Electronic powder scale vs. mechanical balance scale

[rockquarry]

You can spend a lot of money and get an electronic scale that will work as well or almost as well as a $50.00 balance beam scale. With the ordinary electronic scales that most handloaders buy, you're also buying the attendant headaches (including the unreliability) that go with such scales.

 

[nicky4968]

I use an inexpensive pocket digital to fine-tune my Lee mechanical scale.
(Adjusting the weight a small fraction of a turn.)

 

[S&WIowegan]

Electronic vs balance beam

I had been using a balance beam for many years when Dillon offered their electronic. I noticed later it had a one year warranty. It made it passed a year but barely. Being a glutton for punishment, I bought one more Dillon which duly crapped out. I now use a little electronic scale on my bench when I'm running a batch. I also have an RCBS balance beam set up on a little shelf. I weigh electronically and pour the powder into the Balance beam. If they match I'm good to go; if not we bring in a third scale. All lessons learned over the years.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Good Information

Feels a bit like groundhog day, but here goes . . . Scales can be affected by air currents, static electricity, and (for electronic scales) both line and transmitted (RF) "noise".

While air currents and static electricity can affect any scale weighing the small quantities reloaders care about, they are relatively easy to counter whether your scale is beam or electronic. "Noise" will not affect beam scales.

All electronic scales under ~$500 use the same base technology, ie, strain gauge load cells. Unfortunately these are very susceptible to "noise", often being sarcastically referred to as "noise gauges". Noise can come over the line or OTA from many sources . . . anything that transmits (cell phones, wireless phones, WiFia), motors, fluorescent lights and ballasts, microwaves and more. These scales interpret noise as changes in weight.

Scales above this price point begin to use different technologies, eg, magnetic force restoration. Such scales are not susceptible to noise. [The lowest priced scale I and others have seen while watching many reloading forums is the A&D FX120i which can be had from Cambridge Environmental for ~$5XX depending on the Canadian exchange rate.]

Some people claim their digital scales are rock stable and accurate. While that may be true for them, it may be that their reloading room is relatively noise-free. Apparently your room is not noise free.

So it is unlikely that any sub-$5XX digital scale is going to behave any differently in your room . . . regardless of line filters, UPSs, or battery power if your noise is RF . . . than the one you have.

That's what happened to me until my A&D FX120i became my 7th scale. I also added devices called AutoTrickler and AutoThrower (you can google them) that converts the A&D to a Chargemaster that really works in any room.

BTW, I kept my beam scale for backup.

I wondered about this, as my reloading room is all fluorescent lighting. Even the light on my reloading desk is fluorescent. I've ordered a beam scale. RCBS 500 gets great reviews, is reasonably priced, and most importantly is AVAILABLE IN STOCK.

Thanks for all the good feedback.

 

[Sam McCord]

I use a Lyman DPS that dispenses and weighs the charge. It's handy and I always double check the charge on 10% of loaded rounds. Have never found a bad charge. I also let machine warm up and calibrate and check weigh before use and have never had drifting problems. My RCBS beam scale still gets used a lot too. Honestly I'll be glad when this smokeless powder fad is over and I'll go back to using FFG and my bulk measure!

 

[Boudiepitbull]

I use a RCBS M1000 balance. Not the latest modern technology but I enjoy the reliable simplicity of a balance properly used over digital electronics that I can't understand.

 

[oldbrownhat]

...[The lowest priced scale I and others have seen while watching many reloading forums is the A&D FX120i which can be had from Cambridge Environmental for ~$5XX depending on the Canadian exchange rate.

I just looked this up on their website. Current price is $877.73 USD

 

[Autonomous]

My RCBS setup came with a cheap electronic scale. Wow, I thought the powder throw was a ***. Turns out the powder throw with the baffle is very consistent.
Rather than have RCBS send me another *** on warranty I tossed the E scale. After a bit of research I decided a good E scale was more $$$ than I wanted to spend.
My beam scale replacement suits me fine.

 

[hyena]

The Redding balance beam scale I bought in the 70's remains all I need.

 

[tominboise]

My dad bought me a Redding beam scale in 1972 and I've been using it ever since. No reason or desire to go to an electronic scale. They are a solution looking for a problem in my opinion.

 

[TjB101]

I have both and check them against each other at times.

Ditto ... A Frankfort Arsenal digital to dial in the throw and 505 beam to check every Nth throw. Beam is always rock solid ... digital can be flakey if batteries are low.

 

[fordson]

I have one of each. The RCBS 10-10 balance scale is my "Master" - what it reads is what the charge weight is. The electronic scale - a supposed "Lab Quality " unit - will drift with time. It is accurate and will replicate the 10-10s readings but requires zeroing with every weight change. I use it mostly for quick weight checks such as during powder measure set up and confirming bullet weight, etc. However, the 10-10 gets the last "word" on any weight reading. As an experiment to check the drift range of the electronic scale, I zero out an empty 38 SPL case and left it sitting on the scale while I fussed about the shop area. After about 2hrs, the scales reading went from "0" to a reading of 2.1 grains. Too much drift for serious work.

 

[ACORN]

Beck, I still shoot revolvers. What would I use an electronic scale for?
My RCBS 10-10 is my go to.

 

[brucev]

Have my original RCBS scale that came w/ the Reloader Special kit they offered back around 1980 or so. Have one that came to me when my brother died. I have a RCBS electronic scale that my wife bought for me in 2016. Have had nothing but excellent results from these scales. Our house is not sound proof. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[LittleCooner]

Bought an Ohaus 10 10 probably 40 years ago, before they became the RCBS 10-10. I have no need or desire for an electronic measure that drifts, or even one that does not drift, if they every invent one. That scale has checked many a charge in the past 40 years and since I shoot some long range rifle stuff as a hobby, I have learned that I can actually see one grain difference in charges with this 10-10 if I take my time and observe my scale. I think I still use the best on the marked under $500, but then, I am an old shooter set in his ways. no electronic scales here.

 

[johnjohn]

I started with a Lyman balance beam. A few years went and an electronic scale caught my eye. Well $90 later and a trip back to the factory I found out I had an expensive paper weight. It went out with the garbage. The Lyman is still with me good as ever.

 

[mtgianni]

I use a Lyman DPS and a balance beam scale. The Lyman drifted when it was near a florescent light or a cell phone. It doesn't since being moved.

 

[H Richard]

I've still using the RCBS 10-10 I bought used back in 1980. Tried a small electronic several years ago, and was a PIA, would power down and lose the Tare wt. and had to be reset every time. That didn't last long, I went back to the RCBS and stayed there.

 

[growr]

To make sure I understand the "drift" problem.....are you saying that the exact same charge or even check weight gives different readings?

I ask this because I DO use an inexpensive electronic scale and no matter how many times I place a 230 .45 FMJ on the tray I get the same readings over and over again.

This is also repeated with my Dillon balance beam.....the 230 FMJ reads as 230 no matter how many times I place the same bullet on the tray.

Or is the different reading from multiple charges thrown?

What am I not understanding on this topic?

Randy

 

[deputydon]

I have had my RCBS beam scale 30-40 years. It has never failed me. It is kept on a marble slab on the reloading bench out of the wind and hvac vents. My Lyman 55 dump normally varies very little but I still ck random loads by dumping to scale pan. If good I use my powder funnel and dump the pan into case in loading block. if not back in the powder dump. I also check loads in the loading block with a flashlight to see if all look even. Been loading ~ 50 years with no problems yet. This procedure is for handgun loads only. I weigh each charge for rifles on the RCBS scale. At my age precision & care is my goal. Hurry/Speed is not a goal.

-don