powder scale

[oldiegoldie]

am needing a powder scale to finish my very basic reloading setup. should i get electronic or balance scale? money is definitely a concern....trying to keep to a minimum. i do have a set of Lee measuring "cups". am not anticipating loading thousands of rounds annually. brand names would be appreciated. only loading for 9mm & .380 acp.

 

[TjB101]

Buy a beam scale ... better repeatability. I have a FA digital scale that I use to dial in the powder throw and then use beam to check every nth round.

 

[tlawler]

I’d say get a decent beam scale like the RCBS 505. They can be picked up secondhand fairly cheap. Even with an electronic scale, you will want a beam scale to verify.

 

[OKFC05]

This question has three possible answers, depending on what you really intend to do.
1. You can do without buying your own scales if you settle for a single powder (say, HP38) for standard loads in each caliber, and have access to scales for a one-time double check of your dippers. This also means you settle for less than maximum loads, don't experiment, and don't have to worry about meeting a specific power factor.
2. Buy a cheap balance scale (say, Lee) which will allow you to try different loads, and calibrate your dippers for different powders. More versatility, still lacking in speed. IMHO, a cheap digital scale is a PIA.
3. Buy a good digital scale (RCBS) and load anything you want.

Your choice.

 

[rockquarry]

Get a good quality balance beam scale and a set of check weights (very inexpensive) to periodically check scale accuracy. A good scale should always work properly, but it doesn't hurt to verify that accuracy on occasion. Far better and more dependable setup than an electronic scale.

 

[Arub01]

I've had the Lee scale and it is indeed precise. The problem i had with it was it was way too sensitive. Any slight disturbance in the surrounding air and it would start to seesaw. Went over to the RCBS 505 and am very satisfied with it. The RCBS seems to be dampened eliminating the over sensitivity of the Lee.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

48 years of reloading, I have owned one scale. Ohaus 10-10 purchased used, as new in the box, for about $20. Came with the test weights. Extremely accurate and reliable.

Ohaus was later acquired by RCBS and the product line was continued (5-0-5 and 10-10 models, as well as laboratory-grade scales).

I would be shopping the on-line auction sites. Lots of people get into reloading, then decide to dump their stuff. Estates frequently include reloading equipment. Lots of top quality equipment at bargain prices.

 

[s&wchad]

I agree with the previous posters. Look for a clean used RCBS 505 or 10-10. One or two check weights would also be good to have.

 

[dla]

Get a $35 MTM electronic scale. Get a set of check weights. Much faster than a bslance beam.

 

[Warren Sear]

I bought an RCBE 10-10 scale new in 1980. It has worked perfectly to this day. No complaints of any kind.

I did buy a digital scale about 5 years ago just to see what all the fuss was about.

 

[DWalt]

I have a Lyman electronic scale, and it quit working after about three years. It was more trouble to use than it was worth, and not worth the cost of sending it back to get it fixed. I have been using a Redding beam powder scale with magnetic damper for somewhat more than 30 years, simple and reliable. I check it with known weights every so often, it is always dead on. I made up my own set of check weights using a laboratory analytical balance many years ago, with weights from 10 grains up to 100 grains (10, 25, 40, 70 and 100). For many years I used a 2-pan apothecary scale. It worked fine, and I still have it even though I don't need it. It is probably close to 100 years old. Don't discount the utility of the Lee plastic powder scoops, I still have a set and use them.

For weighing bullets and cases I use an Ohaus quad beam lab centigram balance, also with magnetic damping. It goes up to 300 grams (4500 grains), and down to 0.01 grams (0.154 grains). It weighs in grams, but that's OK, as I am using it for consistency weighing, usually not absolute weights, so I don't often need to convert grams to grains (1 gram = 15.43 Grains). I could use the Ohaus scale for powder, but the Redding is smaller and more convenient.

 

[rwsmith]

Cheap operation...

I have a Lee and a $35 digital. The cheap digitals used to break down a lot but they are better now.

 

[muddocktor]

If you look at the RCBS scales and are shopping used, also look at the 5-10 scale. The beam on it is set up almost exactly like the 10-10 scale except that it doesn't have the hanger for the extra counterweight the 10-10 has and the base is built like the 5-0-5 scale. I rather the adjustment setup on the beam of the 10-10 and 5-10 over the 5-0-5 scale. I bought a 5-10 scale off eBay 5 years ago for around $50 to the door if I am remembering correctly.

 

[Collo Rosso]

The heart of a digital scale is its strain gauge, and very good quality, cheap, strain gauges have been available from China (unfortunately) for awhile now.
5 or so years ago I bought a Hornady digital bench scale. It has been 100% accurate, reliable and repeatable. Spot on every time it's checked with test weights.
My Lyman M5 sits as a back up.

 

[stansdds]

I have only one scale, the one I bought in the late 1980's when I started reloading, a Lyman 1000. Beam balance scale are simple and reliable, require no electricity nor batteries to operate, last forever if given only basic care.

 

[AlHunt]

The RCBS 505, 10-10 or equivalent and a powder measure. I use the RCBS Uniflow. Weighing even a hundred individual powder charges will get old quickly. Also the RCBS Little Dandy is a great tool. I have about a half dozen of the rotors and I use it more often than the Uniflow.

 

[gen3guy]

After several iterations with electronic scales, both cheap and expensive, I finally went back to my old Redding balance beam. Electronics just makes gravity complicated.

 

[gwpercle]

Beam Scale ... you want one even if you have an electronic . Batteries run out , power failure , electronics screw up...you NEED a beam on hand .
Check out Redding , RCBS , Hornady , Dillon they are all good and run $90.00 (Dillon) to $100.00 dollars brand new .
I picked up a used RCBS 5-0-5 on E-Bay for $30.00 just make sure it is complete, in good shape and not damaged . Make sure to get one with magnetic dampening ...oil dampened scales (Redding #1) suck rocks big time ...pass on them . OHAUS is the company that makes/made RCBS scales...right now Ohaus 505 is up for $25.00 . A RCBS 505 is liated at $42.00 . Look carefully and you can find a decent scale but don't pay more than 1/2 list price of a new one ...1/4 price is a good deal . Lyman scales are also good ...simple but good .
Gary

 

[max503]

You need a scale when working with those Lee dippers. They don't throw what the slider says they do.

I've got two. A very accurate RCBS beam scale and a cheap digital scale. The RCBS gets used for accuracy and load development.
I mainly use the cheap one for safety checks. Even when I KNOW my powder measure is set for 5 grains of Unique, I'll still check it with the digital scale. I also use the digital to check my cast bullet weights.

 

[rkittine]

What are you going to use the scale for at your "Very Basic Reloading Set Up"?

If you are going to use it to check a setting or a bushing or dipper for that you will actually use to charge cases, then I think that as some have said, a quality Bean Scale. My SCOTT modified Lyman M5 is the most accurate scale I own and the easiest to use. It is not effected by the type of lighting or your cell phone etc.

I do have a cheap - GEM PRO 500 scale that if you want to allow it to warm up, keep it in a very stable environment etc. will do a decent job. I also have an FX120i which was $700.00 which does a super job especially when used with my Omega Auto-Trickle. Last I have and RCBS Chargemaster.

Back to what are you going to use it for. For normal pistol rounds I use a Harrods Pistol Powder Thrower. After you learn how to use it, you can thrown charges of most powders to well within acceptable limits for pistol rounds. Many short range bench rest shooters even use these without checking every charge. For that and to check my Shotshell Loader bushings, I use a beam scale.

For 1,000 yard bench rest loading I use the 120i and the trickler.

For regular rifle and any competition pistol rounds the Chargemaster is fine.

Bob