Lee Precision Safety Scale

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Empe

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Anyone use one of these ? I know they're not high end or top quality , but do they work & are they accurate ?
Care to comment if you have/had one or on powder scales you use & would recommend . Looking for reasonably priced units that will do the job .
 
I have a Lee scale and kept it when I gave my RCBS 505 to a friend. (I also have an RCBS Chargemaster 1500 dispenser/scale.) Not a thing wrong with any of them.
 
I've found the adjustments on the Lee scale to be difficult to see and to replicate. That being said the accuracy is fine, if you can get the dang thing set where you want it. But I am much much way happier with an only slightly more expensive RCBS. :)
 
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The Lee Safety Scale occupies a very interesting space. It is extremely accurate and fairly durable also, and considering it’s price point, even a shoe string budget could NEVER claim they cannot afford a scale. This scale is far better than the junk Chinese digital scales that might work and might not. A beam scale relies on gravity, not the care & skill of a 25-cents an hour slave laborer.

With that said, it’s not easy to read, it’s not a “fun” scale to use and all the other quality beam scales offer a better experience.

Accurate? For dead sure certain.
 
I'm about to give away my rcbs 505 to a friend who wants to start loading......
I keep my Frankford Arsenal digital close to my setup and it's my go to, for weighing .
The digital scale is just too easy and accurate to use, I keep it for simplicity's sake. I just used it yesterday.
 
I've owned two. Nope they are not the fastest, but they are accurate and repeatable. The main "problem" is with users that can't/won't learn to read a vernier scale. One big plus is the poise is lockable, set it, lock it and the setting will not change, won't move/change if the beam or poise is bumped. I saw an advertisement for the scale weighing a piece of tissue paper so I tried it and I successfully weighed a piece of Kleenex smaller than a postage stamp...
 
I have used a Redding scale for nearly 40 years, still as good as it ever was. Very sensitive and repeatable, never had any problems with it. Not sure if that brand even still exists.
-------------
It is still available, but pricey. I think I paid about $20 for the one I have which is exactly the same as shown. It is all American made. I highly recommend it as a lifetime purchase.
[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Redding-Reloading-Powder-Bullet-Master/dp/B000RYWWIM[/ame]
 
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I have used....

The Lee scale and trust it and you can't beat the price. Oly problem I had with it was you need to test the swing to make sure it isn't binding. The old one broke and they were so cheap I bought another one for a back up.
 
I have an old Pacific beam scale that I bought new about 1975, and a RCBS that I purchased used 3-4 years ago. I used the RCBS scale yesterday, (6/24/20), along with my Pacific Multi Power press to load a few .243 shells. All of them work great, it's me I worry about.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
I have one. Found out pretty quickly that they cannot be placed on the same bench as the reloading press. The vibration can cause the zero to shift slowly over time. IMO that is NOT safe. Another problem is the method for setting the scale, it is distinctly fussy.

My primary scale is now an RCBS 505 because the zero does not shift and setup is simple.
 
I've had 2 RCBS 5-0-5 Scales (still have 1) and still have/use an older Pacific scale (before purchased by Hornady). I tried helping a buddy who had one of the Lee scales get it set up. We both gave up and he bought a new digital. I don't personally like them, and I use a lot of Lee products. YMMV :-)
 
I have 5 scales, two antique oil dampened,one Lee SS, one Lyman/Ohaus D5, and one RCBS 5-10. But the OP's question was about a Lee Safety Scale...
 
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Throw it out!. Folks know I am a LEE fan boy but not the scale.
Does it work? Yes
Is it accurate? Actually yes
Is it easy to use? NOOOOOOOO!


It is a PITA. I gave one away.


It is a 3 star rating and it is cheap.



A scale is the most important tool in reloading. Even a cheap digital is easier than the Lee. Get a balance beam and you are good forever.


Lee Safety Balance Beam Mechanical Powder Scale 100 Grain Capacity
 
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I have tossed a Lyman scale and sold a RCBS and Hornaday scale. I have an electronic powder dispenser and a Lee scale. The Lee is the most accurate I have found from 0.1 to 100 gr with my test weights. Yes you have to pay attention when setting it. Yes it uses simple processes that require fine tuning. I like it and use it often when doing ladder loads.

I would not trust using any kind of powder dispensing system with out a scale.
 
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Because of the limited 100 grain capacity I use this as a powder scale only. When I got mine I used a set of check weights every 10 grains from 0 to 50 grains and it was right on at all of them.

In use I take the beam off, position the poise and lock it in place, put the beam back on, put the ball bearing in the correct place, put the correct amount of check weights in the pan, put the pan on the scale, and zero the scale if necessary. Then it is only a matter of adjusting the powder measure to get the correct amount of powder thrown.

The other thing I did was to mark the column by the end of the beam so that I could tell of I was 1/2 grain over or under or a full grain over or under.
 
By now you know the Lee Scale works, and every aspect of its ergonomics just plain sucks. It will be as repeatable as most other beam scales if your patience lets you tolerate the ergonomics.

Because it will challenge your patience, I'd suggest spending a bit more for any of the beam scales marketed by other name-brand reloading companies . . . Hornady, Redding, Dillon, etc.
 
scooter123 said:
I have one. Found out pretty quickly that they cannot be placed on the same bench as the reloading press. The vibration can cause the zero to shift slowly over time.
Click to expand...

I found that out the hard way and got a lot of experience with pulling bullets and also learned to double check the zero each session.

While the Lee seems to be accurate it is a pain to use so I bought a cheap digital scale for every day use and use the Lee to spot check that the digital isn't lying to me.
 
I have used a RCBS 505 scale for years with no issues. I did have the RCBS 10-10 scale and wish I still had it.
 
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