I normally use a lyman digial scale, and have a larger, bulky midway scale for backup.
When loading I just put the pan onto the scale, re-zero and dump a load through the doser till I have the right throw.
When both digital scales "died"(not the batteries), considering the urgency of my situation, that I am leaving for a hunting trip in less than 1 month and haven't started load development because I have been unable to obtain the right bullets...

I went out and baught a manual scale...

I started out with some loads for the .454casull, minimum light loads for plinking, and setabout setting the powder thrower to measure out 32grains of H110.

Initially I was on target and thought that any variation would be of little importnace as they loads were so light. After 6 loads I got that nagging doubt and checked the dose to the scale.
It was way out!
So I spent another hour trying to get it on target, with "mixed" and incoherent results.
I finally re-zeroed, for the um-teenth time the scale and put a 55gn check wieght onto it.
It was off target...
It appears that the beam won't sit over the same part of the razor blade, changing the point of zero every time you take the pan off to tempty it.
Either that or the whole thing is faulty.
Now I have to run out and BUY ANOTHER digital scale, 1 hours drive away to save the day and get things under way.

Could it be that I am not using the scale properly or that it is defective, it came from my local gunshop, who are NOT specialists in anything, just a very poorly stocked small town with very little knowledge on anything arms related. It may have been sitting there for the last 10 years moving from one spot to another...

Can I send it to Lee in the US for a re-fund or to have it checked out?
What about the time and money it is costing me to replace it?
I am not able to wait till either of my other digital scales come back from repair so I am a pretty desperate situation.

Anyone had similar experience with this scale?

[ 01-22-2003, 18:59: Message edited by: EXPRESS ]

I have the same experience. I am new to reloading, and I am happy with my Lee but I have been suspecting either the scale is off or the powder thrower is off.

From the sounds of it my scale is junk!

Many guys in here post of nothing but great results with Lee stuff. Unfortunately, I haven't had such good fortune with what little of the Lee equipment I used back when first starting out.

There is NO way I would continue using something as critical as a scale that has demonstrated the inaccuracies you mention. Don't know what you're loading, but, you could get into some dangerous overload conditions, or, at the very least, some really inconsistent loads. I'd trash it and get a quality (RCBS/Redding/Lyman, etc..) scale, or two, and be done with it. Currently, I use TWO scales, one as a cross-check on the other.

Good, quality equipment may cost more, but, it will generally give better service for a longer time, and peace of mind.

R-WEST

The only thing I can think of is to make sure the blade is fixed solidly in the beam, is clean of dust/debris and that the notch of the base is also clean. Zero the scale according to directions (at the 0.0 weight setting -- lock the slide in place with the little pin when you do this) and adjust the knurled nut in/out to get the scale to zero. Also make sure when you do this that the beam is installed centered front-to-back on the notch (you can verify by looking down at the pointer end and making sure it's centerd between the magnets). Then remove the beam, unlock the pin, adjust it for you desired weight and again, lock the slide down. Replace gently back on the base, ensure it's ceneterd again and have at it. If you have check weights in a combination with the exact weight you are throwing, check against that setting just to be safe.

I've found when my scale is adjusted/calibrated accordingly, it agrees spot on with my RCBS check weights. If after doing all this and it still doesn't work, send it back to Lee and they should give you a new one. It includes a two year guarantee from the date of purchase.

Martindog

I'd return the scale to Lee Precision with a note to either repair or replace it. Also, if you want/need a beam balance (scale) consider RCBS mostly on the strength of their lifetime guarantee. E.g., I purchased a 5-0-5 powder scale from them in the '80's, but recently found it was acting erratically. A telephone call to RCBS told me to send the old one to Ohaus in NJ whereupon they would replace it. They did; turnaround time was less than three weeks.

I have been to the next major town along and picked up a Hornady electronic scale, got on with the job...

The main problem must be that the beam won't sit between the two magnets, nor will it sit consistently on the razor blade.

I forgot to mention that I paid 45Euro for it, with is around the same in US dollars, so I will be back at the gunshop tomorrow rather irate and ask for my money back and tell them what the scale ACTUALLY retails for...

All's well that ends well.

I have a love-hate relationship with the Lee products. The biggest hate? THE SCALE !! What a POS. Got rid of the one I had, got a Redding. SA-WEET !

Get your money back. IMHO - Even one in good working order . . . isn't.

There's two kinds of folks in the world. Those who like LEE products and those who don't like pieces of crap

Funny thing, I posted on another thread, (Beam Scales to Cross Check Digital), a couple of days ago, (now rolled to page 2), and expressed my opinion of the Lee scale. I called it an absolute piece of junk. Immediately a couple of posters jumped up and told me I was wrong and that the scale worked perfectly.

Your posted experiences bear out my experience with the Lee scale. I bought two of the Anniversary Kits, one for myself and one for my daughter, thinking they would be a good suppliment to the other equipment we have, and the price seemed very reasonable. Well we have thrown both scales away, and have retired the powder measures due to poor performance. I guess you get what you pay for. Cheap price will get you a cheap/poor/junk product. It's a shame that Lee would market such junk, since they do have some products that are extremely good. When you put products of such poor quality into your product line, People start to be suspect of your whole product line. Just doesn't make sense.

Regards, DLM

I'VE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH ANY OF THE LEE RELOADING EQUIPMENT I'VE GOTTEN OVER THE YEARS.MY SAFETY POWDER SCALE SEEMS TO ALRIGHT. I'VE USED IT TO WEIGH PELLETS FOR MY BEEMAN AND THEY SEEM TO BE ON THE MONEY.THE ONLY THINGS I DON'T CARE FOR FOR IS IT ONLY WEIGHS UP TO 110GRS AND IT IS REALLY TOUCHY IT TAKES A WHILE FOR IT TO SETTLE IN ON BALANCE. HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR LEE POWDER MEASURE IS FAULTY?

THE 2ND AMENDMENT PROTECTS US ALL...........

Lee equipment is inexpensive but not necessarily cheap. I found the scale to be accurate enough, just not able to handle heavier loads. I now use a RCBS scale. The powder measure seems to be just fine, though it had to be 'broken in' first. According to the literature Lee furnished, the Perfect Powder measure needs to be used for awhile before it settles in and gives consistent results. I have found that to be the case, with one of my measures consistently throwing charges within 1/10 grain and the other getting there.
Now, does this mean your scale is working just fine? No, it might be broken, out of adjustment, dinged in shipment or any of a number of other things. Send it back to Lee. Their repair policy is every bit as good as RCBS or Dillon in the first year after purchase. After that, you'll have to make some sort of deal with them but they won't screw you over.

I have a lee scale and used it for years. It cks. ok everytime I check it. Also have a pact digital scale, it reads the same as the lee, quicker so use it more.
Most of the lee stuff I have had is of questionable quality but the scale, collet dies and crimp dies are ok with me.
Just one man's opinon.

Although I don't own a Lee scale, a friend has one and he was wondering about its accuracy and was considering speinding more on a better scale.

I weighed a bunch of stuff on both the Lee scale and my RCBS 1010 scale and they both agreed within .2 grains at all weights between 20 and 80 grains if I recall correctly.

Mind you, the feel of the Lee does not inspire confidence! Nevertheless, I can't argue with my own observations.... I'd buy a Lee scale if money was tight, and I would not lose sleep over the purchase!

jpb

Lee balance beam scales are pure JUNK. When I had my reloading shop, I sold some of the Lee reloading kits. I would NEVER use or recommend ANYONE use the scales. They are pure JUNK and TOTALLY unreliable. DO NOT USE THESE SCALES.

C'mon, Rich. Quit beating around the bush and tell us how you REALLY feel about them

On a more serious note - you probably got more customer feedback on Lee's other products when you ran your shop than anybody else here. Did you get a lot of complaints about their dies, presses, etc..?

R-WEST

Lee press, Lee powder measure, priming tool, scale. NRA Master,service rifle, Presidents 100, Distinguished Rifleman. Don't seem to be holding me back any.

i started with the lee kit. i strugled for hours with the scale. it got to the point where i didn't trust it at all. for anything. i pulled all my bullets and tossed the powder. i ground that scale into the shop floor. little pieces. i bought a digital and have been happier than a clam ever since. i also have a 505 as a backup and that works slick also. i wouldn't cross the street for a truckload of lee scales......
woofer

The feedback from my customers about Lee products was usually favorable. The dies want to rust unusually easy. When I started selling the Anniversary Kits I opened several kits up. I was concerned from the start about the scales. I actually set up about 4 of the scales on my display counter and started toying with them. I coundn't get one of them to perform to any consistancy. Scared the crap out of me. I actually sold those reloading kits without the scales. I then scrapped them. Lee collet dies, factory crimp dies, and hand prime tools are some of the better products that Lee produces.