While loading up some ammo today I noticed something that had me wondering if something is wrong with my scale.

I arrived at my charge of 79.3 grains by dumping the powder into the pan. I found that if I lifted the pan from the scale, and then put it back down on the scale, I would get a different reading...not much but anywhere from a few 10th's of a grain to 1/2 of a grain.

Is this "normal?" If it is then, which reading do you use?

I always calibrate before use and reset Zero after weighing a charge if it doesn't read 0.0UPDATE

No it is not normal. I had one that did the 10 years or so ago. Since the chargemaster came out 7-8 years ago I have been running a pair of them.

Great! Just loaded 50 rounds with it.

What now??

Yes, that is perfectly normal and endemic with electronic scales. Various conditions such as static in the air, warmer and cooler air currents circulating from your HVAC, and even small pulses of electromagnetic radiation from something like a wrist watch, cell phone, or nearby appliance like a washing machine or refrigerator can cause these variances. If you want precise and consistent weights get a balance beam scale.

Once again Stonecreek comes through for me...thanks my friend!

I will buy a beam scale. Funny but the simplest is always best.

So assuming that my charges vary by 1.4 1.5grn, do you think it will effect accuracy in my groups?

Try turning it on with the pan already in place. That's what works for me .

We found out the hard way many of the digital powder measures/scales are effected by electromagnetic interference.
Depending on the type of circuitry used the scales are subject to Cell Phones, Microwave ovens,High Tension lines near by, florescent light fixtures and if you have forced air to heat the house, the sudden change in air temperature/air flow.
I no longer use them for these reason. I went back to an electric balance beam scale.
There are scales that have the newer electronics that are less prone to interference.

No, this is not normal.

I have been using the RCBS digital scale for many years.

I always turn it on as soon as I walk into the loading room. Whether I am going to use it or not that day.

Before using it, I run a check on it with the weights supplied.

Never had any problems with it at all.

In fact, ours is used in a place where there is a stereo amplifier is less than 2 feet away, and I sometimes leave my cell phone no more than a few inches from it.

Thank Rob!

I am going to get myself a beam scale.

Assuming my loads have a deviation of up to 1/2gr do you think that my accuracy/groups will be affected?

A reply from the man himself....thank you Saeed!!

Do you think that my group size will be effected, assuming that my powder charges vary by up to 1/2 grain? Or is it close enough to not matter?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
No, this is not normal.

I have been using the RCBS digital scale for many years.

I always turn it on as soon as I walk into the loading room. Whether I am going to use it or not that day.

Before using it, I run a check on it with the weights supplied.

Never had any problems with it at all.

In fact, ours is used in a place where there is a stereo amplifier is less than 2 feet away, and I sometimes leave my cell phone no more than a few inches from it.

Agreed. Not normal to have a scale do that. I would call RCBS and get it back to them for repair. I run two chargemasters at the same time then dump those charges on an acculab for the minor adjustmen/double check. All three scales will read the same weight with the acculab being more accurate because of the .02 grain readout.

It depends on what you mean by normal. I have a digital gram scale (I don't use it for reloading) which can show a difference of about .8 g (about 12.3 gr) from a gentle breath on the pan. Granted it is not as precision of a scale, but if there is any force of any kind on that pan, it will be measured.

Like Saeed's mine stays pretty much right on. It can wander off over the time by 0.1 grains sometimes but I just rezero with the pan on the scale . As he suggests I just turn it on and let it be warm and stable. Same for my 1500 Chargemaster too.

When loading I have them plugged in to a UPS just for fun too to be sure there are no spikes there to cause any trouble.

I use my 750 to weight bullets or to check powder drops etc and it stays right on with the beam mechanical scales . I do calibrate it when I turn it on per the RCBS instructions but it is pretty much always the same.

quote:

Originally posted by Leopardtrack:
A reply from the man himself....thank you Saeed!!

Do you think that my group size will be effected, assuming that my powder charges vary by up to 1/2 grain? Or is it close enough to not matter?

First thing you need do is check your scale that there is nothing wrong with it.

Second thing is I don't know what you are using 79 grains loads for.

But, I would almost be certain unless you are shooting a match rifle, you will not see much difference in a variation of half a grain.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
No, this is not normal.

I have been using the RCBS digital scale for many years.

I always turn it on as soon as I walk into the loading room. Whether I am going to use it or not that day.

Before using it, I run a check on it with the weights supplied.

Never had any problems with it at all.

No disrespect to anyone who is willing to cope with the idiosyncrasies of an electronic scale, but with a balance beam scale there is no warm up time, no need to regularly recheck/recalibrate it, and no concerns about electromagnetic or air current interference. Any good balance beam scale will weigh within .05 grains each and every time, even when a stray current of air occurs when the AC kicks in.

Insofar as Leopardtrack's loads, which may vary as much as a half-grain, I wouldn't worry too much about them. Such a powder weight variation in a large capacity case creates less variation in velocity or pressure than other uncontrolled vagaries do. It is unlikely that in a double-blind test you could ever tell the difference in groups fired with those loads versus precisely weight loads, at least in a hunting (rather than bench) rifle.

Fellas,

I just spoke with RCBS Customer Service and they said that the fluctuations are NOT normal and advised me to return the unit for a new one.

I am going to buy a beam scale as well to proof my charges.

Saeed, my 79.3gr charges of Alliant Reloader 33 are just under max for the 7mm Rem Mag with 168gr bullets in my 26" Benchmark barrel. It is a 106% compression load. I do feel the powder crush a bit when I seat those long boat-tail bullets but they do stay in place once seated.
My buddy did a Quick Load for me.

I tried out RL-25, RL-33, IMR 4350, and MagPro, and found that the RL-33 gave me the highest velocity just below Max than the others did with Max load. I tried the RL-33 at Max of 79.5gr, but found that the 79.3 charge was a bit more accurate so I stopped with that.

I'll be interested to see if the new scale performs any differently from the old one. Be sure to post once you've had a chance to use it enough to make a determination.

I definitely will....sending it in today

quote:

Originally posted by Leopardtrack:
Fellas,

I just spoke with RCBS Customer Service and they said that the fluctuations are NOT normal and advised me to return the unit for a new one.

I am going to buy a beam scale as well to proof my charges.

Saeed, my 79.3gr charges of Alliant Reloader 33 are just under max for the 7mm Rem Mag with 168gr bullets in my 26" Benchmark barrel. It is a 106% compression load. I do feel the powder crush a bit when I seat those long boat-tail bullets but they do stay in place once seated.
My buddy did a Quick Load for me.

I tried out RL-25, RL-33, IMR 4350, and MagPro, and found that the RL-33 gave me the highest velocity just below Max than the others did with Max load. I tried the RL-33 at Max of 79.5gr, but found that the 79.3 charge was a bit more accurate so I stopped with that.

How long have you had the scale? Their website indicates that the electronic scales are under warranty for ONE year from the date of purchase. It's not uncommon to see this type of warranty with anything electronic now days.

Their dies and presses are lifetime warranty for the original owners. Sometimes people seem to think that RCBS will warranty all of their products for a lifetime of use. If you ownership of the scale is beyond a year and you are getting a replacement perhaps I should try again.

I have been having problems with a very old RCBS electronic scale with the scale constantly moving from 0.1 to 0.4 grains whether resting or with a load of powder. I called up RCBS and had a different experience with them for the first time. Not entirely bad but not very professional. I told the guy what model of scale I had and he said that it was OLD and out of warranty but he would see if he could find the manual on how to rezero it and see if that helped. He said with a scale that OLD he didn't know if he could find one. The the background noise began and also the 15 minute wait. But he was trying to help. He came back on to tell me that a scale that OLD just didn't have a manual around. But when they get that OLD they just stop weighing accurately. I did tell him that I was aware that it was old and that he had reminded me about 7-10 times that it was old.

He ended up saying "Well, sorry about that, sir,but a scale that OLD is out of warranty" I thanked him for his efforts and will call again on Monday. I hope they connect me with a different person.

Teancum,

I have had the scale for only 6 months or so. RCBS has it by now so I will let you know what happens.

Your problem sounds similar to mine, so hopefully my outcome will help you as well.

If I were you, I think that I would just send the scale back to them and see what happens...what have you got to loose at this point?

The scale we are using is the RCBS 1500.

And with the amount of loading we do here, there is no way we will go back to a normal scale.

I don't know if this will help or not but when my Lyman started to kinda float around, I call them up and a nice lady said to wipe it down with one of the anti-static dryer cloths. I did and it worked.

It would like to let you all know that I received a package today from RCBS and upon opening it I found that they replaced my 750 scale with a brand-new one free of charge!

There was nothing enclosed reporting what was wrong with my old one but I am not complaining.

I received the new scale exactly 10 days after I sent out the old one, so top grades for RCBS Customer Service!

Give us a report on your new scale's performance once you've had a chance to use it a few times.