Powder scales

DucksBucks · 02-26-2003, 09:44 AM

Any powder scales to stay away from?

recoiljunky · 02-26-2003, 07:29 PM

I' m not too impressed with my Lee beam scale. It seems a bit inconsistant and its range does not go high enough. Its the only one I' ve ever tried though.

Vapodog · 02-26-2003, 07:45 PM

most scales today are made by Ohaus, and they' re fine....some of the electronic scales are ok.....some I' d be suspect of!!!

Hornady has a fine scale, and after that I' d be leary!!!

If it says Lee on it.....well...that' s your decision!!!

halcon · 02-27-2003, 12:08 AM

What ever scale you buy it would be a good idea to get a set of scale weights so you can check to see if they are reading right . The Lee scales work as well as any of the others ,not quite as sensitive and not as well made but they do work within tolerances stated .

PaJack · 02-27-2003, 08:12 AM

I have a Lyman and a RCBS,both work fine! Now I' m into HI-TECH,I have a electronic scale! As for a " junk" scale,good question...[:-]

thndrchiken · 02-28-2003, 12:53 AM

I like my Lyman 500. Don' t really see the need to dump 150 or better on a digital scale just so I can get a little more lazy.

Solitary Man · 02-28-2003, 01:07 PM

The one I would stay away from is the Pact BBK II electronic scale. That' s the small one. I' ve got one and I have very little (if any) confidence in it. Here' s one example why:

First, they say to let it warm up about 20 or 30 minutes before using it, so I always did. I say " did" because I don' t use it any more. Anyway, I was loading up some 7.65 Arg. rounds (20 to be exact) one day and weighing each charge. I wanted 47 grains of IMR 4350 in each case. After I finished loading each case I was curious, so I recalibrated and rezeroed the scale then reweighed the charges in random cases. Some weighed 47grs. while some weighed almost 48.5grs. I had to dump every one and reweigh everything using my Redding Master beam scale that I have absolute faith in.

That was not an isolated incident. I have weighed brass with it as well and gone back to recheck the first ones weighed and they would weigh a full grain or so different the second time around.

From what I understand, the more expensive Pact is a much better scale. Right now I weigh all my charges on the Redding beam scale, but I am considering buying another electronic to weigh bullets and brass.

propmahn · 02-28-2003, 07:51 PM

i have not had anyproblems with the lee scale but i have very limited expireiece. i do want a electronic scale thugh. it just seems simpler and easier

NE Hunter · 03-01-2003, 07:41 AM

Solitary Man , That' s interesting and very and timely I was about to order one of them soon. I saw them on Midway and read the reveiws on there and it sounded reliable though very sensitive to it' s surroundings. You' ve got me rethinking this one.

Briman · 03-01-2003, 11:30 AM

Did you move the scale after you calibrated it? You need to recalibrate anytime you move a scale whether its a beam or electronic scale.
I use an RCBS (Ohaus) beam scale but would like to move up to an electronic scale to save a bit of time. I have utmost faith in elctronic scales- I use them alot where I work- if they are mounted to a granite table, they pretty much never go out of calibration- even our ultraprecise balances that weigh out to the 100,000th of a gram though these babies cost $15,000 a piece not $150.[8D]