20 June 2004, 14:45
DeutschlanderIs this common?
I got started loading a couple years or so ago with a Lee Anniversary kit. It has seemed to do the job OK, but I finally decided that the powder scale was just too much trouble to work with and bought a Redding #2. I used it for the first time today and it was much better than the previous outfit. However I discovered to my consternation as I was loading that the Redding was consistently weighing charges at around .2gr less than the Lee. At first I thought the difference might be the warmer temperatures I was working in, so when I finished I set up the Lee(which I still have) and weighed a single charge on both scales. Sure enough, .2gr difference.
I wasn't too pleased about the situation, since this particular load is near maximum and I have to make sure it's right. Is it common for scales by different manufacturers to disagree? Is this impossible to avoid?
20 June 2004, 15:18
DigitalDanIn answer to your first question, yes. As to the second, yes, maybe. 2 tenths of a grain is a small fraction of most loads and probably not discernable in the finished product, unless you're loading the .25 ACP or other small capacity case. If I understood correctly your new press is dropping charges that are .2 LESS than the old. That would be construed as safer by most. I do NOT throw or allow bushings to measure Maximum charges for any of my loads because I don't really trust them to that degree. I'm not familiar with your equipment so I may be misinterpreting what you said.
What cartridge are you reloading, and what is your load?
.2 grains is not out of bed for two scales to differ. I have an RCBS 5-0-5 scale that I have used for about two years and recently purchased an RCBS Micro Pro digital. I compared the two and they were within .1 grain. I go with the digital since it has calibration weights and I can recalibrate if the weights indicate slightly off on the display.
20 June 2004, 15:38
Ol` JoeMost of the scales sold by reloading tool companies claim +/- .1 gr accuracy. It appears you`ve one thats measuring +.1 and one measuring -.1. I own two RCBS scales (a old 505 & a 10-10) both seem to agree on a given weight. I also have a Pact digital that shows a .1 variation at some weight ranges from the beam scales.
20 June 2004, 16:06
DeutschlanderDigitalDan; thanks for your input. It's the scale that differs, rather than the measure. Since this load is close to maximum, I usually weigh the first ten charges or so to make sure I'm OK, then every once in awhile thereafter. Indeed .2gr under would be safer, but it was awhile before I realized what was happening, and so I began using a slower stroke with the measure, trying to get the charges up where I wanted them. I'll be OK, but some of the charges will be a little on the warm side.
This is a .357mag. load, and I try to keep it between 16 and 16.2gr. The powder is vv N110.
Hope that clarifies things a bit.
Assuming that these are both scales that use small weights that you move along the arms, 0.2 grains isn't much of a difference.