What's thebest 110v digital scales for under $100 that won't turn off in 5 seconds...And where to buy from...(website)

May we ask what you plan to use it for?

If it's for powder measuring, IMHO, you are doomed. There are NO digitals in that price range, or even bumping three times that, I would trust longer than 5 seconds.

Suggest you go green, save the world and use a "no power" beam scale, Redding and RCBS 505 are in that general price range, Last I looked anyway.

What Jim C. said.
I only use a beam balance scale for reloading. I could never get into using a small digital scale for that purpose. I've been hand loading since 1948, so a beam balance scale is in my genes.
I do have an expensive labratory digital scale I use to weigh cases, bullets and 22 rimfire ammo I sort by weight.
I tried several different digital scales that had prices in the range you are wanting to spend. They are junk. They are inconsistent, slow, and require constant calibration. I'd place an item to be weighed in the scale's pan, take it off, and reweigh it and get different readings.

A former gf bought me the RCBS combo dispenser/scale when they first came out years ago. It never worked so I ignored it. After placing a different order w/ RCBS for other items, I asked the tech a/b the combo. He gave me info to set up the system. It worked for the scale, but not the dispenser. The scale now works great and is easy to use. I still use the bb scale to verify. As for new digital scales, I've read good reports on Denver Instraments. You can read reviews/info at 6br.com. Expect to pay for a good scale.

I have the latest model of the Lyman 1200 digital scale/powder measure. If you follow the directions, it works very well. I check it aganist my beam scale every tenth round. It has been very accurate.

Like posted, I have the Lyman DPS but I have a Ohaus 10-10 on the shelf that I use to proof it against and sometimes a balance beam scale is quicker depending on how much loading you're gonna do.
If I had to give up one, it'd be the electronic one.

Give wife the digital for her kitchen and trust your beam

I use a Lyman scale check set to confirm the setting whenever I make a change > 5 grams

I wasn't going to mention it, but others have so...it always amazes me how often I see people post that they use a digital but check it against a beam scale quite often - because it's well know they drift and change zero without warning. And what is supposed to be "advantage" of the NEW! MODERN! DIGITAL SCALES? They are said to be "FAST!"

I'm a retired (space/defence) electronic measurement intrument technician, no digital anything on my bench and won't be unless I find one in a ditch, I sure ain't gonna pay what they charge for those cheaply made things!

Compare the difference in complexity, sophystication, computing power and durability of $15 cell phones to our digital scales. There is NO contest, but look at the difference in prices! And that difference is ONLY because we reloaders have proven our willingness to pay what they ask for what is, at best, an indifferent tool! Digital scales HAVE to be the most lucrative things in their product lines!

That's true. Look at what a chronograph used to go for until Chrony came along and said "hey, I can make one of those for under $100.00."

I bought an RCBS digital about 8 yrs ago. Seems like I needed to recalibrate every time I used it. But then again, the beam scale needs to be "zero'd" when setting up. I can zero a beam scale without getting out a user's manual. And they don't need to be plugged in.

I can't remember what I paid for the RCBS, but it was hundreds of dollars.

The beam scale is what gets used.

This is my balance beam which I made along with all the parts to my travel kit to load in my RV. I recently wrote the details on making your own reloader on my CD. Notice the 6 in. scale for size of parts.

If anyone would like to make their own PM me for the details.

Les,

That's awesome!!!

quote:

I've read good reports on Denver Instraments.

That's the scale I have, a Denver Instruments APX 153.
OHAUS also makes good Digital scales.

While I have a couple of Beam scales, I haven't pulled them out once in three years. My wife gave me the RCBS Chargemaster Combo for Christmas. Fantastic tool.

When I start out my loading, I just one one of the "Test Weights" - 50grm test weights to make sure everything is correct. It's never missed a beat.

Gosh! I have been using a dillon for years.
Now and again I check against my Ohaus 10/10, no hicupps.
What am I doing wrong?

quote:

Originally posted by 500nitro:
Gosh! I have been using a dillon for years.
Now and again I check against my Ohaus 10/10, no hicupps.
What am I doing wrong?

Same thing I'm doing wrong with my PACT. Works great.

I don't know what the current price is, but the PACT pro digital does not turn off in 5 min-- in fact, I've left it on accidentally for hours and it was still ready. I like my digital scale, but I do have to say that if you are going to mainly use it for powder, it is not terrifically better than a good balance beam unit and unless you get one that goes with the digital dispenser. Then the balance beam is relegated to a box in the basement or something............

your question makes no sense.

quote:

What's the best 110v digital scales for under $100 that won't turn off in 5 seconds...And where to buy from...(website)

I love my RCBS Rangmaster 750. It stays powered-on for weeks and weeks. I also find it stays zeroed for just as long. Just to be sure, I calibrate it when I go to load. I use a trickler to bring my charges up to desired weight. If you want one of them super-duper, all-electromogadgical things that meters out the powder, serves you Doritos and dip along with a cold beer, the 750 ain't for you. It's simple, basic and I find it works damned fine for what I want to do with it...

I have one of the Frankford Arsenal digital scales..................was bought only to now and then check the accuracy of the DILLON balance beam scales. Ohaus makes all the big name brands, RCBS, Dillon, whoever, plus markets their own brand and they all work spectacularly. I would challenge anyone to a "charge this reloading tray" accuratey using a digital dispenser in less time than it takes using an accurate powder measure and a set of balance beams checking every 8th to 10th powder charge. Ain't gonna happen!! Give me the balance beams and a digital just to satisfy the curiosity now and then. GHD

Charlie (GHD) is right!

God Bless, Louis

Ah yes, the beam scales rule, digitals suck thread again .

Ken....

Plus one for homebrewers comments

It will really pain several of you (including the "engineer" that commented) that the vast majority of analytical scales (i.e. read to 0.00001g or better) are all digital and have been for 15 years or more.

BTW-I use an RCBS Powder Pro scale/dispenser and have for the last 10 years with no issue. Perhaps since I'm of a younger generation I actually know how to read instructions for such gadgets as mine has functioned flawlessly.) I also use a powder measure from RCBS for higher volume loading of pistol cartridges for speed, but the Powder Pro is much more accurate than my dispenser is on large volume rifle cases and does so in nearly the same time when you factor in trickling in the extra powder needed for the measure.)

I use a RCBS electronic scale for over 10,000 loads per year. My reloads on factory 22-250 reifles are generating .33" groups at 100 yards consistently. My 300WM groups routinely are .88" groups, also factory remmington bolt rifles and Ruger #1s.

spent 2 days before going to digital and measured my rcbs beam scale against digital scale results using a control scale from my laboratory. .5-.7 gn differences was all I ever saw. 1 gn is 1/7000th of a lb.

have fun

quote:

Originally posted by bobhanson1:
It will really pain several of you (including the "engineer" that commented) that the vast majority of analytical scales (i.e. read to 0.00001g or better) are all digital and have been for 15 years or more.

I was using such scales in chem lab more then 30 years ago. All I know is my Chargemaster 1500 works flawlessly and is easy to use. My 338-378 is the largest charge I load for and the next charge has dispensed before I get the bullet seated on the current case.

Ken....

quote:

Originally posted by bobhanson1:
It will really pain several of you (including the "engineer" that commented) that the vast majority of analytical scales (i.e. read to 0.00001g or better) are all digital and have been for 15 years or more.

What would pain us would be the prices of your "analytical scales". They AIN'T hardly in our reloader price ranges, right? And how often do they have to get checked/tested/adjusted and repaired by technicians to maintain them to be that accurate?

Meaning, extending your very fine lab scales to common reloading digital scales is plain wrong.

I have a beam scale and a Pact powder measure and scale. Yes I have checked the digital with my beam and my beam with the digital. The Pact stays in calibration well but I do tend to use a calibration weight every once in a while just to keep it honest the same for my beam. The biggest problem with either one is air movement in the room.
Bill