I am considering taking the plunge and buying an electronic scale. The major reloading suppliers all offer electronic scales but I am not interested in the RCBS or Lyman electronic scales as I think that they are grossly overpriced. I ran across a website that deals in electronic scales with a bunch of them suitable for reloading. It is a firm named RightOnScales and is located, I believe, in the NY area. Has anyone bought a scale from them and if so, how did it perform?

Never heard of them...
With scales, you basically get what you pay for in terms of repeatability, accuracy and speed. The cheap ones sold by the reloading companies all have the problems I mention above, and they require calibration more than frequently, in the case of one that I did own.

Don

Unless the technology has changed so much they can manufacture a good scale for peanuts you are going to be wasting your money.
A cheap scale is like buying a Simmons or BSA scope, it is not likely to work well except with a scale it is dangerous.

I think my first RCBS 1500 last alittle over 10yrs and my second one is going on it's second year. I wasn't going to replace the scale and I started to use my old 10-10 scale and I was lost.

I've only calibrate the new style 1500 once on setting it up and I check zero before starting to use and check it with a weight. When I first got it I check powder weight every 10th time with a weight check now I do that about every 20th load. I did that with my old scale and thats how I caught it going bad and that happens and if the new scale last as long as the old one cost me around $15 per yr for the new over it's life.

Tom,

You are dead on! The Chargemaster 1500 is a good unit.
I was referring to the stand alone digital scales sold by reloading outfits as being sub standard.
I think they all use the same strain gage, packaged differently.

Be careful...there is at least one AR poster who bought a 'reloading' scale from a non-reloading company and it only weighs in .2gr increments...he didn't mention the brand name.

Which might not mean much if you're loading lots of powder in a magnum-sized case. But 2.7gr of Bullseye would not be possible.

I have a PACT BBK that I have used for years that works well for me, since you are talking scales and not dispensors. You do have to let them warm up and be careful of wind, it will throw them off.

Wahoo, If you find a 'non reloading' scale mfg., they can be as good or better than a reloading co. scale, and of course worse. The posters who have stated you get what you pay for are correct.
Remember that virtually all lab work nowdays is done with digital scales, and they require HIGH precision. I would look at a scale that gives you the precision level you want and shop for price accordingly. Digital scales for medical or jewelry applications are very good, and there are many others.


Inexpensive scale

this is an example of an inexpensive scale that may serve your needs, I have a buddy who has one,( the $60 ish version) and checks it often, he claims it is very accurate--he has a Large Denver Lab scale that he uses as well as a triple beam to confirm as well as check weights.

I use an Acculab VIC-123 scale for my precision match ammo. It is accurate to .02 grains. Most reloading scales are good to .1 grains. This scale is more sensitive than 1 kernel of gun powder. I'm not sure what you mean by inexpensive, but the VIC-123 can be had for $250 or so. It is a great addition to a reloading room, if you need an exact powder charge.

Fish and Chad, I used the wrong terms in my post. By "non-reloading" I meant firms that handle scales for all purposes, not just reloading. The website I referred to, RightOnScales.com, handles scales for many applications, and it does indeed have a group it has segregated as being particularly applicable for reloading.

By cheap scales, I meant those available for around $50.00 or less. They may be as accurate
as any higher priced scale but they may also lack the features I might be wanting, such as auto cut-off, AC adapter, large display, etc.

If you go to RightOnScales.com, click on "reloading scales" on the left side, then scroll down to the MyWeigh iBalance 201, that is the scale I am considering. It costs $100.00 and has all of the features that I would like to have.

Chad, I looked into the unit your friend has and the website indicates that it only weighs in grams and ounces. That is the $65.00 unit. How about asking your friend if his unit does weigh in grains and what the model designation is.

Thanks to all who responded. I never realized how many scales were available beyond the handful offered by the reloading ctalogs.

quote:

Originally posted by Wahoo:
I am considering taking the plunge and buying an electronic scale. The major reloading suppliers all offer electronic scales but I am not interested in the RCBS or Lyman electronic scales as I think that they are grossly overpriced. I ran across a website that deals in electronic scales with a bunch of them suitable for reloading. It is a firm named RightOnScales and is located, I believe, in the NY area. Has anyone bought a scale from them and if so, how did it perform?

I smell rice on this one.

I have tried a couple of Lyman, and I am afraid they both just packed up.

The RCBS, however, have given me great service.

I had the original one with batteries, and that lasted many years.

2 years ago, we replaced it with one of the new RCBS with a power adaptor.

It has been working ever since, almost on a daily use.

Extremely accurate Electronic scales with consistent repeatability cost far more than a few hundred $'s.

Most decent scales will do powder charge weights OK ? . A quality balance beam from Ohaus is still one

of the best and most reliable methods .

Here is to what you were referencing http://www.rightonscales.com/

Please remember that you're favorite name brand reasonably priced Electronic scale was in 99.8% of the

time NOT manufactured by whom ever's name happens to be on it !.

Most are Chinese CRAP !. Although some are becoming better now days . Even I'll admit to that !!.

http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1251

Stick with a KNOWN brand you can have confidence in . There is Nothing wrong with Acculabs either !.

I simply prefer Ohaus for powder scale .

Here are TWO web sites to examine as they cover pretty much A-Z on scales .


http://www.balances.com/home.html http://www.scalesgalore.com/pohaus.htm .

Examine them closely and shop around , as I have had people give me 8 Electronic scales now !.

Most are just JUNK Chinese cheap $70 - $140 favorite reloading company brand crap !.

BUY QUALITY ONCE and never look back !!.

I have two electric scales sitting on the shelf one RCBS made by Pact and a Cabelas I dig them out to weight bullets, I got so tired of having to reclabrate warm up wind movement in room that it was not fun to reload seems I was playing with the scale all the time.

WENT BACK TO MY OLD 10-10 HERE

Precisely the point I was making and why I have 8 scales of which only one was purchased by myself .

I have Analytical Lab scales which measure

Capacity: 250g
Readability: 0.0001mg

I don't recommend purchasing those for powder loading as the are several $K's .

I do use them on occasion to check my other scales . It's like comparing a Remington too a

Hand crafted Merkel not very fair though .



I use something similar too this and it works GREAT !.


The My-weigh i2600 Digital Scale Capacity: 2600g
Readability: 0.1g MSRP:$249.95
Your_Price:$147.90
FEATURES:

* Parts Counting


WEIGH MODES:

* Carats
* Grains
* Pounds
* Ounces
* Pennyweight
* Grams
* Troy Ounces

The WHOPPER of digital portable scales at a price that will make you smile!! Now the i2600 is upgraded since its previously released model shared the same housing with the smaller i500 and i1200 My Weigh models. Instead, this digital scale uses the larger i5500 housing with a larger stainless steel weighing platform measuring 6.5" x 5.25". Nothing compares in price, performance and quality!! Professional compact digital scale offering a mammoth 2600 [Read More ....]


Check out those links I previously posted and look for quality scales !. Jewelry scales are

excellent as they need to be precise , just make sure to get a scale which will weigh your

heaviest demand by twice . In other words Dbl. what you figure is the heaviest load you'll ever use .

For the accuracy that reloading requires I've found that the RCBS scales work quite well for their price. I've tested them against lab balances several times, and if you follow the directions they are plenty accurate and repeatable for +/- 0.1 gr. measrements. The first RCBS scale I had lasted 7 years, so I'm hoping for more longevity on my current one. Other than that I was and am very happy with the RCBS digital scale.

I also had a cheap PACT scale that I took to the range and it died after about a year of use. I also had problems calibrating it. I wouldn't waste my money on another one.

my rcbs/pact is at pact, getting its guts replaced.. i am good with that -- just taking 2xlonger than quoted

In one of the gun magazines a few months ago, Jake Gottfredson did an article on the RCBS Chargemaster that was glowing with good words about it. He aslo mentioned that Walt Berger of Berger bullets is now using one at the range for his benchrest loads; a good testimony.

My RCBS electronic scale has given many years of good accurate service.

Buy a Harrell's Premium Powder Measure and work in "clicks". I use the RCBS 10-10 Beam Scale to set base load for Harrell powder measure.

For weight sorting brass I like the Acculab Scale.