I bought a new RCBS 1010 because my Pact scale was constantly drifting even after 2 trips back for warranty work. I thought for a long time the Pact was the cats meow but I sort of forgot how many times I had to rezero it while weighing powder charges. The electronic scales still have there place for weighing cases, bullets, etc. But the way they sort of "stick" then go way over while trickling in powder sucks.
I been doing this reloading game for 40 years and sometimes newer is not better. I am actually able to load up a couple of boxes of rifle loads faster with the old style beam than I was with the electric models.

I agree 100%; the very same story happened to me few months ago. My electronic Dillon scale luckily died, so I switched back to my old Lyman 505.....what a relief !

I've never found an electronic scale I liked.....so I didn't have to switch back.....

You guys are all getting smarter with age. Have been using a 505 since 1956 with no regrets. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Ditto. Balance beams are the only way to weigh and trickle-up powder charges because digitals are the pits for that.

In fact, the ONLY time a digital would matter to me is for weighting cases because bullet variations normally fall within the range of my '65 model of the 1010 without moving the poise. I weigh cases so seldom that paying the inflated price of a digital "Drift-Master" Scale for that would be foolish.

Yup, me too. No more digital scales for me either.

I use a RCBS electronic scale and have never experienced the problems described above.

You do have to give it a warm up period though.

Here is my balance beam and powder measure. This is my travel kit for the range and in camp. I made these items 18 years ago and found that the beam had to be reduced in size because it was so sensitive. This is about 7 inches long. I posted this reloader a few years ago, but some still missed this loader.

I was never satisfied with any of the digital scales as they not only drifted, but they gave different readings when weighing the same item. And, they are slower than molasses in Alaska.
I did buy a Denver Instruments APX 153 that works perfectly, but not useable for loading.
I continue to use an old Ohaus beam balance scale which fits in the loading process perfectly. I could never adapt to using a digital for loading, unless it is something like the RCBS 1500 Chargemaster that deivers the correct weight with the push of a button. I'll stick with the Ohaus for now.
I use the Denver scale for weighing cases, bullets and 22 Rimfire ammo for sorting, so it does get lots of use. When you place a specimen in the pan, the reading is there, right now. No waiting around for the reading.

Don

Went through two digitals fast. Still have a Lyman 1200 that gets very little use. Have two Redding beams, one with 50 yrs. of use and one only slightly used as a spare. The price was right on the second Redding a few yrs. back and I couldn't pass it up. roger

Huh!? I've had the pact/RCBS powder pro for almost ten years. It has always worked every time I turn it on, seldom have to do a calibration. I got and use a set of lyman check weights, they always weigh the same, must be something wrong!

I then bought a pact dispenser to pair up with the scale, it too works flawlessly. The only balance beam I have is a lee, when I'm feeling paranoid, I check the pact digital against it. The readings are always off by one tenth lighter for the pact.

I don't see how the heck anybody could say a balance beam scale could be faster than a digital. Especially when weighing an unknown weight. Messing around with the weights on the pose to get the scale to balance, is a PITA! Then waiting until the beam stops oscillating to a perfect zero can take a long time. The digital shows the weight right now!

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
The electronic scales still have there place for weighing cases, bullets, etc. But the way they sort of "stick" then go way over while trickling in powder sucks.

Are you condemning every non-balance beam scale on your Pact experience alone? It certainly reads that way.

I haven't chucked my '71 version Ohaus 1010 scale cause it doesn't eat anything, but I also haven't used it for over 10 years since I got the original Dillon D-terminator with 1200gr capacity. It works fast and accurate with everything from 3 grain pistol loads to 1 1\4oz lead shot charges. I'm so glad mine doesn't give me any grief cause you couldn't PAY me to revert back to a slow as molasses, hard to read and adjust, beam scale. No way, no how!

Grizz, for me this is what happens using my Pact or my friends RCBS scale:
I trickle in the last amount of powder and the numbers on the scale barely move and then all of a sudden I am over. I remove the pan and a few kernals of powder and sit it back on the scale and then notice the wieghts are off more than they should be.
I also have weighed the same items during different days and have gotten different readings. I am glad your electric scales work but I am much happier going back to the beam style.
Electrics are still great for weighing items such as bullets and cases but in my experience not for powder charges that are trickled in. Seems a lot here agree with that as well. But hey, it is a free country Use what is best for you.

quote:

Originally posted by grizz:
Huh!? I've had the pact/RCBS powder pro for almost ten years. It has always worked every time I turn it on, !

The two that I had might have been just as good had I not been so heavy handed and destroyed them. It was easier to go back to the beam than trying to become delicate. Also you don't have to wait for a beam to stop it's excursions. roger

Once I have my powder measure dispensing the correct weight charge,I use a balance beam scale to check evry 10th load.I had a Pact and was dissapointed with it.

The Lyman has been with me since 1970, and I use it to verify the Dillon!

quote:

my '71 version Ohaus 1010 scale cause it doesn't eat anything, but I also haven't used it for over 10 years since I got the original Dillon D-terminator with 1200gr capacity.

A friend bought the original Dillon D-Terminator and it never worked right. It would not stay zeroed for more than 3 loads. He gave it to me and later bought the RCBS partner.
I let the Dillon set in my closet new and unused for 8 years. When they changed models I asked to send it back and they gave me a new model that works great for weighing brass and bullets. I have his RCBS Partner now too. It works ok for brass and bullets but I NEVER weigh powder with a digital.

so, heres a funny thing about electronics... they have a shelf life of about 18months until they are both perfected and 80% lower in cost

every $600 cellphone is 40 bucks in 18months..
the hottest casette tape player (these actually have some cool tech in them) is 14.99 in 2 years

Cd players, what used to be 1000 bucks 5 years ago, you can't BUY for 9.99, as they are twice as good...

so, my electronic scale can be tare'ed every charge, if i like.. in less time than it takes my 505 to settle down..

i put the powder pan on it, tare, and weigh the empty pan after EVERY load... if it's off, hit the tare button and keep going..

this is exactly like making certain the 505 is on zero, between every charge, then resting to 96 or so....

since I shoot big bores, it's not a question of volume for me, and reloading relaxes me better than nearly any other activity.. i like doing it..

i like mine, but I have both
jeffe

All that tareing may be your scale try to deal with the AC. You live in Texas....

quote:

Originally posted by grizz:
Huh!? Then waiting until the beam stops oscillating to a perfect zero can take a long time. The digital shows the weight right now!

Both types have their pecularities, no doubt about that. But with my RCBS 505 for instance, I can tell immediately if the weight is right.
Just plonk the pan on it and if the beam goes 3/10ths high it's right. It will then move to just below the zero, then up onto zero where it stops.

And anyway if we are dribbling it will probably be slightly under and by the time you get the dribbler over the pan it's time to start twirling.

I can read the scale to about 1/5th of one tenth, ie by practise, I can think 1 granual of powder will bring it spot on, and about 5 granules for 1/10th.
It's said we don't need that accuracy, but try that with your digital. In my experence they may show (say) 25gr. and a couple of granuals more it jumps to 25.1gr.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

My Redding el cheapo without dampner can be just as quick. Put the pan on and 5/10ths up and 5/10ths down is obviously going to be "on".
If dribbling from just under I can start as the pan is comming up and the additional weight virtually stops the swing in its tracks.

The digital RCBS partner was good . . . until it stopped working. The beams should work until gravity stops.

I have the RCBS with the auto attachment and it works very well indeed (after a couple of trips back to replace both units ) I can load individually weighed cartridges much faster and with way less effort that trickling on to the beam scale. That said, my 10-10 is never out of reach.