Which scale to get

[Roland Thunder]

I will have all my new reloading equipment by the end of this week except the scale.

I am debating between the RCBS Rangemaster 750 Electronic Scale, the RCBS Model 502 Magnetic Scale or the RCBS Model 505 Magnetic scale. Which of those three would be better for a reloader just starting out (I am mostly talking about accuracy here, not ease of use). I would prefer the electronic one but I have read some reviews about the RCBS 750 Electronic Scale and they seem to be either one extreme or the other, i.e. they either get a 5 or a 1 from the reviewer.

Would like to hear your take on which of those 3 scales would be best for a novice

[BigPapa4147]

I have had no problem with my RCBS 750. It is every bit as accurate as my balance beam scale, and much easier to use.

[Unclenick]

It depends what kind of loading you will do. If you only use a scale to check your powder measure, the beam balances are less expensive and never wear out and, since gravity doesn't change much, are usually accurate for life if you keep them under a dust cover and treat them well. They take more time to use, but if you're not measuring each load that isn't enough time to matter.

The digital scales are much faster and are a real convenience if you weigh charges frequently. If you don't have a beam balance to check it against, a good set of check weights is important because the load cells in these scales can crap out over time. It's not a bad idea to cut pieces of stainless wire that weighs what your best powder charges do and put them on the scale to cross-check that readings haven't shifted at the exact weight you are interested in.

I've used the RCBS beam scales, and they are just fine. I think all the beam scales you buy in domestic brands of reloading gear except Lee Precision are actually made by Ohaus, a reputable scale manufacturer.

I don't have the RCBS 750 scale, but I can tell you some electronic scales are better than others. I think maybe the best value at the moment is not among your choices. It's the lower priced of the two digital scales that Brian Enos is selling. I talked to Brian about it for a friend who was buying a first digital scale. I wanted to be sure its not rounding up conversions from hundredths of a gram (as cheap scales do and which can cause skipped digits in the tenths) and it is not; it reads grains directly. He said it settles well rather than having display jitter issues. He also told me he hasn't had a single return. The same cannot be said for any other brands I can think of that aren't a lab grade scales. Also, unlike any other brand of electronic scale, it has a 20 year warranty.

So, if you have no other scale and want to go electronic, the Enos scale is where I'd go. Not one of your original choices, I know, but it costs about 1/3 less than the RCBS and has twice the weight capacity. It is a rather better than average value, IMHO. As for the beam balances, either RCBS is just dandy. Decide how much you want to weigh and how often and base the decision on that.

[Sid]

I agree with Unclenick. I have an RCBS 505 and only use it to check charges. It is one of the most popular and you may be able to find one on Ebay and save yourself some money.

[noylj]

I gave up on balance beams in the late '70s.
I recommend any name brand balance that costs $60 or more.
You MIGHT get a good one cheaper, but then you might not.
I like the Lyman 1000 XT (?) as a small convenient balance that runs on batteries and AC.
Of course, my main balance is the one attached to my ChargeMaster.
If you want a beam, consider an RCBS 10-10. I prefer the thumbwheel poise over the lift-and-move poise. I notice that there have been no improvements in balance beams since the '60s, so I would say it is a proven, though clumsy to me, technology.
Do NOT compare one scale to another. You can't determine which is "right" that way.
I recommend people with balance beams buy a good set of check weights and actually plot the check weight vs the weight determined by the balance. This will calibrate your balance.
Also, for accuracy, the poises must be kept in good shape (no rust, dirt, soils or oils) and actually lifted up and placed in the proper groove (not just dragged across the beam).

[Roland Thunder]

Originally Posted by Unclenick

They take more time to use, but if you're not measuring each load that isn't enough time to matter.

I guess that raises another question:
Maybe I should be weighing every load while I am new at this. One of the components I got is the Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure. Is weighing every load overkill with this? Just trying to be cautious since I am new at this.

[wingman]

I have the RCBS 750 and love it however I do use a Lyman Balance beam as back up and I check each scale with the other when I beginning reloading, it works or me and I feel confident my reloads are correct.

[Unclenick]

Greg,

The discs are fixed sizes, you should check that you are throwing the powder quantity you expect to. Usually just throwing a few charges and putting them back in the hopper will settle everything, then you throw and weigh several to get an actual average weight and some idea how much they vary. If you need to change the disc, you'll know then.

The only common reason for weighing every charge is to make special accuracy loads. You can make up a few dozen on a beam balance without straining your time on the planet very hard. Once you have tested those, you can compare how they did to how well your ammunition charged by the powder measure does. If there's little difference, you're done with weighing except as a measure check. That's likely to prove true with most handgun loads. Some kinds of rifle loads can be pickier.

[Roland Thunder]

It looks to me like, most people that have a digital scale also have a beam scale for back up or to verify. With that in mind if I am only going to have one scale and don't need to weigh every charge, I may be better to have the beam until I can afford a digital.

Something about having a digital and no back up scale to verify bothers me

[Unclenick]

You can use check weights to verify the digital scale, as I mentioned. It's not a big deal unless the digital fails, in which case being without a backup shuts you down until the replacement comes.

[spclPatrolGroup]

if you check one scale by antoehr, how do you know which one is off, you need check weights. I have a rangemaster and chargemaster, both come with weights for calibration. the main thing is start yoru scale for 30 minutes before you want to use it, then calibrate it.

[FM12]

I have the rangemaster 750 and love it, never a problem, probably 10 yrs old or so.

[wingman]

if you check one scale by antoehr, how do you know which one is off, you need check weights. I have a rangemaster and chargemaster, both come with weights for calibration. the main thing is start yoru scale for 30 minutes before you want to use it, then calibrate it.

I calibrate both scales then drop a charge see if scales match if they do I continue using electronic scales depending on how many I'm loading I may double check middle and end, if I find a difference I double check scales it does not happen often but normally it's my fault not the scales. I'm super cautious and most of my loading is for accuracy. If I could only afford one scale for starting out it would be a balance beam and then purchase the electronic scale later. I believe both is the better set up.

Any scales requires care, cleaning/storage and when using vibration, air current free.

[4runnerman]

Greg-- All posts in here are good and to the point.One thing that is not being measured here is consistancy. If your scale (digital) weights a charge at 40 gns and that same charge weights 42 on a beam scale. That is not important. What is important is that each load weights the same as the next. You will find a charge that works in your gun and that is the charge you will use. If your scale is off on weight,that is not as important as that each load is the same as the other. What im trying to say is Consistancy is the key in accuracy. What the load weights is unimportant (barring overcharges). I load 24 gns of RL-15 for my pet load in a 223 on my scale. If that charge weights 25 or 28 on someone elses that is irrelivent.As long as when i load i use my scale and it weight 24 gns on my scale. Consistancy.Consistancy.Consistancy..

[Roland Thunder]

It sounds like I'd be better off with a beam scale if I'm only going to have one (for now)

[Waldog]

Greg,
The best bagain out there in a GOOD balance beam scale is the Dillon Eliminator Balance Beam Scale. It's made by Ohaus and is $54.95

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con...or__039__Scale

[Shootest]

Greg,
The best bagain out there in a GOOD balance beam scale is the Dillon Eliminator Balance Beam Scale. It's made by Ohaus and is $54.95

+1 the Dillon is as good as the RCBS 5-0-5 and at a better price.

[adrians]

my rcbs 505 gets the job done ,i use it to spot check my uniflo drop loads (every 10 or so ) .
just for my peace of mind .
i use digital for weighing my cast bullets(boolits)

[jhansman]

Tried several "affordable" digitals, but after much frustration they all went back and the RCBS 505 I use now will probably last longer than I will.

[oldreloader]

I have both the 502 and the 750. They are both excellent scales. I also use the pro auto disc and once the drop is verified I only spot check.

[Jim243]

One of the components I got is the Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure. Is weighing every load overkill with this? Just trying to be cautious since I am new at this.

In reading all of the responses (all good), I forgot what the original question was.

Being cautious is a good thing as well as checking everything twice and then rechecking again.

Look at reloading as a series of steps that gives you confidence as you do them over and over. Will the scale read correctly? Will I be setting the primer in deep enough? Is my OAL correct? Will I forget something important?

This confidence will come with time as you load more and more.

I use to check my Auto Disk every round when I first started, then every 10th round after a few months, now after 7 years I check the first 5 loads then maybe the 20th and 40th and once in a while the 75th round being loaded.

Since I NEVER load to the max load, I really don't worry if the powder measure once in a while will drop a 0.10 grain or even a 0.20 of a grain extra since the load will never be at max. You need to be more concern that YOU are doing everything the same way each and every time, no distractions. If you have to stop for any reason, nature calls, the wife calls or the kids are fighting. Then start over as if you are just starting and check that all is as it should be and is in fact happening. This will keep you safe and out of harms way.

The price of scales are all over the place from Lees (wold not recommend) to the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 (that's the one I use, but that's another story).

You need to gain confidence in the equipment YOU are using, and only time and use will do that. Imagine purchasing a $300 high end scale and using a $60.00 balance beam scale to check that it's reading correctly, well I did for the first 6 months after getting the 1500. As you see it is a mater of confidence. Now my balace beam hasn't seen use in the last 4 years. (but I still have it)

Have fun reloading and stay safe.
Jim

So your question on is it overkill - no not really, but yes it is.

[Jimro]

If you are only going to have one scale make it a balance beam type. Even the cheap LEE scale will work (I used mine for a long time before I found a used RCBS 5-0-5 scale for a reasonable price).

Jimro

[Unclenick]

I think you won't regret having the beam. If you're not married to the RCBS brand, Waldog is correct that the Dillon is the same make (Ohaus OEM branded) and retails for less. That is a good way to go. Dillon's customer service is top notch, too.

One recurring theme with digitals is that some drift around and won't hold a stable zero. These days that is usually due to EMI noise on the line from fluorescent lamps or switching power supplies in TV's and computers and other electronics. In some instances it's from things not even on your property. On another forum a moderator who is a computer tech suggested taking an old computer UPS with a dead battery and just using it as the EMI filter. A couple of folks with drifting PACT scales plugged them into those, and lo, the scale zeroed and no longer drifted.

There are other filters than UPS's. Surge protectors offer a limited amount of filtering, but you can buy power strips with added EMI filters. If you have issues with a plug-in digital scale's stability, EMI filtering is worth trying.

[Wag]

I have an RCBS magnetic beam scale I've used for about 10 or 12 years now. Or longer... Heck, I don't remember. Great scale.

I've never wanted a digital scale because more parts means more points of failure, but then again, I rarely weight every load in a batch.

My lee scale that I got in the Anniversary Kit many years ago failed after a couple of years. YMMV.

--Wag--

[DarthNul]

+1 on the rangemaster 750. I have four scales and since I got the 750, the others haven't been touched.