After reloading for 45 years using Ohaus and other beam scales, I have decided I have had enough of taming the swinging scale pan and am going to jump in there and buy an electronic. Big Whoop!!!! The scale alone is what I need, not a combination scale/dispenser. I am an inveterate experimenter, and often, actually usually, will use five to eight different powders while working with one bullet weight in a given cartridge. You can see how much time I would lose emptying, cleaning and refilling a combo if I were to change powders 8 times in a session. There seems to be a number of scales in the $100-150.00 range but feed back on some of them is quite negative, this one doesn't hold zero and that one has poor response to trickling powder being the most common. Would appreciate comments from some of you that use electronic scales on the performance of the makes/models you use.

Thanks.

I use a 612 for weighing bigger stuff but a 212 would be plenty for normal reloading. Had mine for a couple years and it's been flawless. Made in USA and not very expensive.

VIC-212

Stick with the beam scale. Just get a new one. Go electronic.....you'll be sorry!!

quote:

Go electronic.....you'll be sorry!!

Yes! Stick to a horse...get a truck and you'll be sorry...

Stick with Ohaus beam scales , Electronic are crap . Chinese made low end junk with whatever brand name

happens to suit them at the time . Unreliable , sums it up !.

UNLESS your willing to spend decent money then their are excellent Electronic scales .

So you want reliable scales OK .

http://analytical.balances.com/ http://www.torbalscales.com/home.php?cat=270


Less expensive decent model ; http://www.scalesgalore.com/oh...re_jewelry_scale.htm

Then the other models ??.

http://www.scalesonline.com/jewelryScales.aspx

wahoo,
I understand why you would not want a combo with several powder changes per session.

I do have a RCBS Combo and I really like it and after hundreds of uses (two plus years)have had NO problems. On the basis of my experience I think the Scale that goes with the Combo would be a good choice.I weigh powder,cases, bullets,etc on my RCBS Scale with the dispenser Off.

I'm sure you will get lots of inputs/advise but that's my input.

BRH/Beryl

quote:

Originally posted by berylh:
wahoo,
I understand why you would not want a combo with several powder changes per session.

I do have a RCBS Combo and I really like it and after hundreds of uses (two plus years)have had NO problems. On the basis of my experience I think the Scale that goes with the Combo would be a good choice.I weigh powder,cases, bullets,etc on my RCBS Scale with the dispenser Off.

I'm sure you will get lots of inputs/advise but that's my input.

BRH/Beryl

If you still have your manual dose it give a temp operating range? I have one that keeps in 2-3tenths 1GR and I can only use it over 35*F. That's not all that great when you have a unheated shop in Maine!

I have had my Pact (MADE IN USA) For about ten years now with no problems. And they have a lifetime warranty.
Lyle

I have my RCBS (thanks Rusty) in to Pact for a rebuild/update. For $95 bucks, they rebuild the dispenser to new, fast, and accurate.

As far as scales go, I went digital 5 years ago, and don't look back. Spend 40 bucks for a decent scale and go forth .

jeffe

For the life of me, I can't understand how/why some folks have such problems with beams being hard to settle. I still use the Lyman M-5 scale I bought in '65 (Ohaus scale actually, now sold as the RCBS 1010, same mechanism as the 505). Its magnetic damping usually STOPS the beam in two, rarely three, swings. That's less than 2 seconds, and if it didn't swing at all I would "save" so little time it's meaningless.

My scale sits on a shelf at about eye level, as it should, and is very easy to read. It stays leveled, it needs no warm-up, no zeroing, no calibration before or during use. It follows a trickler in real time, there's no delay. It has no electronic guts that I KNOW will drift and eventually fail in use and it's as dependable and almost as simple as a hammer.

Weighting powder is the prime purpose of a raloading scale. I can see a digital scale for weighting cases and bullets but NOT for trickled up powder charges. All that thing has to do is mess up on ONE high pressure charge and I may never need it again!

Several people have written that they keep a beam scale around to insure accuracy of their "wonderfully fast" digitals. NEVER have I seen anyone suggest they routinely use a digital to insure accuracy of their beam scale! Wonder why?

I say all that not only as a long time reloader but as a retired electronic precision measurement equipment technician in defense and space industries. There will be no "new, modern, improved" digital powder scale on my bench. I'll happily keep my consistant, precise, dependable "horse and buggy" beam unit!

I inherited several scales at a friend's death so I have a lot of scales.

I have a Dillion digital that has long history behind it, an RCBS (Pact) digital, a Lyman beam scale, a RCBS 5-10 beam scale and 3 Auto scales. The Autoscales have a pair of electronic tricklers with a beam scale that uses the same beam as the Ohaus manufactured RCBS 5-10.

The beam scales are purely mechanical and as such you can see any problems with the swing in the beam.

If you have a problem with a digital it is only detectable with return to zero or check weights.

I weigh cases, bullets and gas checks on digitals.

Powder is weighed only with a beam scale.

I would recommend this Dillon. It is the newest version of mine (which weighs up to 1200 grains) and has worked flawlessly for over 10 years. But, in the unlikely event something does go wrong, there is no better warranty than Dillon's. It's actually a great deal as I had to buy the check weight set and AC power adapter. It's a soothing blue color, too.

Sorry I didn't go off on a tangent arguing the merits of beam vs. electronic like some posters. I'd like to hear how well they can still discern 3 poise readings after 45 years in this hobby. Harrumph
I've only got 38 years experience and those big digital readouts were a godsend.

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
I would recommend this Dillon. It is the newest version of mine (which weighs up to 1200 grains) and has worked flawlessly for over 10 years. But, in the unlikely event something does go wrong, there is no better warranty than Dillon's. It's actually a great deal as I had to buy the check weight set and AC power adapter. It's a soothing blue color, too.

Sorry I didn't go off on a tangent arguing the merits of beam vs. electronic like some posters. I'd like to hear how well they can still discern 3 poise readings after 45 years in this hobby. Harrumph
I've only got 38 years experience and those big digital readouts were a godsend.

We're soon going to need a Braile scale.

quote:

Wahoo

Wahoo
How much accuracy do you want from your scale? You are in for a learning experience with an electronic scale. You think the balance beam swings too much, if when you breathe and your breath hit the scale the beam moves. If someone walks by the beam moves. The sensitive electronic scales change readings with the same problems, the cheaper ones don't take the readings as quick and you don't see the movement but with my pact it sometimes takes several seconds for the scale to change when I put 2 cornels of powder on the scale. On the electronic when you just set a weight on then them work well (cases - bullets). The electronics are very handy, quick setup. When you get an electronic try weighing 10 charges into the cases then turn your scales off and then back on. Reweigh the 10 charges and see if the readings are the same?

Just my opinion

Glenn

I have an inexpensive Frankfort Arsenal scale and I have trouble keeping it zeroed. I have relegated it to weighing brass, bullets, loaded ammo, etc. I use a Dillon beam scale for measuring powder and I never, ever, worry about its accuracy.

quote:

Originally posted by James Kain:

quote:

Originally posted by berylh:
wahoo,
I understand why you would not want a combo with several powder changes per session.

I do have a RCBS Combo and I really like it and after hundreds of uses (two plus years)have had NO problems. On the basis of my experience I think the Scale that goes with the Combo would be a good choice.I weigh powder,cases, bullets,etc on my RCBS Scale with the dispenser Off.

I'm sure you will get lots of inputs/advise but that's my input.

BRH/Beryl

If you still have your manual dose it give a temp operating range? I have one that keeps in 2-3tenths 1GR and I can only use it over 35*F. That's not all that great when you have a unheated shop in Maine!

.

J.K.,
Sorry I missed this earlier. The Instruction Manual states:
"The scale should be stored and used at room temp.It should never be stored in cold or freezing temps,which can damage the load cell........allow it to sit at room temps for 20 to 30 min before using."

BRH/Beryl H.

Whahoo

I've had a little Lyman for about 15 years. NO problems with it. Accurate and dependable.

Wouldn't go back to a balance beam type if you gave me one!

WN

Howdy,

Another vote for the PACT scale. No problems with mine, although I must add that I prefer to use my RCBS 5-0-5 for some of my powder weighing. The PACT is extremely useful for bullets, brass, gas checks, etc.

Hope this helps and good shooting.

Coach

My 2 cents - Electronic scales are cool. BUT they eventually break. ALWAYS.

I have used the pact scale and two rcbs scales. The scales never break while under warranty. They last the 1 year. RCBS warrants all of the mechanical stuff they sell for life but the electronics scales 12 mos only.

My 2 cents worth...

+1

I had trouble with all of the digitals available to us reloaders.
So, Old time scales, Old tme women, and horse and buggies fo me!!!

I have a redding beam that I've used for 52 years and another Redding back up I've never had to use. Sent two expensive electronic scales to the happy hunting ground but resently bought a $29.99 MTM that I only use for sorting. Had to, however, build a power supply for the MTM as I could not afford baterry replacements.

If someone is challaged by beam swing they are not using it correctly. roger

I have tried the Cabela's digital & didn't care for having torezero everytime I turned it on. My 1st Dillon was greatr but then took a dive after 8yrs. They sent me a new one for 1/2 price though & it's the best I have used. The cheap Franford & others are not going to hold zero. The new Dillon holds zero perfectly & gets up & running quickly. If it breaks down again in 8yrs, I'll get another for 1/2 again.

I can only report what I have found, I have an RCBS electronic scale and for a while I thought is was great. I started weighing charges on the beam scale and after 8 or 10 charges on the electonic scale weights are off by as much as .3g, this is unacceptable to me so I'm now a beam scale guy again. I first noticed the problem with my chronograph shooting the old 06. speeds varied widely but accuracy to my suprise didn't fall off. just my .02

Here's a little secret. I have owned electronic scales for ten or so years. I have a Pact and an RCBS. I plugged them in the day I got them and have never other than power outages unplugged them. Leave your electronics things on as I understand this creates heat and prevents moisture from damaging them.

I have had a few of each....with that, I use the digital to measure cases and bullets only. (well arrows too)
For trikling powder they suck, to slow in my opinion.
I like the 10-10 for weighing my powder charges. Yes I weigh each one!