Is there such a thing as a reliable digital scale for powder the doesn't cost a hundred or more?

Matt

I`m not sure about cheaper digitals but there are a lot of very reliable beam scales for half that price. I`ve a Pact (over $100) that I use for weighing bullets, cases, ect but for powder beam scales are just fine. I use my RCBS 10-10 when loading and feel it`s just as fast for my purposes and less likely to be out of kilter.

IMO

I have an older model of RCBS. The response time is not for me. I prefer, like Ol' Joe, the 10-10 for doing my loads.
I do use the digital for getting close to the powder charge when setting up the measurer. I also use it for weighing bullets and cases.
To trickle into the RCBS scale I have is just to slow on reaction, not sure of the newer models or other manufacturers.

I have the Pact but I use it just like Joe and Smedley. I find the Pact very susceptible to drafts

quote:

Is there such a thing as a reliable digital scale for powder the doesn't cost a hundred or more?

I'd say no. The problem I have w/ digitals is they are not very good for very precise rifle reloading, when trickling powder for that last 10th or so all of the sudden it jumps past your intended weight and it just takes more time than the good ole' beam scales. W/ a beam, you can trickle w/ ease and easily know when it's getting close.

OTOH They are great for weighing cases and bullets as well as just checking a charge while throwing charges w/ a powder measure.

Good Luck

Reloader

I took a chance a few weeks ago and got a twenty dollar scale from ebay. I was having the same problem that y'all are having. slow reaction and jumping thru numbers. I guess I will stick with the beam.
Thanks
Matt

I use a powder measure (old RCBS) and a 10-10 scale with a trickler. It's pretty fast.

Rich

Had an RCBS digital and used it for about 3 sessions. Got tired of rezeroing it about every 15 weighings and sold it. Went back to my old beam balance and haven't missed it one bit.

You Guys! I use the new RCBS electronic powder measurer. I jave a Hornady small electric scale that I check every 10 rounds. How mny cases an hour can you load with your balance beam. I load 200 per hour on my stuff and rarely am off more than 0.1 on any charge. Much more accurate than thrown charges the bench rest shooters produce.

I have the pact. I think you can get them from Midway for about $90.

I have a PACT and have not used it for over a year. It was WAY too touchy. When it started to not hold a zero I sent it back to factory and they changed the chip but it still wasn't right. The #1 reason for me stopping using it is I would weight out a charge remove it from the platen and then re-weigh it and get a differant reading by 2-3/10ths, high and low at random.

Like "reloader" says I am very happy w/ my tripple beam and a trickler. I can throw a charge and trickle right up to theexact load the first time everytime.

If anyone wants my PACT I'l gladly send it to you for $40 . Thats like 60% off the pice I paid for it.

Joe

I have a Dillon digital, and its OK, but I found that it "drifts" compared with my old Lyman balance beam.

On the other hand, I just got one of these powder measuring RCBS machines and I have to echo the post above, that it is quite accurate, easily within + or - a tenth of a grain, which is as accurate as I am for sustained loading. I have checked it against both the Dillon and the Lyman, and it is very accurate and proves my earlier statement that the Dillon will drift. Kudude

DITTO, on the RCBS, the chargemaster is the best reloading toll I have bought.

Another vote for the Chargemaster.
I parked a very reliable RCBS 5-10 over a year ago and will probably never touch it again except to occasionally crosscheck the Chargemaster .
I might need it to reload during a power outage someday.

For speed ,convenience and repeatability the RCBS setup is great.

Don't have any experience with the Pact as much negative feedback ,during the research that led to the RCBS, warned me away from them.

The RCBS is a little slow when you get into large charge weights,but with .243 sized cases it will weigh a charge in the time it takes to seat the bullet on the previously filled round.



Save your money until you can purchase a Chargemaster.

JMO

Covey16

This is one of those areas where every one seems to have strong feelings.

In truth there are good beam scales and poor ones. There are also good digital scales and poor ones.

Most inexpensive beam scales I have used are so insensitive that I will no longer use them. Sure they don't vary with the air currents, temp changes, etc., to the extent digital scales do. Unfortunately, they don't vary as much with different weights of powder charges (different "throws" from the measure) as they should, either.

They are also sometimes inaccurate when dust gets in the area where the knife edges bear, and believe it or not, they too suffer from errors caused by temp changes and air currents. (Increasing temp does lengthen the beam, and vice-versa.) Unfortunately, their readings are so course those differences often do not show. That doesn't mean they are not there. It may be very interesting to take "check weights" from a contolled temp storage unit and use them to calibrate beam scales, when the scales themselves are in different ambient temp enivronments.


Digital scales are sensitive to both air currents and temp changes, but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to make an environment for such scales where they will suffer very little from those problems.

Anyway, I load all my ammo now using digital scales, and my several Ohaus and other makes of beam scales spend their lives in a dark cabinet, slumbering on the shelves.

Count me as one of those who was dissatisfied with their RCBS digital scale and went back to the good old 10/10. Just too much variance for me with the digital.

There's a market for one that can come up with a very good digital scale. So far it hasn't been done.