Which Powder Scale?

[Swampray]

Which Powder Scale do you use and why?

[wncchester]

When I started loading in '65 I bought a Lyman M5, an Ohaus made scale, because of a good review in the Am. Rifleman that has proven to be true. It's sold today as RCBS 1010, same maker and same basic mechanism.

My scale is as sensitive and dead on accurate today as when I took it outta the box. Actually, that would be true for any beam scale if it hasn't been abused, not so for any digital scale.

[dmazur]

+1 to RCBS 10-10 scale.

I've been using one for a few months now and it's great. No warm-up time, no dead batteries, and the scale stores all of its parts safely when not in use in a clever integral case design.

I had a RCBS digital scale (made by Pact) and it finally became unstable. I've read this occurs after some time with digital scales. The strain gauges are set in epoxy and something changes after 5 years or more. Sometimes the mfgr can repair them, but it is often cheaper to just replace the scale.

I've never had a "high end" digital scale, so I don't know if these are any better.

What I know is, when I needed a new scale, I "weighed my options" and went with a mechanical scale.

[RWNielsen]

I have a Dillon beam scale and a RCBS 10-10.
The Dillon is faster to adjust
The 10-10 stabilizes faster
I sometimes check them against each other and they seem to agree

[oneoldsap]

My RCBS 1500 digital is an excellent tool . However every now and then I get my Lyman beam scale out to make sure it's not fibbing. If you are going to have just one scale it should probably be a beam type . Look for the one that looks to be the easiest for you to operate . Ever since Mr. Fairbanks invented the adjustable beam scale , they are all pretty much the same , the only difference being how they are adjusted !

[billcarey]

I use a Redding #1 scale for really light loads because it's more sensitive and more repeatable than my RCBS 5-10. The 5-10 is used when loading over 5 grains but I always verify loads with both scales anyway. I had a Hornady M scale but it was the least repeatable of the three so I traded it.

[Jeff H]

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the Ohaus scales that are sold by different reloading companies. After a little research, it seems that the RCBS 5-0-2 seems to be about the most inexpensive of the "good" scales. They tend to be selling for $25.00 used on Gunbroker. Any of the other good scales seem to command a much higher price.

[billcarey]

I really like the dial poise on the 5-10 & 1010...they share the same beam and dial by the way. Once you get it set there's a nylon lock screw to keep it from changing. On my other scales with the poise that lifts and slides, I've accidently hit them and moved the value by a 10th or two...that can't happen with the dials.

I've seen 1010s on ebay for $35 as buy it now and they don't last more than a few minutes.

[chris in va]

I have an old 50's Redding scale I found on Ebay for $25. Works perfectly, very accurate. It doesn't have all the fancy stuff like magnetic damping (or oil damping for that matter) but I just stick my finger under the indicator and let it settle that way.

Digital scales are a lot quicker, but I just can't bring myself to fully trust electronics. Gravity seems to be rather reliable.

[oneounceload]

My RCBS 5-10 has been working great for 30 years. The digital ones last a few months and require more care

[ScottRiqui]

I like my Lee balance scale just fine. I used to obsess about getting the beam pointer to line up *exactly* with the index mark until I realized how sensitive it is. A tenth of a grain deviation will cause the pointer to be pretty far off the index mark, so if the pointer is close to the index, the charge is *really* close to correct.

[colospgsAVID]

RCBS 502. Cheap and very accurate. Basically infallible.

[DANNY-L]

I started with a 5-0-5,after a year I had the 10-10,no regrets and it will probably be the only one I will ever need.

[hodaka]

I started with an RCBS 5-0-5 then a few years ago upgraded to an electronic, RCBS 750. The electronic is much faster to use and they match for weighing accuracy.

[oneoldsap]

Jeez I've had my RCBS 1500 for 7 years now and it's still going ! Took me about a year to trust it though . My old eyes don't like trying to focus on those little marks anymore .

[Farmland]

Lyman digital - just fast and easy.

[Incognito]

I'll be the odd one which didn't buy a "reloading" scale, and went with a My Weigh iBalance 201 (link).

[James R. Burke]

I bought one of the first RCBS digital combo's. Been very happy with it, and never had a problem. Also they have a great warranty. But I will say there are quite a few good one's out there or even better. They even improved on the one I have.

[RWJOHN]

I use the Pacific/Hornady model M beam scale. It came with the used kit I bought about 17 years ago. Works great and easy to use. If I ever upgrade my equipment I may go for a digital scale, but at the rate I reload I can't justify that yet.

[Sport45]

I have a Lee Safety Scale, Dillon beam scale, and a PACT BBKII digital scale. 99% of the time, if not more, I use the PACT digital. Mostly because it's fast, easy, and accurate.

[Don P]

The Lee scale that came with my kit.

[BarbreJ]

I am only reloading .40. Is the 10-10 overkill? Of course, I plan on getting into higher calibers eventually, but probably won't be for awhile.

I used my father-in-laws 10-10 and it was so much easier then my Lee Safety scale witch takes me atleast 10min to get zeroed. Are the other RCBS scales just as easy to use?

[dmazur]

I used my father-in-laws 10-10 and it was so much easier then my Lee Safety scale witch takes me atleast 10min to get zeroed. Are the other RCBS scales just as easy to use?

I have only owned a 10-10, which has the vernier drum weight. The 5-10 is similar (but no longer made), except it is limited to 500gr max where the 10-10 runs up to 1000gr.

The 5-0-5 and similar RCBS scales have multiple poises instead of the single large poise and the vernier drum. You have to juggle these around and add them up. When I tired this out in a store, I found it "fussy" compared to the 10-10. Accuracy is probably identical, but perhaps not as easy to use.

A pointer on adjusting the 10-10 drum - on my scale, the threads are loose enough that there is a considerable difference in effort if you try to push on the R edge of the drum instead of the L edge (where the threads are). It feels like the drum is "wracking" if I push on the R edge, and this makes turning it harder. L edge works better.

The main thing I like about the 10-10, as I mentioned earlier, is that is stores more securely. I suppose there isn't really a need for this on reloading benches that have a permanent "home" for the scale, but it makes me feel better when I'm moving it around that it isn't assembled on its knife edges.

I think all of the RCBS scales use magnetic damping, so they are probably very similar. The differences are in poise arrangement and if they have a "self storage" capability.

In regard to the "overkill" question, powder charges are around 40-75gr for most rifle cartridges, so you aren't going to get into capacity issues until you start weighing bullets for .45-70 and .50 BMG ( ) There may be other opinions on this, but I believe scale capacity is overrated as a sales point.

[Randy 1911]

I started with a RCBS 5-10 and liked it. I got out of reloading for a few years (got divorced). When I stated back I bought a 10-10 and have used it for the past 17 years and am very happy with it. I never had any problems of any kind. I noticed they have just about doubled in price since I bought mine.

[Headgear]

I bought a Dillon press package deal a couple of years ago which included a D-terminator electronic scale. Love it! it's all I use anymore. It comes with a 50 gram weight to check accuracy, its quick and easy but like all blue, a little pricey.