So what am I doing wrong?

[Texas_XD]

I got everything all set up (except PPM) finally after finishing my bench, looks good to me and I'll post some pics later. Anyway, moving along, everything was going great.. tumbling, resizing/depriming, repriming etc. Loved neck sizing only the 7mm-08's from my new rifle, so VERY easy! Got to throwing my 1st charge by hand just to take things nice and slow. Well, this confounded Lee scale is driving me nuts! I fought for 15 minutes and FINALLY get it zeroed, move the bearing to the 40 mark, rear grain slide to 6, take me the dipper (mostly full of H414) that came with the 7mm-08 dies and gently pour the powder into the pan. No movement.. add a touch more using the powder trickler, finally got it to move and then after a few more twists it settled at the balance mark. Removed pan, funneled it into case and low and behold, filled it to the rim! Returned bearing & slide to zero marks and scale has to be re-zeroed.. again! Been doing this for over an hour now and frankly, I'm about 2 tries away from screaming Digital Scale! Which means I'd be dead in the water for 2 + weeks while I recover from this start-up expense before I can order anything else. I do have this thing where the charge is a bit more normal looking, i.e. case is 3/4 full, but my bloody confidence is totally shot in it now since it won't hold zero for 2 minutes. So what am I doing wrong? Is it just me being overly nervous and this is normal or is it the scale or even the alignment of the planets? The instructions don't really cover scale set-up well at all or between the 2 manuals I have. Any advice would be nice and please remember: newbie, kid gloves please.

[sanson]

I heard the cheap digital scales can also drive people whacko. I guess we get what we pay for???:o

[RERICK]

It doesn't sound like its you.I would think the scale is the suspect.And if you go digital I would go with an RCBS chargemaster 1500.This way you can add the powder dispenser later if you want to.


http://www.natchezss.com/brand.cfm?brand=RC&mfgSubGroup=5903&CFID=1749189&CFTOKEN=62954629


http://www.natchezss.com/brand.cfm?brand=RC&mfgSubGroup=5901&CFID=1749189&CFTOKEN=62954629

[sanson]

that looks like a good scale... my lee auto-disc powder measure drove me nuts until I figured out it doesn't like real fine powders. the tiny flakes jam the sliding action between the hopper and disc

[Ausserordeutlich]

You might try a checkweight, to verify your scale's accuracy. (Maybe a friend has a set?)

[Williamr]

Dear Texas,

I do not like the Powder Scales from Lee or RCBS. I prefer a Redding or the old Herters Scales over those two. Infact I prefer the old Herters Powder Measure over Lee's and RCBS's. It is alot more accurate in powder charging. I got my Powder Measure from Ebay. Here is Ebay's web sight: www.ebay.com. Put "Powder Scale" or "Reloading Scale" in the search box. Same thing for the powder measure. Hope this helps. If you do not want to buy used stuff, get yourself a Midway USA account. Their prices are between wholesale and retail. their web site is: www.midwayusa.com.

williamr

[maggys drawers]

Since it is winter- was the furnace on while you tried to zero ? A draft or air current around the scale will make it impossible to get a zero set, or get the correct weight measurement.

[Texas_XD]

Since it is winter- was the furnace on while you tried to zero ? A draft or air current around the scale will make it impossible to get a zero set, or get the correct weight measurement.

I had considered that.. and even timed it a few times after it had shut down for 2 or 3 minutes to give the currents time to settle, not really any difference. I suppose it's call Lee time and play the return game. Thanks all!

[Gbro]

Tex;

I had the same problem with a Lee scale.
If you look under the scale you will see a spring(long leaf spring) in the Lee it is a plastic spring and they warp and don't assist the beam in approach to weight. A good scale will have a metal approach to weight spring, and you do get what you pay for. I sent my Lee back in less than a week.
I scoop/scale and trickle every load.
Here is my trickler setup;
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2207797&postcount=118

Good Luck

Gbro

[dakotashooter2]

Have you tried giving the scale a good cleaning. Take everthing down and give it a good scrubbing with soapy water. Sometimes static charge or the smallest bit of lint can cause irregular readings.