Thinking of getting a new scale

[colorado4wheel]

I have two cheap scales. Lee Beam scale and the Franklin from Midway Digital. Franklin turns off way to soon. Seems accurate. Lately, with my new bench setup I find myself using the Lee Safety Magnetic. I set the scale to 4.2 grains and then lock it in place. Then when I pull a case I just dump the powder in the pan, gently place it on the scale. Takes a a little long to go to zero but it stays the same every time and is a quick check. I don't want to spend $100+ on a Digital Scale. I am thinking of another QUALITY beam scale. I would prefer a scale that the balance weight on the beam clicked into place as you adjusted it. I hate how the Lee moves so easily and is hard to read. (LEE said they would redo my scale to make it like my friends but that leaves me with the digital only which I don't trust.

So Wants are

1) Solid
2) Easy adjustment but with some clicks in the .1 grain if thats even an option.
3) Easy to read
4) Quick to Zero after dropping tray in pan.
5) It will be used for weighting small charges, 3.2 grains etc.

I am considering RCBS 502. Have zero knowledge about the adjustment part having ridges or something to hold it in place.

[918v]

I know you don't wanna do this, but if you sold some of your children and bought a RCBS Chargemaster 1500, you'd be in reloading heaven. This unit allows you to pour in the powder, dial in the charge you want, hit the dispense button, and get the exact amount you want in a couple of seconds. It dumps alot of powder at first, then slows down to a trickle as it approaches the last tenth of a grain. You cannot keep-up with its speed. Do it!

[BigSlick]

If you have decided against going digital at this point, you will be very well served by the RCBS 1010 unit made for RCBS by Ohaus.

It is an excellent scale in every respect.

The 502 will work, but leaves a little to be desired in the way of being an only scale. In that price range the 505 is a much better option.

Lotta people like the Hornady version, but I had one and gave it away. Way too long for it to settle and the damn thing was just oddball (to me).

For digital, scale only, the Dillon/CED is damn hard to beat. The ChargeMaster 918v talks about simply kicks arse for loading rifle. One a my buds ponied up da cash for one about a month ago an it has to be da easiest damn thang to use I ever seen. Kinda slow, but it ain't a race.

The current Lyman's suck, as do the low end scales from anyone.

The Redding scale is a very good value for the bucks, and an excellent scale to boot

[funkstafunkie]

I got the Lee Safety Scale with the Anniversary Kit when I first started loading a year ago, and the two gripes I had with it were that it was waaay slow and it only went up to 100 grains. I picked up a Redding scale at Sportman's Warehouse's clearance sale for like $60, and it's awesome. It can handle 505 grains, has the notches like you said you were looking for, and balances much, much faster. The Lee would usually go up and down 5-6 times, or more, and the Redding is usually balanced after 1 up and 1 down.

[Brass Nazi]

I agree with Slick. If you want a quality beam scale the RCBS/Ohaus 10-10 is it!


I also agree with Slick that the current Lyman scales suck!

[Pitmaster]

This scale at Kempf's Gun Shop (http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/electronicsc/DS1200.html) is pretty reasonably priced. They are out of them now and expecting some in. I ordered one and am waiting on it. The price says $39.95 but I think they were $29.95 on sale. At either price it seems like a bargain to me.

http://www.kempfgunshop.com/kempfgunshop/images/products2/image1230.jpg

You might also look at http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/ for a scale. I'm real happy with one I bought for postage. I should say that I just thought of this place as I was finishing up my previous paragraph. I'll probably look at the site when I get back home in a couple hours and see if I can find one appropriate for reloading.

I did find this one: (http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5)

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/images-a-h/DURA100-SS-275.JPG

They have others in the hobby-hunting/reloading area.

[slowride]

The RCBS 10-10 is great, but for the money I really like my RCBS 502.

[RenoF250]

I have a Dillon which is made by Ohaus as well so I assume it is very similar to the RCBS. It is pretty good, settles relatively fast, I am happy with it.

[colorado4wheel]

The 502 will work, but leaves a little to be desired in the way of being an only scale. In that price range the 505 is a much better option.



Why is the 502 not as good of a option? I only need a scale for pistol. I just want it to settle to zero fairly quickly and be accurate. I am starting to consider the Dillon as well. It's actually cheaper and looks like it meets my needs. Any other thoughts? I am getting a new powder and I am only going to be using 3.2 grains ish with my new load.

[BigSlick]

it a definitely work, an will work great for pistol, but I say as a only scale if ya load some bigger stuff. With a big charge it take a long time ta settle, but I'm pretty impatient.

As far as quality, it as good as any of em.

505 got a little better dampening, so it settle quicker. Only about $10-12 difference

[colorado4wheel]

i

505 got a little better dampening, so it settle quicker. Only about $10-12 difference

Midway has special pricing right now. 502 is $58 505 is $64. If it has the better dampening then the 505 is my scale I think. Unless the Dillon is better?

[freakshow10mm]

The Dillon scale is made by Ohaus.

[colorado4wheel]

I just saw that 505 got some recent horrible reviews on Midway. People mentioned the Redding #2 as a good scale. I am so confused. Freak does Dillon stand behind their scales like they do their presses? Lifetime no B.S. stuff. PM me a Price on the Dillon if you don't mind, and how long it would take. Still weighting my options it seems.

[45/70Geddumout!]

:iagree: +1 for the 1010. I have had one for years, Very nice scale. :iagree:

[ede]

I know you don't wanna do this, but if you sold some of your children and bought a RCBS Chargemaster 1500, you'd be in reloading heaven. This unit allows you to pour in the powder, dial in the charge you want, hit the dispense button, and get the exact amount you want in a couple of seconds. It dumps alot of powder at first, then slows down to a trickle as it approaches the last tenth of a grain. You cannot keep-up with its speed. Do it!

i think i saw one advertised in the classifieds here too, if you're interested

[Fatdaddy]

I have the Ohause RCBS 505, got it for a good deal and couldn't be happier.

[D. Manley]

The Dillon scale is made by Ohaus.

I use the RCBS 750 electronic backed up by the Dillon magnetic. As Freak said, it is an Ohaus product and IMO, its an excellent scale at a good price. I really think you'd have to go the 1010 route to do better. My hat's off to anybody that can tolerate the Lee...touchy, slow and damned near impossible to read accuractely with my eyes.

[SlammedDime]

This scale at Kempf's Gun Shop (http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/electronicsc/DS1200.html) is pretty reasonably priced. They are out of them now and expecting some in. I ordered one and am waiting on it. The price says $39.95 but I think they were $29.95 on sale. At either price it seems like a bargain to me.

http://www.kempfgunshop.com/kempfgunshop/images/products2/image1230.jpg

You might also look at http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/ for a scale. I'm real happy with one I bought for postage. I should say that I just thought of this place as I was finishing up my previous paragraph. I'll probably look at the site when I get back home in a couple hours and see if I can find one appropriate for reloading.

I did find this one: (http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5)

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/images-a-h/DURA100-SS-275.JPG

They have others in the hobby-hunting/reloading area.I have one similar to the bottom one below, and I love it. And I think I only paid around $60 for it. Very accurate and very repeatable.

[Steve Koski]

I have the RCBS Rangemaster 750 digital scale. It is wonderful, and it would be very hard to go back to a beam scale after having seen the promised land.

[colorado4wheel]

Dillon Beam scale has a lifetime NO BS warranty. I think I will just get the Dillon as it's cheaper and carries the warranty that is better.

[BigDog[RE]]

I have the RCBS Rangemaster 750 digital scale. It is wonderful, and it would be very hard to go back to a beam scale after having seen the promised land.

+1. I started with the Dillon balance beam scale and quickly picked up a digital scale. The 750 was on sale and kicks ass!

[colorado4wheel]

;6057']+1. I started with the Dillon balance beam scale and quickly picked up a digital scale. The 750 was on sale and kicks ass!

Well, I may do that as well but at this point I want to get rid of the difficult to use/unreliable items on my bench. So that means both my scales will be gone. I want a beam scale even if I have a good digital. Even now, once I get the Lee Scale set up right it doesn't slow me down any, its just getting it set to the right measure that sucks. With my current beam scale my process is to pull a random case, drop the powder in the scale, while the scale settles grab the funnel, scale is mostly settled by then and I read the result, drop charge back in case and reset it in the press. If the Lee scale wasn't so hard to read I wouldn't even replace it. It will be nice to have one that settles a little faster as well. BTW, I just ordered the Dillon Beam and also a Dillon Crimp Die. So I'm set.

[Steve Koski]

I want a beam scale even if I have a good digital. Why? Both can break and get out of calibration.


Even now, once I get the Lee Scale set up right it doesn't slow me down any You obviously haven't tried a good digital scale. It's 100x faster. Can you weigh 5 individual charges almost as fast as you can throw them, without emptying the powder pan? No way!

Digi-scales ROCK!

[colorado4wheel]

Why? Both can break and get out of calibration.


You obviously haven't tried a good digital scale. It's 100x faster. Can you weigh 5 individual charges almost as fast as you can throw them, without emptying the powder pan? No way!

Digi-scales ROCK!

Exactly. So now I at least have a good Beam to compare to my Digital in the future. I also think I will be happy with my better beam. Don't rain on my parade just because I don't want to buy a expensive digital scale.

[Pitmaster]

I did an eBay search for reloading scales (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=Reloading+Scales&category0=) and am curious about any thoughts regarding those sold by Digi-weigh. They sure seem cheap and I'm sure they are worthless. Anyone notice any reasonable scales on the list?

[BigDog[RE]]

Exactly. So now I at least have a good Beam to compare to my Digital in the future. I also think I will be happy with my better beam. Don't rain on my parade just because I don't want to buy a expensive digital scale.

hmm, seems to me that the people raining on your parade were the same people telling you to buy a Dillon instead of a Lee press. How did that work out for you? ;-)

[freakshow10mm]

I did an eBay search for reloading scales (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=Reloading+Scales&category0=) and am curious about any thoughts regarding those sold by Digi-weigh. They sure seem cheap and I'm sure they are worthless. Anyone notice any reasonable scales on the list?
That is exactly the scale I use, but mine is a different brand, Neva, sold by a different eBayer (some sunglass seller). I've used it for over a year and it is still spot on.

http://toy4runnersr5.com/Images/01003a.jpg

[Oreo]

I did some research on this just last week since I just bought my first reloading scale.

Digi-weigh, aka American-weigh scales are cheap scales made in China & imported by a few very shady companies who keep dodging the tax & INS officials. They seem to be cheap knock-offs of very similar scales made by more reputable companies. I found a few reviews that suggest these scales aren't very accurate in spite of their very very high resolution- sometimes as fine as .001grains.

I went with another budget scale that's made by a manufacturer with a better reputation. Still, it was $80 but has resolution and accuracy down to like .05gr or something like that. I got the Jennings JS-VG20. I've found it to be quite accurate & consistent. Tiny little scale but at least I feel like I can trust it.

[colorado4wheel]

;6392']hmm, seems to me that the people raining on your parade were the same people telling you to buy a Dillon instead of a Lee press. How did that work out for you? ;-)

Truth,

They were wrong the first time and right the second time. First time I got the LCT and that is a good press, and a great press to learn on. Second time when I got the LM that was a mistake. I don't see this as the same at all because this time I am buying a lifetime item that is quality. I also for the life of me can't figure out why I would need to weight 5 charges in a row fast very often at all. I seldom weight more then 1 charge at a time. It's always right after I throw the charge on the press. Anyway, if I really want to weight a bunch fast I can use the small digital scale that I already have. It's accurate, it just turns itself off to fast and as a result bugs me for long session were it will sit idle for a while.