Temperature and Digital scales

Zombie Steve · October 12, 2008, 06:30 PM

I've been using a RCBS 505 scale until last week - found a deal on a Lyman 1200 DPS II (older version, hence the deal). Anyway, I've heard people say that temperature swings can throw digital scales / powder dispensers off. The only place I have to reload is in my garage. The garage is below grade, so it doesn't get extremely cold there (kind of like a cave), but it definitely gets some temp swings. Not being really excited to start up a space heater around a bunch of powder, I'm wondering if it will really make that much difference...

Thoughts / experiences? Thanks in advance.

amamnn · October 12, 2008, 08:26 PM

I normally load in a fairly well controlled environment. However, I have a friend who loads at the range and uses a PACT battery powered digital to check his powder drops every now and then. I've never heard him complain that he was getting any undue variation. He's pretty vocal about malfunctions. We get some fairly wide weather variations here.

LHB1 · October 12, 2008, 08:58 PM

Steve,
Run some tests. Set up both scales (properly zeroed/balanced) and then weigh several small objects, bullets, cases, powder charges, etc. See how they compare. I have a very old Lyman/Ohaus M10 (now sold as RCBS 1010) which I use to check my newer, digital RCBS scale. For me, the old faithful balance beam scale is the final arbiter if they disagree.

Zombie Steve · October 12, 2008, 11:07 PM

I have a couple known "control" weights, and they seem to check out just fine. I'll follow directions, let it warm up for a half hour minimum, and recalibrate each time just in case.
I was really just wondering if what I was hearing was more gunstore bs or if it had some merit. After all, I'm sure dial calipers change a miniscule amount in the cold... thermodynamics and all.

Maybe I'll load one on a cold day, pull it on a hot one and see if there's any difference just for fun.

Just as a side note - that Lyman is pretty darn fast. I only have a single stage Rockchucker and it's done with the next charge before I can seat the bullet and measure OAL... it's pretty slick.

DIXIEDOG · October 12, 2008, 11:10 PM

I don't know about the Lyman but my RCBS Chargemaster works excellent at all temps, I've checked it back to my beam scale a zillion times but they always match regardless of temp. (Only used it down to around 20 F so I don't know about any colder conditions yet)

LHB1 · October 12, 2008, 11:13 PM

My RCBS digital scale sits out in the garage year round. Temperatures range from 100 degrees in summer to 25-30 degrees in winter. Have not noticed any significant changes on powder charge weights at any times of the year. I especially like the magnetic damping on the RCBS, Lyman, Ohaus 1010/505 series scales. They are quick and accurate without being messy like the old balance beam scales with oil reservoir damping.

Zombie Steve · October 12, 2008, 11:18 PM

Good to hear, fellas.

BigJimP · October 13, 2008, 03:59 PM

I use the RCBS digital as well - and I load in my basement now, with no significant temp swings, but when I have loaded in my garage, I did notice the scale loses its zero setting quite a bit if there is a draft in the area.

My garage is probably an average temp of 35 - 65 year round - so not a big swing in temp / but if both doors were open it was a problem.

Letting the scale warm up, calibrating it frequently, etc is the right thing to do.

October 12, 2008, 06:30 PM	#1
Zombie Steve Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2007 Location: Old Colorado City Posts: 527	Temperature and Digital scales I've been using a RCBS 505 scale until last week - found a deal on a Lyman 1200 DPS II (older version, hence the deal). Anyway, I've heard people say that temperature swings can throw digital scales / powder dispensers off. The only place I have to reload is in my garage. The garage is below grade, so it doesn't get extremely cold there (kind of like a cave), but it definitely gets some temp swings. Not being really excited to start up a space heater around a bunch of powder, I'm wondering if it will really make that much difference... Thoughts / experiences? Thanks in advance.

October 12, 2008, 08:26 PM	#2
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	I normally load in a fairly well controlled environment. However, I have a friend who loads at the range and uses a PACT battery powered digital to check his powder drops every now and then. I've never heard him complain that he was getting any undue variation. He's pretty vocal about malfunctions. We get some fairly wide weather variations here. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

October 12, 2008, 08:58 PM	#3
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Steve, Run some tests. Set up both scales (properly zeroed/balanced) and then weigh several small objects, bullets, cases, powder charges, etc. See how they compare. I have a very old Lyman/Ohaus M10 (now sold as RCBS 1010) which I use to check my newer, digital RCBS scale. For me, the old faithful balance beam scale is the final arbiter if they disagree. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

October 12, 2008, 11:13 PM	#6
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	My RCBS digital scale sits out in the garage year round. Temperatures range from 100 degrees in summer to 25-30 degrees in winter. Have not noticed any significant changes on powder charge weights at any times of the year. I especially like the magnetic damping on the RCBS, Lyman, Ohaus 1010/505 series scales. They are quick and accurate without being messy like the old balance beam scales with oil reservoir damping. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

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October 12, 2008, 11:07 PM	#4
Zombie Steve Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2007 Location: Old Colorado City Posts: 527	I have a couple known "control" weights, and they seem to check out just fine. I'll follow directions, let it warm up for a half hour minimum, and recalibrate each time just in case. I was really just wondering if what I was hearing was more gunstore bs or if it had some merit. After all, I'm sure dial calipers change a miniscule amount in the cold... thermodynamics and all. Maybe I'll load one on a cold day, pull it on a hot one and see if there's any difference just for fun. Just as a side note - that Lyman is pretty darn fast. I only have a single stage Rockchucker and it's done with the next charge before I can seat the bullet and measure OAL... it's pretty slick.

October 12, 2008, 11:10 PM	#5
DIXIEDOG Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 265	I don't know about the Lyman but my RCBS Chargemaster works excellent at all temps, I've checked it back to my beam scale a zillion times but they always match regardless of temp. (Only used it down to around 20 F so I don't know about any colder conditions yet)

October 12, 2008, 11:18 PM	#7
Zombie Steve Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2007 Location: Old Colorado City Posts: 527	Good to hear, fellas.

October 13, 2008, 03:59 PM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I use the RCBS digital as well - and I load in my basement now, with no significant temp swings, but when I have loaded in my garage, I did notice the scale loses its zero setting quite a bit if there is a draft in the area. My garage is probably an average temp of 35 - 65 year round - so not a big swing in temp / but if both doors were open it was a problem. Letting the scale warm up, calibrating it frequently, etc is the right thing to do.