Opinions on scales

dvfd12 · January 13, 2007, 01:59 AM

I need to buy a new scale. I have narrowed it down to the Dillon D-Terminator Electronic Scale, or the RCBS RangeMaster 750 Electronic Scale.

A friend of mine has the Dillon, and he swears by it. I hear the RCBS is a good scale and its about $40 cheaper.

I was just wondering if any of you have any experience with either of these.

cheygriz · January 13, 2007, 11:14 AM

Most of the electronic scales are pretty good. Not as good, IMHO, as a good Ohaus manufactured beam balance scales, but still good.

However, the use of an electronic scale makes the use of a precision scale weight check set even more critical.

mrawesome22 · January 13, 2007, 03:04 PM

I always wanted an electronic scale too.... till I joined this board and started reading. Seems the only way to use one accurately is to re-zero it almost every charge. So I bought a cheap Lee and my groups have thanked me ever since. I bought it just to get into reloading, but it works so well, I'll probably use it till I drop it and it breaks LOL. The only time you have to re-zero it is after moving it.

OlderFox · January 13, 2007, 03:45 PM

Have used a Lyman beam scale for 42 years. When it wore out I bought a RCBS 5-0-5 off dreaded eBay for $20 barely used. This was 2 years ago. Having seen how a couple of the electronic ones work, thanks but no thanks, I'll stick to my beam scales. The time saved isn't worth the inaccuracies that can develop with electronics.
I'm not about to try to fix something that isn't broken. 0.25 MOA is good enough for my varmint rifles.
Cheers

cuate · January 13, 2007, 07:05 PM

Bought a RCBS Micro Pro some time back, I haven't found a powder measure of any kind that was on the money. I have a Lyman, a Lee and some other measure but I am shooting ball powder and the Lee does fairly well, within a few grains. I weigh each and every charge and stand by with a powder trickler or ready to dump a bit for every charge. I rather like for each cartridge to be accurate, no matter the caliber. I am open to suggestions that don't cost a furtune.

stinger · January 13, 2007, 08:39 PM

I got the RCBS 750 for X-Mas and have used it several times since then. It is just as accurate as my 5-0-5, but much faster and easier to use.

Obviously, I cannot vouch for its longevity, but I like it.

Windwalker · January 13, 2007, 09:04 PM

I have a RCBS beam scale, got to be thirty years old and a Redding scale that I bought at a garage sale twenty years ago. They're set up one above the other and when checking a powder charge I throw two and use both scales. Amazing how closely accurate they both are.

I'd love to try one of the new electronic scales but I'm afraid it would be for the gadget novelty. For me, why replace something that is working perfectly fine? Maybe if it was my first scale yea I'd get a electronic one but then I'd have a beam scale also. Ahh, the choices.....

WW

mjrodney · January 13, 2007, 09:23 PM

A RCBS 5-0-5 and a set of check/calibration weights will serve you till the end of time.

Anon · January 13, 2007, 10:07 PM

Maybe I'm cheap, but here's my thought on "the use of a precision scale weight check set"..... Why bother? Get a couple of whatevers, and weigh them when you get the scale. As long as these whatevers give the same reading every time you use the scale, the scale is still OK.

I don't reload for precision, though, I do it for quantity at lower cost than factory (goes back to the cheap thing!).

A sucky thing about digital scales, and digital calipers... dead batteries when you go to use the equipment.

CERBERUS · January 13, 2007, 11:04 PM

The check weights weigh an exact amount, this isn't necesarily to check to see if your scale has changed (though they do work well for this) it is to make sure 10grns actualy weigh 10grns on the scale. If you repeatibly weigh a charge that is 1grn off then that could be a problem.

cheygriz · January 13, 2007, 11:08 PM

+1 to Cerberus.

The scale check weights are just as important as the scale itself.

CERBERUS · January 13, 2007, 11:43 PM

accidental double post, and theres no delete button

XD-Guy · January 14, 2007, 06:23 AM

I like a beam scale, I use an RCBS 505 and will soon have a 10/10 IMO that's the Cadillac of beam scales

January 13, 2007, 01:59 AM	#1
dvfd12 Junior Member Join Date: December 3, 2006 Posts: 7	Opinions on scales I need to buy a new scale. I have narrowed it down to the Dillon D-Terminator Electronic Scale, or the RCBS RangeMaster 750 Electronic Scale. A friend of mine has the Dillon, and he swears by it. I hear the RCBS is a good scale and its about $40 cheaper. I was just wondering if any of you have any experience with either of these.

January 13, 2007, 11:14 AM	#2
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	Most of the electronic scales are pretty good. Not as good, IMHO, as a good Ohaus manufactured beam balance scales, but still good. However, the use of an electronic scale makes the use of a precision scale weight check set even more critical. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

January 13, 2007, 03:45 PM	#4
OlderFox Member Join Date: January 6, 2007 Location: W. Canada Posts: 22	Have used a Lyman beam scale for 42 years. When it wore out I bought a RCBS 5-0-5 off dreaded eBay for $20 barely used. This was 2 years ago. Having seen how a couple of the electronic ones work, thanks but no thanks, I'll stick to my beam scales. The time saved isn't worth the inaccuracies that can develop with electronics. I'm not about to try to fix something that isn't broken. 0.25 MOA is good enough for my varmint rifles. Cheers __________________ West of hell. East of the Rockies.

January 13, 2007, 07:05 PM	#5
cuate Junior member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Comanche Co. Texas Posts: 737	Rcbs Bought a RCBS Micro Pro some time back, I haven't found a powder measure of any kind that was on the money. I have a Lyman, a Lee and some other measure but I am shooting ball powder and the Lee does fairly well, within a few grains. I weigh each and every charge and stand by with a powder trickler or ready to dump a bit for every charge. I rather like for each cartridge to be accurate, no matter the caliber. I am open to suggestions that don't cost a furtune.

January 13, 2007, 09:23 PM	#8
mjrodney Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2006 Location: SW Florida Posts: 435	A RCBS 5-0-5 and a set of check/calibration weights will serve you till the end of time. __________________ Proud supporter of the NRA

January 13, 2007, 03:04 PM	#3
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I always wanted an electronic scale too.... till I joined this board and started reading. Seems the only way to use one accurately is to re-zero it almost every charge. So I bought a cheap Lee and my groups have thanked me ever since. I bought it just to get into reloading, but it works so well, I'll probably use it till I drop it and it breaks LOL. The only time you have to re-zero it is after moving it.

January 13, 2007, 08:39 PM	#6
stinger Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: west texas Posts: 772	I got the RCBS 750 for X-Mas and have used it several times since then. It is just as accurate as my 5-0-5, but much faster and easier to use. Obviously, I cannot vouch for its longevity, but I like it.

January 13, 2007, 09:04 PM	#7
Windwalker Member Join Date: December 26, 2006 Location: Utah, dead center Posts: 19	I have a RCBS beam scale, got to be thirty years old and a Redding scale that I bought at a garage sale twenty years ago. They're set up one above the other and when checking a powder charge I throw two and use both scales. Amazing how closely accurate they both are. I'd love to try one of the new electronic scales but I'm afraid it would be for the gadget novelty. For me, why replace something that is working perfectly fine? Maybe if it was my first scale yea I'd get a electronic one but then I'd have a beam scale also. Ahh, the choices..... WW

January 13, 2007, 10:07 PM	#9
Anon Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Posts: 209	Maybe I'm cheap, but here's my thought on "the use of a precision scale weight check set"..... Why bother? Get a couple of whatevers, and weigh them when you get the scale. As long as these whatevers give the same reading every time you use the scale, the scale is still OK. I don't reload for precision, though, I do it for quantity at lower cost than factory (goes back to the cheap thing!). A sucky thing about digital scales, and digital calipers... dead batteries when you go to use the equipment.

January 13, 2007, 11:04 PM	#10
CERBERUS Member Join Date: November 4, 2004 Posts: 50	The check weights weigh an exact amount, this isn't necesarily to check to see if your scale has changed (though they do work well for this) it is to make sure 10grns actualy weigh 10grns on the scale. If you repeatibly weigh a charge that is 1grn off then that could be a problem.

January 13, 2007, 11:08 PM	#11
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	+1 to Cerberus. The scale check weights are just as important as the scale itself. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

January 13, 2007, 11:43 PM	#12
CERBERUS Member Join Date: November 4, 2004 Posts: 50	accidental double post, and theres no delete button

January 14, 2007, 06:23 AM	#13
XD-Guy Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Posts: 102	I like a beam scale, I use an RCBS 505 and will soon have a 10/10 IMO that's the Cadillac of beam scales