Digital powder scales.

HAWKEYE10

HAWKEYE10

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:) I don't think I would buy one but I was just wondering about them. Are there any big advantages to using them? Are there a lot of you guy's using them. Don
 
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I do have one. It's a PACT BBK II and while it works some of the time, I really don't trust it enough to rely on it 100% if the time. Things like wireless phones, florescent lights and power fluctuations affect how it reads, or doesn't read.
Constantly zeroing it to assure it's okay, then after a few minutes, it's on the fritz so I zero it again.
I use my beam scale for most of the work, only if I wish to check a weight while loading do I use the digi. I also double check the digi with the beam and vice-versa.
It's too bad because it would speed things up a bit for measuring, but not worth the chance if relied upon 100% of the time.
Maybe it's my brand, but I have heard many stories similar.
 
I have one and love it. It's a RCBS 750 and is accurate. To me it's much faster than scales. I load several powders that don't meter well and it's easier with the digital. I also weigh all of my rifle loads, getting the most consistent loads possible. I like them and if this one broke would get another. I think you may have to spend some money to get a good one.

Best, Rick
 
I have two of them. A Pact and an RCBS. They both work great. I use a check weight to check them on a regular basis. Never had a problem with either. I have left them plugged in since the day I bought them. This keeps the moisture from destroying the electrical components. One of them is around fifteen years old and still working great. I have several balance beam scales but have not used one since going electric.
 
I have a RCBS and have had no problems whatsoever. I weight check it several times if I am doing a large qty. of reloads and sometimes reweigh
loads just to see if they repeat.
 
For me - Each has it's place. I have 3 digital scales, cheap, medium and an old but good Ohaus lab scale. I also have around 25 beam scales, from old oil damped Webster's and Reddings to M5 and 10/10's

I weigh all my cases and bullets on the digital scales and all my powder on beam scales, usually my trusty 502's.
RCBS 502 scales with Targetmaster trickler - YouTube
 
I have a Lyman 1000XL digital scale, works well and I always check it against a beam scale.. One thing that I have noticed if I unplug the scale then at a later time plug it back in, it does not zero and is off a 1/10 or 2.. It's like it needs to worm up, so now I just leave the scale plugged in..
 
I have an RCBS digital scale and I've been using it for a couple of years now. I leave mine plugged in and i zero it before each session. I haven't seen any difference between it and my beam scales.
 
I've used a Dillon e-scale for years and enjoy it's speed and accuracy. I check it with it's provided weight before each load session. I zero it from time to time even if it's still reading zero just make sure it's spot on.

I also bought these to check calibration through a range of weights. http://tinyurl.com/6tq8t8x

Works for me.

Hobie
 
Responses in this thread remind me of an old joke:


"How many bluegrass musicians does it take to change a lightbulb?"

"Four"

"One to change the bulb and three to sit around and complain because it's electric."

Electronic scales have been used for most every task imaginable for the past 50 years. They are accurate and reliable.

They do have the bugs worked out of these new fangled gadgets.

Buy with confidence.
 
Been using an RCBS 750 model scale. VERY fast and accurate. My old scales simply take up space on the bench now. NEWER can be better.

FN in MT
 
For what it's worth, I use my old beam scale when I reload .44 Special Skeeter loads for my pre-24. :)
 
I have an RCBS beam and electronic. I have found both accurate; I check the electronic each re-load session. The advantage to the electronic that I like over the beam is that I can put anything (bullet, case, powder, etc) into it and get a weight reading directly. Doing that with a beam is more time consuming. That direct read is the advantage for me.
 
I suppose those that still use beam scales are so young as to have not contemplated their mortality. I know my time is limited and am not going to sit and watch a beam swing up and down. Good digitals are stable, fast, accurate, and repeatable.
 
I have a PACT BBK-II and it varies with the temp. Never measures 100% of the check weights - is always under by a small % but that translates into a few 10ths depending on temp. Not much use for working up handgun loads especially around MAX.
 
I use a LY 1200 DPS powder dispenser and find my self turning it on for other task where I just use the scale. Good tools.
 
I have two digital scales: a Dillon that is over 20 years old, a newer one, a RCBS Chargemaster that has been replaced once under warranty and a Dillon beam scale.
I use a older (30 years ago) Check scale weight set to check the accuracy of the scales.

If I am in the mood for extreme scale accuracy 1/10 of less. Before using the scale I use the check weight to recheck the scale zero and also to compare the reading with the check scale weight.
I throw a charge with my RCBS and check it again with the Dillon to insure I am getting the charge I want. I have found that both scales are normally right on. If not I discard that drop.
The beam scale is held in reserve incase there is no electric and I have run out of batteries ( depending on which scale I am using).
 
With a dig scale you do get what you pay for. IMO, there are no good dig scales under $100, just not happening. The Dillon is superb as is the RCBS 750. THe upper end Hornady looks promising as well. I have used the cheaper ones, they drift, won't hold zero & are pretty much useless for accurate powder measuring.
 
I have a Dillon and really like it. I did find when I had it on my reloading bench that the little jiggling it got from working the press caused some drift. Then I moved the scale to its own small table that sits beside the loading bench, there's no movement to that at all, and now the readings are spot-on. I also keep it plugged in and turned on all the time.
 
i use the cheapy $35 hornady scale. i have to leave it on and keep resetting it for about a minute or two before it stops fluctuating. the pan weighs 132.2gr, and the scale will read anywhere from 131.9 to 132.4 in those couple of minutes. I've come up with a method to mine so i can weigh every load and still be faster than a beam: place pan on scale, if it's more than .2gr off wait 6 seconds or so and it should self adjust, if not, press the "tare" button. lift the pan and it should read -132.2gr. pour the powder and set the pan to weigh. once weighed pour powder into shell and set pan aside (not on the scale), finish loading the round then place pan back on scale and it should read 0 again. if not, wait 6 seconds, etc.... seems like a lot of work, but after a couple minutes it's just pour the powder, weigh, fill the case, repeat. something about the circuit board having to warm up from what I've been told
 
Reloading noob here but I just picked up a used Hornady GS-1000, and so far I like it.

I normally wouldn't buy things like this used but the guy selling it was a local cop and guaranteed my money back.

Saved a lot off of new and it seems to be quite accurate.
 
I have the Lyman 1200 DPS 3, for pistol loads it's dead on, I reset zero about every 20 rds or so, for rifle loads, I throw in two separate charges, for instance if my charge weight is 56.0 gr of powder xyz, I'll throw two 23.0 gr charges and check zero every 10 rds or so. I had been throwing the charge about 1/2 gr light and then trickling up on a beam scale but through testing found it to be rather accurate when keeping the charge weights on the lower side. The dispenser makes my loading so much faster.
 
Mike said:
I have a new RCBS digital scale still in the box. I still use my RCBS 10-10 for 100% of my loading.
Click to expand...

To each his own..........
I have a new RCBS 10-10 scale still in the box. I use my RCBS Powder Pro digital scale for 100% of my loading........ The digital is so much easier to use than the beam scale.
 
thndrchiken said:
I have the Lyman 1200 DPS 3, for pistol loads it's dead on, I reset zero about every 20 rds or so, for rifle loads, I throw in two separate charges, for instance if my charge weight is 56.0 gr of powder xyz, I'll throw two 23.0 gr charges and check zero every 10 rds or so. I had been throwing the charge about 1/2 gr light and then trickling up on a beam scale but through testing found it to be rather accurate when keeping the charge weights on the lower side. The dispenser makes my loading so much faster.
Click to expand...

I don't mean to dispute your concept of "dead-on" or flame you, but... if it is so accurate why do you have to reset zero so often and also throw in smaller charges (because you indicated it's less accurate at greater weights)? I would expect any scale used for reloading to be accurate to at least .05 grain without question. OK I will allow that they need to get warmed up within a reasonable time but once set, they shouldn't drift or have to be re-calibrated often (IMO).

...it always helps to eliminate the doubt.
 
I have a Cabela's scale I'm getting used to (Think it was about 90 bucks). I would tar the pan, remove and load with charge and weigh. After about 3 wieghings I noticed when i'd remove the pan, it would read -119.2 or .3, when the pan always ways 119.0. This was after the scale had been on for a couple of hours, no flourecent lights around...

It's a new scale, and I hadn't done the calibration on it, but I did. I'll see if that helps. I just know upon initial tar, it is dead on with my Lee scale. I hope it turns out to be a reliable scale as it is faster. I only need to use when doing my larger caliber rifle loads, for every load because I find my PPM doesn't drop as consistent as my Pro Auto Disk does for my pistol loads.
 
I have a Lyman 1200 DPS3 and just love it. The only thing wrong with my purchase is that I waited as long as I did to get it. Will never look back.
John
 
its good to have both. digital is fast and accurate.i adjust my powder measure and check on my beam scale then my digital then pour back and cycle powder measure a couple times check again on my 44dollar bass pro bought digital scale then fill 100 cases and visually check all powder levels not to have a double charge and rock and roll
 
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