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
Digital powder scales.
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parisofthewest
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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 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.
thndrchiken
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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.
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.
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.
crracer_712
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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.
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.
Hawker Man
Member
Has anyone tried the scale Brian Enos sells for $134.95?
BrianEnos.com High-Performance Digital Powder Scale
It looks like it may be the way to go. You can find it on line for a low as $94.50
My Weigh ibalance 201 digital scale Balance - Precision Weighing Balances
BrianEnos.com High-Performance Digital Powder Scale
It looks like it may be the way to go. You can find it on line for a low as $94.50
My Weigh ibalance 201 digital scale Balance - Precision Weighing Balances
snoopdawg45
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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
John
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HAWKEYE10
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Brian's scale is the best deal I have seen so far. The warranty is what makes it such a deal. Don
jeremy82
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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
I believe my $40 Dillon scale is sold today for $140. Also have a Midway/Frankford Arsenal $20 special and an ancient RCBS 510 beam scale (tenths grain poise is on a threaded rod). All 3 scales tell me a Sierra .308 168 grain BTHP weighs 168 grains and a Hornaday .224 50 grain HP weighs 50 grains. From this I conclude that 10 pistol charges or 3 rifle charges are within +/- 0.05 grains of actual weight -- better than the variance in my powder measures. I call that close enough.
My targets cannot tell the difference in 3 or 4 individual granules of powder (not grains -- single pieces of powder) shot to shot. The Dillon gets the most use on the bench, Midway at the range shooting bench.
My targets cannot tell the difference in 3 or 4 individual granules of powder (not grains -- single pieces of powder) shot to shot. The Dillon gets the most use on the bench, Midway at the range shooting bench.
I have the Lyman 1500XP and I also have to leave it plugged in or ir reads erratically while warming up. For weighing each rifle load the digital is great.
Rockets
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rfd
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i wouldn't use a digital as the sole only scale. things can go wrong with electronics far more easily than with an analog beam scale, and digitals are definitely prone to outside influences that affect weigh results.
i use an rcbs 505 beam ... and a jennings mack 20 digital gem scale that's good to .01 grain resolution. i use both to verify throws from my lee pro auto disks. while some digital scales are sensitive to transmitter signals created by florescent lamps or cell phones, and can be affected by vibration and air current movement, in my preliminary testing the mack 20 is pretty darned stable.
i use an rcbs 505 beam ... and a jennings mack 20 digital gem scale that's good to .01 grain resolution. i use both to verify throws from my lee pro auto disks. while some digital scales are sensitive to transmitter signals created by florescent lamps or cell phones, and can be affected by vibration and air current movement, in my preliminary testing the mack 20 is pretty darned stable.
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HAWKEYE10
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rfd
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I reload in our wash room right next to an AC vent and I have to cover it up to use my beam scale. Don
no matter what, analog beams are waaaaay less finicky than any digital.
no matter what, analog beams are waaaaay less finicky than any digital.
I completely disagree.
In addition to the 50 gram check weight (which is useless by the way as 50 grams = 771.62 grains and that's waa-aay off the degree of accuracy we need) I have a complete set of Ohaus weights scaled down from 50 grams to 5 milligrams and 5 grains to .5 grain. I have had these weights checked on some of the most accurate lab scales available in a commercial scientific laboratory.
My digitals are dead on each and every time I fire them up. From weight being applied to resolution is maybe three seconds. I check their accuracy about once per 50 rounds and they do not drift one whit.
Oh, they're from Dillon.
rfd
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I completely disagree.
In addition to the 50 gram check weight (which is useless by the way as 50 grams = 771.62 grains and that's waa-aay off the degree of accuracy we need) I have a complete set of Ohaus weights scaled down from 50 grams to 5 milligrams and 5 grains to .5 grain. I have had these weights checked on some of the most accurate lab scales available in a commercial scientific laboratory.
My digitals are dead on each and every time I fire them up. From weight being applied to resolution is maybe three seconds. I check their accuracy about once per 50 rounds and they do not drift one whit.
Oh, they're from Dillon.
i respectfully agree to disagree.
both scale types can, and do, have issues. imho, analog beams just have less issues to be concerned about. both can get the job done. i play it a bit safer and more anal by using both.
beams - no electricity needed, not affected by any electronic interference, far less susceptible to environmental issues, they need leveling and a "quiet" location.
digitals - electricity required, all are susceptible to electronic interference and are more influenced by their location environment, they need leveling and a "very quiet" location.
my mack 20 is good to .01 grains, my rcbs 505 to .1 grains.
before loading, and once i'm sure the mack 20 is tested stable by cross checking with both the 505 and an rcbs test weight kit, it's my go-to scale for that load session. it's the same kinda testing i'll do with my powder throws before actually loading brass.
i'd much rather take the time to be safe than deal with a subsequent kaboom.
