I have rediscovered the reloading hobby, started in the '60's and stopped for a few decades. I have a Uniflow measure I've used for years but am wondering about the new metering scales - is this the new way to go? Is it as fast as dumping with a measure. I would guess the metering scales are much more accurate. Are they worth the cost? Thanks.

I have a Lyman 55 and a Pact BBK. Those two I just love. I have a new Lyman 1200 and it's fairly accurate. If the temp in my room stays the same. I shoot benchrest and have found that when I throw a load they seem to work better. Vs. electrical metering. This to could be in my head... I am a control freak. Mark

I have the RCBS Chargemaster 1500, it is the best money I have spent on a long time. Fast, accurate and very simple to calibrate. My balance scale is in storage. I do use my powder measure for the 223, it is faster on the very high volume I load for it.

For stick powders & rifle charges, I see great value in the automated measures. For handgun rounds & ball powder, a good drop type powder measure is far faster & just as accurate.

1911, I have accumulated one of each type of scale and a metering/scale as well. It really depends upon which type of powder or loading you are doing to see which is best. Sometimes I find myself using two scales at once to verify, and try to add consistancy. They all have their place.

Generally, a good analog beam scale will be more accurate if calibrated properly. The problem with digital scales is the rounding process and the fact that as the internal electronics warm up, they tend to change values. If your resolution is 1/10 grain, you can be off by 1/2 of 1/10...as in any digital instrument...and not know whether it rounded up or down. That said, I use a digital scale and zero it before weighing every charge for at least the first 20 minutes, the amount of time it seems to take to stabilize. I think most of us can live with being off 1/20th of a grain.

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Originally posted by ELKMAN2:
I have the RCBS Chargemaster 1500, it is the best money I have spent on a long time. Fast, accurate and very simple to calibrate. My balance scale is in storage. I do use my powder measure for the 223, it is faster on the very high volume I load for it.

+1

If my shed burned down and I was faced with going out to buy powder dispensing equipment I would START with a high quality manually operated drop type powder measure, a good beam balance, a manual trickeler, and two sets of Lee powder dippers. On one set of dippers I would remove .050" to .075" from the lip of each.

As you again get deeper into reloading you will be able to make more meaningful determinations on more equipment depending on your demonstrated need. roger

It's much faster to just throw the charges about a half to one grain short of your load with something like a Uniflow and trickle them up to charge. I've found that my Pact is too sensative to drafts.

A good beam balance will get you there everytime.

On my ball powders I just used the Uniflow and measure about every tenth round.

Oh and in passing the battery in your beam balance doesn't die on you at the most inopportune time.

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Originally posted by Zupspoon:
Generally, a good analog beam scale will be more accurate if calibrated properly. The problem with digital scales is the rounding process and the fact that as the internal electronics warm up, they tend to change values. If your resolution is 1/10 grain, you can be off by 1/2 of 1/10...as in any digital instrument...and not know whether it rounded up or down. That said, I use a digital scale and zero it before weighing every charge for at least the first 20 minutes, the amount of time it seems to take to stabilize. I think most of us can live with being off 1/20th of a grain.

And just how do you judge where EXACTLY your pointer is resting on your ballance beam? You have to be able to discern if it is exactly in the same position each time. Also the wait while it stops oscillationg is maddening!

I have the pact dispensor/scale combo. if it ever quits working, I will decide whether the lyman of RCBS dispensor would be my next purchase.

This goes back to the old argument as to whether it's best to load by volume,(cavity type measures), or by weight,(trickling or digital dispensors).

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Originally posted by grizz:

And just how do you judge where EXACTLY your pointer is resting on your ballance beam? You have to be able to discern if it is exactly in the same position each time. Also the wait while it stops oscillationg is maddening!).

I may be sorry to point this out ,but," You don't wait, Grizz." roger

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This goes back to the old argument as to whether it's best to load by volume,(cavity type measures), or by weight,(trickling or digital dispensors).

Well some of the best groups in the world are shot by BR shooters. They almost all throw their charges by volume. So you can't discount the method.

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Originally posted by Jay Johnson:

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This goes back to the old argument as to whether it's best to load by volume,(cavity type measures), or by weight,(trickling or digital dispensors).

Well some of the best groups in the world are shot by BR shooters. They almost all throw their charges by volume. So you can't discount the method.

Uh huh, but look at their rifles, ultra precise, heavy and shot off of massive benches and rests. The bullets are also made by hand, not what we buy off the shelves. I once watched a benchrester vary his powder charge by a couple grains, looking for a "smaller group". He already was around 3/8 inch, it didn't make ANY difference.

Another argument going on is loading on a progressive, using powder measures like the dillon bar measure. I use my Hornady measure on my dillon to load .223. I can see no problem with accuracy when doing this. I even tried varget with 69 G nosler HPBT. Another experiment I'm doing is to throw some charges with my dispensor while loading on the dillon. I removed the Hornady measure and simply poured the powder through the charge die. Of course this made loading a Pain In The Azz, but I should be able to compare the groups between thrown charges and trickled.

+2 on the Chargemaster 1500..
One thing about the 1500 that wasn't really mentioned is, it responds to very small amounts of trickled powder very well. If just one kernel of powder is enough to register the next tenth of a grain, it will tell you quickly.
So one can load charges of large grained powder much faster than the throw 1/2gr. light and trickle the rest method.
And I haven't had to calibrate the Chargemaster scale in months. It's right on every time I use it.

Sierra Bullets tests all their bullets (match, hunting, plinking, etc.) with metered charges. They don't weigh 'em to exact amounts. While their test barrels are among the best and they have to be so only the bullet quality is measured, the fact is that they probably shoot all their bullets into smaller groups than anybody else.

Another +1 for the Chargemaster. I load a lot of stick powder and love how fast and consistent it is for me. Just about the time to seat a bullet, put it in the box and my next charge is done.

Eric