Caliper & Scale Recommendations?

[SnowTrekker]

I'm starting to build my equipment for reloading (have read a bunch of threads on getting started), but have some questions about the two items listed in the title.

I have seen recommendations for dial calipers over digital. Is there any reason for this other than not having to worry about batteries? Which calipers would you recommend?

And for scales, a similar question: is digital the way to go over a beam scale? What scale should I go with?

Thanks

[GeauxTide]

As my eyes get dimmer, it's harder to read my dial caliper. I really like my Franklin digital. I also opted for the Lyman DPS3 Powder dispenser/scale. OUT. STAND. ING...

[hk33ka1]

$25 Digital Home Depot calipres and make sure you have a spare battery. You will need one or two a year. If you want to buy a pair of vernier/dial calipres too nothing wrong with that, but the moderately priced digitals are perfectly fine.

I like the RCBS/Ohaus 5-0-5 balance beam scale and have an older electric RCBS similar to the Rangemaster as well as the Chargemaster combo scale.

[Waldog]

I prefer dial calipers. No need for batteies, EVER. Same with scale. Best buy for a quality balance beam scale is Dillon's Eliminator scale. Digital scales are nice but, they can drift and are affected by voltage flucuations and any air movement in your loading room. I have my Dad's powder scale that is at least 60 years old. Still accurate and usuable.

[serf 'rett]

RCBS 505 scale
Frankford Arsenal dial calipers

[SnowTrekker]

I've seen a number of recommendations for Frankford Arsenal calipers. At $25, I like this (not that I'm cheap, but if I don't have to spend more, why do it?). Recommendations for scales so far are the beam variety. I'm guessing electronic scales are not the way to go? I've seen the little ones that are less expensive, but I am thinking they have problems holding zero.

I'd love to have something like the Lyman 1200 DPS3, but I'll save that for after I have learned more about the process itself.

[Ozzieman]

I have several of both. My RCBS digital does have a hard time keeping 0 but its only .1 to .2 GR.
I also have a very high end balance scale that will measure to .01 Gr but it’s a pain to use. Whatever you do get a set of calibrated weights so you can check your scale every time you use it. Also a trick I was taught, when you get your charge set. Drop 10 in the pan and divide by 10 and you will get the average you’re getting out of your measurer

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSe...=Scale+weights

[NUKE HUNTER]

i like my starret dial calipers, my dad gave it to me years ago and my grandkids will love them later on. as far as scales, my lyman 1000xp is so so.

[SnowTrekker]

Ozzieman, that is a nice trick--I'll use it.

Yes, I'd hope Starrett calipers are nice for the price! I'm sure they last a lifetime--they'd better.

[dumbodave]

As far as check weights go, just about any Sierra bullet will do.. They are so accurate that any scale that does'nt agree with what is printed on the box is seriously suspect!
I have a digital caliper somewhere, and if I ever get around to getting a new battery for it, I might even use it again.
Just about any beam/balance scale will give you accuracy to about a 10th of a tenth of a grain. That is good enough for me. I have a 40 year old Bear (cheap as Borscht) and a much newer RCBS 10-10 scale. I can't see any difference in the accuracy between the two of them - the RCBS weighs heavier objects easier is all.
Vernier calipers are ok and give you accurate info to .001", but for some things you will want accurate measurements to .0001". For that you will need a decent micrometer. Say what you will about cheap 3rd world goods, but useable micrometers have dropped in cost from over a hundredd bucks to 20 or 30 bucks. No reason not to have one now!

[toolguy2006]

As per my brother the machinist. Digital calipers should be just as accurate as dial, as long as you buy a quality brand.

That said, he has noticed a decline in the quality of even the professional grade measuring tools over the last decade or so, and says that Mitutoyo is about all that he will buy anymore.

[mikld]

xMy preference isn't because I'm "old school", but from my experiences. I prefer a Dial Caliper over Digital because I purchased two and the batteries leaked on one and the other wouldn't keep zero (and the doubter in me found it difficult to trust some random numbers flashing up in a display). I have a Digital Scale and it has an auto-shut off feature that is a real pain, and every time the pan is removed it's best to re-zero/tare the unit. So, having said that, My scale preference is a good quality beam scale (Lyman/Ohaus) and a good Dial Daliper (currently using an old Craftsman). I have no problems at all and trust the scale and calipers very much.

[603Country]

I use dial calipers (Lyman) and a Lyman DPS 3 powder thrower/trickler/scale. GeauxTide is right about the Lyman, though I'm sure the RCBS or Hornady would do just as well. I also have PACT digital scale (works fine) and an RCBS 10-10 (haven't used in 2 years). The Lyman DPS3 has spoiled me. Easy, fast, and accurate.

[zxcvbob]

I like dials better (my eyes aren't good enough anymore for vernier scales) but the cheap digital calipers from Harbor Freight are astonishingly good. Just keep a spare battery on hand.

[Ozzieman]

As far as check weights go, just about any Sierra bullet will do.
That’s true if you’re loading 50 to 300 GR of powder. What the weights are good for is checking 1 to 300 GR accuracy. Several 10’s are not that much when were loading 30-06 but it makes lot more difference where we’re loading 5. And calibrated weights will tell you how accurate your scale is from ½ to 20 GR in ½ GR steps.
There are many weight sets that will measure the following. And this for only 30$ and I don’t think that Sierra makes ½ GR bullets.
• One 100 grain
• One 50 grain
• Two 20 grain
• One 10 grain
• One 5 grain
• Two 2 grain
• One 1 grain
• One 1/2 grain

[BigD_in_FL]

I found some Mitutoyo stainless calipers at a flea market for $10 - these are closer to $100

As for scales, look for one of the Ohaus balance beam scales from RCBS, Hornady or others

[dickttx]

The scale type depends a lot on what you use them for. I use the beam type to verify the drop weight of my powder measure. Set your weight, and see if the drop zeros the scale. Loading handgun cartridges that is all I want to do.
I would not want to use the dispenser/scale type for this. If I were loading for rifle on a single stage and wanted to measure each drop I would certainly want the dispenser/scale type.

[SnowTrekker]

I will be reloading everything I shoot single stage at this point to learn the process. That means both my 9mm and .223 ball practice ammo and also .223 and .308 competition loads. Once I am comfortable that I know what I am doing, then I will purchase a progressive press for the 9mm and .223 practice ammo, and will only be using the single stage for the competition rifle ammo.

[Texas Range Ammo]

It's could be a question of what you intend to reload.

If you are just doing basic stuff, a less expensive dial caliper is fine.

If you intend to go totally obsessive compulsive on same-hole target loads, you might want to consider a digital caliper. They both are accurate. My personal opinion is that the dial caliper basically makes you, as a personal reloader, be more careful. That's just opinion. The theory is the digital readout forces you to be aware of down to the thousandth how far your work is off.

Dial caliper people don't freak out, they work too.

In terms of scales, I would caution against using anything purchased to calibrate the scale other than "scale calibration weights". I found some pharmacy related scale calibration weights.

If you can't find anything to accurately calibrate the scale, use good common sense in working up the loads. Meaning, have more than one load data manual, never start with the most powerful loading, and know and understand, and look for signs of too much pressure.

In regard to balance beam or digital, you can be just as accurate with either.

Then you have the dreaded HOBBY DISEASE factor. In which case, you better buy one of everything !

[zxcvbob]

I have a dime that I use to check my scales periodically. I know it weighs exactly 35 grains because I wrote "35" on it with a Sharpie. It is a de-facto standard check weight because I use the same one every time.

[SnowTrekker]

Totally obsessive compulsive. That pretty much describes my level of intensity/focus on hobbies...

[wncchester]

"I prefer dial calipers. No need for batteies, EVER. Same with scale. Best buy for a quality balance beam scale is Dillon's Eliminator scale."

Ditto. Dillon's Elimanator scale IS the RCBS (Ohaus really) 505 but cost less.

If you do choose a digital caliper try one of Harbor Freights, they are made in the same Chinese factory as Midway, Lyman, RCBS, etc, and H.F. often sells them for $10-12. I have three for my shop and they all read within a half thousanth of dead on, or better, and that's as accurate as any caliper gets.

[William T. Watts]

I've purchased quality (Starrett, Mitutoyo,RCBS,Lyman,Redding, etc) all my life, many of my tools are 35 or more years old. A quality tool will outlast the cheapies plus you only have to purchase them one time.. My two cents William

[wncchester]

"A quality tool will outlast the cheapies plus you only have to purchase them one time."

Well, I agree we will only have to buy them one time - unless we drop a high dollar caliper on a concrete floor - then we will cry a few times because no matter how much it cost, it will then be toast!

There are precious few reloaders who will ever 'wear out' any caliper and, given that we can buy 15-20 inexpensive calipers for the price of ONE Mitutoyo/Starrett/B&S, I can't see the logic.

My 35 year old Lee dies still work like new and my RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Redding and Forsters of newer and older vintage don't do any better if they are all used correctly. Nothing works very well if misused.

[UncleGrumpy]

Well, I agree we will only have to buy them one time - unless we drop a high dollar caliper on a concrete floor - then we will cry a few times because no matter how much it cost, it will then be toast!

You raise an interesting point. You had to drop the expensive caliper on a concrete floor. I broken cheaper ones dropping them on the table. Now I own mityoyo.