I was thinking of getting a digital scale I think it could be a little faster and easier to use. What kind do you guys recommend & do you like them better over the beam type.

I have been using a Pact (makes RCBS) digital scale and dispenser since my stepfather passed away and left it to me. It definitely is not faster than a beam scale and powder dump (as far as I am concerned) since the last several tenths of a grain are trickled into the scale, this has never bothered me such since I like to load at a leasurely pace. The accuracy has always seemed quite acceptable to me ( + or - 1/10 of a grain). Mine seems to tend toward the + side of the charge so I set it 1/10 of a grain light and use the trickle button to bring it to the charge I want to load. There are a few quirks to using them at times though. They need to be set on a very stable, draft free surface to eliminate vibrations and wind currents being passed to the scale. Some of them require a 15-20 minute warm up and aclimation time also, I haven't ever noticed this with mine, but I have heard some people say that it is required with theirs. After the charge is dropped I wait 3-5 seconds for the scale to settle in to the final weight. There are some powders that are too small to use with them because the grains are smaller than the bushing tolerances inside the dispenser and will cause it to jam, H110 W296 and H380 cannot be used in mine because of this. Even so, I still use mine over a powder drop and beam scale 95% of the time.

I've been using the PACT ( scale only, no dispenser ) for the past year. It's not much faster than a beam scale but I do like the positive LED read-out on it. Also works nice with a powder trickler.

I also like to use it for sorting bullets by weight when I have time to burn.

I use a PACT and agree with the other posters on the speed and convenience.

I use three different analog (beam balance) scales.

I own a second hand Mettler laboratory scale.
It is very exact (0,015 grs) and very fast.
The only nuisance is air movement.

I love my RCBS Digital Scale....

I have used the rcbs digital scale since they became available and find it much faster than any beam scale I have used.It really cuts down my loading time.

The last few years my interest in this topic has led to the following observations:
1) In the under $200 range for a scale, the beams seem to be more repeatable. Don't have any real input on the absolute accuracy as it is of lesser importance in the big picture.
2) I've really only messed with 1 electronic scale in this price range, with a powder dispenser. It had some problems including the warm up time as well as repeatability issues. It was not within advertised tolerances even when the readout indicated correct weight.
3) Next move was to get a $500 electronic scale with advertised .001 gram readout(about.015 gr). The linearity (accuracy) was supposed to be +/- 2 units of resolution which now meant I should be able to get within .05 gr of repeatabilty. This, like the earlier electronic scale, had a wandering zero problem which always made one wonder.
4) Enter a Denver Instruments scale with .01 gr readout for bigger $. This is a real scale. Zero wander is much reduced but still there at times.

There are 2 primary uses we reloaders need a scale for:
a) How much does this thing weigh? e.g. sorting brass
Here is where an electronic scale shines and the beam is a pain.
b)Weighing out repeated amounts of something. e.g. weighing powder charges.
There is no real advantage of one SYSTEM over the other provided the scale used repeats properly and that is what I see as the problem with an inexpensive electronic scale.

One thing to bear in mind...just because a scale has a readout that says '46.5 gr', does it really weigh that amount? In absolute terms, whether it's 46.3 or 46.6 is not THAT critical, except every time we put the same weight on it we want it to REPEAT. In other words...absolute accuracy is less a concern than repeatabilty.
For weighing brass...I use an electronic.
For weighing powder charges...I use a good beam scale system, the Prometheus. My confidence in the repeatabilty of this scale is better than any other 'reloading scale' I have ever used.

brandx, couldn't agree more. my compliments, well stated. jim.........

I use the RCBS system of powder measuer and digital scale. I think its speeds up the overal time frame of loading a box of ammo. While the powder measuer is calibrating for the specific powder being used I'm priming cases. Once the powder charge is determined and powder is being dispensed I'm seating bullets. I can do more things at the same time and spped up the process. If I'm working up a new load however and want to try several powders then I'll use a beam scale.

I am currently using a Lyman digital scale that was originaly designed for weighing arrow shafts. (cedar shafts) It has 1000gr capacity and it came with a calibration weight, with a calibration mode built in. It also weighs in English or Metric mode.

It too can at times have a "wondering Zero" problem but I found that that was linked to either air currents, (when used out of doors, under a tent, for weighing wood shafts at archery shows) or unstable/unlevel work sufaces.

I still use a powder measure set to throw about 1/2 to 1 grain under the desired charge weight. I then use my electric trickler to finish off the desired charge weight.

If I remember correctly this scale was priced in the $500 range. It has served me well. We used to weigh several thousand cedar shafts a year over the course of 4 years.

Check my previous posts on the Denver Instrument Accurate Load IV. It ALWAYS WORKS PEREFECTLY.

I use my PACT digital scale to set the power dispenser on my Dillon 550B and to weigh things such as bullets. For that it is much faster than a balance beam

Been using a Lyman for years, no problems that I have seen that are machine related. Yes , I do have to watch the air currents, but i truly enjoy the speed at which it works

I use the Dillon D-terminator, old style digital scale. I don't think they make this exact model anymore. It cost $160. The new style costs about $110.

Why do I like it? It weighs up to 1200 grains, or 75 grams, has really big numbers on a slanted panel for easy viewing, is very repeatably accurate--I use the whole range of check weights and it always matches. It works on AC current or a 9V battery. There are no poise to get bumped into the wrong notch and it has a dust cover to keep out the grime when not in use. Also, the blue color matches my other Dillon products...Square Deal B and RL550

I use it the same way as I did my Ohaus beam scale; throw a light load from my powder measure, then trickle in the last few kernels with a pill bottle having about 50 grains of powder. Or if I'm using spherical powder, throw a charge set right on the money and then weigh it for my own peace of mind. It is not any more accurate than my beam scale but more user friendly.

I've gone back to beam scales for reloading, but I find my pact scale invaluble for weighing brass, bullets and water volume of cases for working up a wildcat load. I would get one and even if you don't use it for what you bought it for you will probably use it for other things.

Ditto the Dillon D-terminator. Not any faster weighing powder charges, IMO, but can't be beat for speed when weighing cast bullets. I still have my RCBS 10-10. I compare them against each other from time to time. The Dillon weighs less than 0.1 heavier than the RCBS, but remains consistent.

Eddie

[ 01-04-2003, 19:43: Message edited by: Eddie ]

I use the RCBS dispenser and scale, I like it alot.

I use a Hornady digital scale, for weighing brass, bullets, spot-checking cartridges.
I use an RCBS 10-10 for check-weighing powder charges. I throw the charges with a Redding BR3, and its accuracy and repeatability is exceptional.
Regards, George

i agree with dennis f. i use mine 99% of the time and am very happy with it.i also set it 1/10 of a grain light.i do use an ohaus tripple beam scale to check accuracy of the digital scale.if mine went into the bag, i would buy another one.

I love my RCBS digital scale. Much faster than my balance beam but both are accurate.

I have been using a Dillon old style for the past five years. It cost about $160, has been replaced no questions asked once but should have been sent back several times. My Dillon's have a constant tendency to drift off by a few 1oths at a time till it's noticed, then have to go back and redo? Dillon says it needs to be warmed up but I turn it own about two hours before I'm ready for it and still has the same problem.

Bottom line it'ss quick but drifts, powder dribblers is difficult to use wityh it so will go back to my triple-beam and send this back again.

The RCBS needs to be warmed up too for about 20-30 minutes. It is stable as a rock after that. I calibrate mine every time I turn it on, then set the 20 gram check wt on it. It weighs 308.6 grains. the scale usually drifts to 309.3 after 20-30 min and stabilizes there. When it does, I recalibrate and am ready to go. I check it often to make sure it is still reading 308.6 grains just to be sure my loads have been on the money. How often you check is up to you. I love the damn thing now that I know what's happening in the first thirty minutes after turning it on, before that I kinda wondered a little... Temperature is the only thing I've found that messes with the calibration. My Dillon moves the bench a bit but never messes with it, air movement either. Electronic devices on the same electrical circut close by make it go fruity sometimes. I keep my RCBS Case Prep Center away from it aways, it's an offender if too close.

whichever type scale you prefer, it is only as good as the calibration.

When I was licensed, it was a guarded secret that Rice Lake Engineering would sell to anyone, dealer or not.

This is the best place I know of to get components to build any type of weighing system, or to get calibrated test weights.

Me, I've never thought it necessary to know how much the powder weighed, I just cram in as much Bullseye as I can and squeeze it down with the bullet

Yea, me too. Never use the scales. Just pack it full with as much Bulleye and cram it down with the Bullet!! hee, hee. . .

I use a Pact electronic scale. I let it warm to room temperature for about 20 minutes, and then calibrate it. I have only used electronic scales since I started reloading, and so far I am pleased on how accurate this one is.

got the RCBS scale--chris

I had been using an RCBS/PACT clone etc. As far as utility is concerned they are great and I prefer them over balances. However, their reproducibility absolutely SUCKS. They are only accurate to within +/- .1gr so your 60.0gr charge may be 60.09 or 59.91.

I recently remeasured some charges after pulling bullets and several of my 60.0gr charges wound up being 60.1.......which one is correct ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?

Unacceptable to me. I did a web search and found a jeweler's scale: a Tanita 1210-100, which measures up to +/- .01gr, for about $60 more than those PACTS/RCBS pieces of shit.