's of rifle & pistol loads with an rcbs 1500. It really shines when I'm working up loads for the pistols or rifles.

I used mine 2 days ago to work up some test loads for a 629 & the 429421 bullet. I used 4 different powders trying 4 different charge weights & loaded 10 bullets of each powder/weight combo in less than 2 hours. That's not bad considering that was 160 bullets, rezeroing the rcbs with every powder change & having to setup a used set of dies that I bought to my press.

If you do allot of reloading for rifles or just do a bunch of test loads for different pistols these things are the way to go. I was really debating to buy one or not, they're allot of money that I could spend on powder, primers, bullets, ect. I'm glad I pulled the trigger & bought one, it like welcome to the 20th century.

[chief38]

I've been at the reloading game for 30+ years now and when I first started I bought an RCBS 10-10 scale. Years later when the electronic ones became popular I didn't really trust them; but a few years went by and so many people were swearing by them I said, when mine finally gives up the ghost, I'll buy one of those newfangled electronic scales. Well, my 10-10 is still going strong, and I'll more than likely buy an electronic one when this one give out, but it might outlast me - hope not!!

Chief38

[Wayne M]

Stay with a balance beam scale. It'll work for the next 100 years and then some. Get some check weights if you're wondering about it.

[halco46]

I`m using a cheap MTM digital scale that I picked up at Bass Pro shop for $35.00. It works great except when the battery dies then it screws up so bad you know when to change them. I swing about every tenth load on the beam just for safety`s sake but the MTM is right on. About 9,000rnds loaded and no problems with them!.

[SMSgt]

I have a RCBS 505 and I've never had to wait for it to warm up or had the batteries to **** out on me. Electronics . . . go figure.

[true_shooter]

Originally Posted by SMSgt

I have a RCBS 505 and I've never had to wait for it to warm up or had the batteries to **** out on me. Electronics . . . go figure.

rcbs chargemaster 1500 1-2 minute warmup time, no batteries, and WAY faster than a 5-0-5

[johnyakima]

Like Dmar, I have the RCBS RangeMaster 750 scale and am very happy with it.

[tjpopkin]

The chargemasters (etc) dispense and weigh, and they are accurate and easy with large loads....rifle.
For Handguns, I use a Dillon 550B press with powder measures pre-set (I use a different head for each caliber), but the use of an electronic scale for checking weights is incredibly fast when compared to a beam-balance scale (which must come to rest)....just dump on the powder and see the weight to 0.1gr.
Terry

[ddixie884]

Chargemaster 1500, charge and put a bullet in the case and seat it one at a time no chance for a double charge and every charge weighed.