Hornady scale.

mrawesome22 · August 16, 2006, 10:51 AM

I'm thinking of buying a Hornady beam scale. Anyone have any experience with one? Also, would I be better off buying a digital scale? I was looking at a Lyman XP1000, but I heard digitals are inaccurate.

Domino · August 16, 2006, 11:41 AM

I bought a digital scale a couple months ago and returned it for a RCBS 5-0-5 mechanical/balance scale shortly after. The digital scale I had would vary by a bunch, the small inexpensive balance scale I originally had would read out at 5.5 gr, the digital one would read at everything from 4.9 to 6.5 gr for the same charge.

The thing to remember with digital scales is things like A/C units, fans, heaters, cell phones, some lights, cordless phones and radios etc can disrupt the scale's accuracy. For best accuracy you also need to let them warm up for close to 30 minutes. I didn't want to deal with that so went with the RCBS scale and I love it.

I'd go for the Hornady beam scale you're looking at.

temmi · August 16, 2006, 12:27 PM

At the risk of repeating myself;
I have had the older RCBS "2 piece" scale & dispenser set and it was not great. It needed to warm up at least 10 min and would drift .1-.2 gr every 10 rounds or so... I got into the habit of using my check weights every 1-3 rounds.

That said the new RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo is GREAT.
No warm up
Fast dispensing
No drift that I can tell... (I still check every 3-5 rounds)

I love it and recommend it to any one who will listen.

mrawesome22 · August 16, 2006, 12:37 PM

Yeah, I've looked at that ChargeMaster combo and I just don't want to sink that kind of money into it. I'm really not looking for speed, I'm looking for accurate readings. All I hear about digital is bad so I think I'm going to go with the Hornady kit. It has the scale and trickler plus a funnel. Seems like a good deal. Unless someone can convince me otherwise.

Buckythebrewer · August 16, 2006, 06:17 PM

If you wan't cheap but works well.Lee safety scale

I have enjoyed mine for years but i'll be honest Ive never used any others so I can't compare to anything.

WESHOOT2 · August 18, 2006, 05:27 AM

RCBS 505 and an inexpensive Check Weight set.....

silicon wolverine · August 18, 2006, 05:54 AM

I have both a 5-0-5 and lee safety scale. the 5-0-5 is in its box under my becnh. the lee is out and gets used every time. I just like it better.

SW

Shoney · August 18, 2006, 08:38 PM

I found that the only way my RCBS digital would worked properly, was when it was placed on a rock solid desk on the basement cement floor in a room with no air movement.

When I had it in the back bedroom, where I have loaded for years, I noticed that if I leaned one way or the other, the scale varied. The tiny movement of the floor & joists was enough to throw it off. It went nuts when the force air come on or if someone walked by.

I exclusively now use it with my powder trickler for quick "close to the load measures" which I finish weighing on my RCBS 10-10 scale.

roger1shot · August 19, 2006, 06:54 AM

Hey,
I haven't got any weights to check my old
RCBS scale of 30yrs.
I've been just taking known bullet weights,
and useing that as my weight to check the scale.
Where can you get the weights to check the scale at?

snuffy · August 19, 2006, 01:55 PM

Roger, here's the lyman check weights, worth their weight in gold!

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=212586

Or the RCBS set, while more $ has a wider selection AND a forcepts for handling them.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=163721

If that Hornady scale is the one with the little wires that have to be moved to weigh powder, I would definetly reccomend against it! It's a PITA to use, slow and a mistake can be easily made in positioning the wires.

All this dissing on electronic scales could be from those that buy those el-cheapo scales I have seen advertised. My RCBS,(actually made by pact), has worked flawlessly for the 8 years I've had it. I partnered it with the pact dispensor, that too has worked well for over 4 years! With the check weights, you never have to wonder if it's weighing correctly. At first, I checked it against my 5-0-5, then sold that to a buddy I got started in reloading.

DaveInGA · August 23, 2006, 06:11 PM

For a beam scale, it's hard to beat the RCBS 1010. I have, thanks to reloading friends, gotten to try most of the beam scales. I own a Redding. Had I to buy over again, I would buy the RCBS 1010. It appears to be the best thought out of the manual scales.

Just my .02,

Dave

August 16, 2006, 10:51 AM	#1
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Hornady scale. I'm thinking of buying a Hornady beam scale. Anyone have any experience with one? Also, would I be better off buying a digital scale? I was looking at a Lyman XP1000, but I heard digitals are inaccurate.

August 16, 2006, 06:17 PM	#5
Buckythebrewer Junior member Join Date: April 15, 2006 Location: Jefferson, ME Posts: 700	If you wan't cheap but works well.Lee safety scaleI have enjoyed mine for years but i'll be honest Ive never used any others so I can't compare to anything.

August 18, 2006, 05:27 AM	#6
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	otherwise RCBS 505 and an inexpensive Check Weight set..... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

August 18, 2006, 08:38 PM	#8
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	I found that the only way my RCBS digital would worked properly, was when it was placed on a rock solid desk on the basement cement floor in a room with no air movement. When I had it in the back bedroom, where I have loaded for years, I noticed that if I leaned one way or the other, the scale varied. The tiny movement of the floor & joists was enough to throw it off. It went nuts when the force air come on or if someone walked by. I exclusively now use it with my powder trickler for quick "close to the load measures" which I finish weighing on my RCBS 10-10 scale. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

August 19, 2006, 06:54 AM	#9
roger1shot Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: TEXAS Posts: 102	Checking Scale Hey, I haven't got any weights to check my old RCBS scale of 30yrs. I've been just taking known bullet weights, and useing that as my weight to check the scale. Where can you get the weights to check the scale at?

August 16, 2006, 11:41 AM	#2
Domino Member Join Date: August 15, 2006 Posts: 60	I bought a digital scale a couple months ago and returned it for a RCBS 5-0-5 mechanical/balance scale shortly after. The digital scale I had would vary by a bunch, the small inexpensive balance scale I originally had would read out at 5.5 gr, the digital one would read at everything from 4.9 to 6.5 gr for the same charge. The thing to remember with digital scales is things like A/C units, fans, heaters, cell phones, some lights, cordless phones and radios etc can disrupt the scale's accuracy. For best accuracy you also need to let them warm up for close to 30 minutes. I didn't want to deal with that so went with the RCBS scale and I love it. I'd go for the Hornady beam scale you're looking at.

August 16, 2006, 12:27 PM	#3
temmi Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 531	At the risk of repeating myself; I have had the older RCBS "2 piece" scale & dispenser set and it was not great. It needed to warm up at least 10 min and would drift .1-.2 gr every 10 rounds or so... I got into the habit of using my check weights every 1-3 rounds. That said the new RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo is GREAT. No warm up Fast dispensing No drift that I can tell... (I still check every 3-5 rounds) I love it and recommend it to any one who will listen.

August 16, 2006, 12:37 PM	#4
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Yeah, I've looked at that ChargeMaster combo and I just don't want to sink that kind of money into it. I'm really not looking for speed, I'm looking for accurate readings. All I hear about digital is bad so I think I'm going to go with the Hornady kit. It has the scale and trickler plus a funnel. Seems like a good deal. Unless someone can convince me otherwise.

August 18, 2006, 05:54 AM	#7
silicon wolverine Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2006 Location: South dakota Posts: 674	I have both a 5-0-5 and lee safety scale. the 5-0-5 is in its box under my becnh. the lee is out and gets used every time. I just like it better. SW

August 19, 2006, 01:55 PM	#10
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Roger, here's the lyman check weights, worth their weight in gold! http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=212586 Or the RCBS set, while more $ has a wider selection AND a forcepts for handling them. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=163721 If that Hornady scale is the one with the little wires that have to be moved to weigh powder, I would definetly reccomend against it! It's a PITA to use, slow and a mistake can be easily made in positioning the wires. All this dissing on electronic scales could be from those that buy those el-cheapo scales I have seen advertised. My RCBS,(actually made by pact), has worked flawlessly for the 8 years I've had it. I partnered it with the pact dispensor, that too has worked well for over 4 years! With the check weights, you never have to wonder if it's weighing correctly. At first, I checked it against my 5-0-5, then sold that to a buddy I got started in reloading. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

August 23, 2006, 06:11 PM	#11
DaveInGA Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 132	For a beam scale, it's hard to beat the RCBS 1010. I have, thanks to reloading friends, gotten to try most of the beam scales. I own a Redding. Had I to buy over again, I would buy the RCBS 1010. It appears to be the best thought out of the manual scales. Just my .02, Dave

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