RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

My Pact Digital Scale works fine. Good luck.

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

I have a PACT digital, but never use it. I just can't depend on it to give consistently accurate readings. I now use a Redding No. 2 Master beam scale and have been very happy with it.

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

You know you've got a reloading problem when......


You need a powder scale, and you come home with a whole RCBS RC Master Kit! :D





I have been wanting to pick up another traditional powder measure and upgrade my single stage press for a while, so last night I just used the excuse of needing a scale to justify buying the whole kit. I had a $100 gift certificate, and I figure I can sell my used press at the next gun show to offset the cost.....


The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. No, no not me! :D

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

It easily get's my vote too!

DM

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

I started years ago with a 5-0-5 and then went with a 10-10 but for the last 15 + years I have used a Lyman LE-1000 electronic scale and it'ssimply a fantastic instrument. It's been rock solid for many years.

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

my rcbs 505 was great until a house guest broke it to bad to fix.i replaced it with a rcbs rc 130 scale and its garbage.its so far off that i can feel and hear the difference in my ammo while shooting.the other day i had one cartridge so hot that mytaurus450 revolvertwisted in my hand and i got cut by the hammers edge.i'm in the market for another 505 i guess.

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

I have an antique Lyman/Ohaus M5 that I bought in 1967, and recently bought another like it off e-Bay for $35.00. They both still weigh within 0.1 of a grain, just as they did when new.

A friend has an RCBS that his wife gave him along with alot of additional RCBS stuff. One evening, I was trying to show him how to reload using his setup. When it came to weighing the powder, that scale was so sloppy I was afraid to use any charges "weighed" on it! I had to go home and get my own scale to finish up with!

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

For the people having problems with their electronic scales, here a couple of things to consider that I’ve encountered over my years in the lab:


1. make sure the weighing tray is clean and properly centered
2. make sure the balance/scale is on a solid, level surface. A scrap piece of marble or granite is an ideal surface to weigh on.
3. Use a ac/dc adapter whenever possible
4. try not to move your balance/scale after you have calibrated it, try not to move it at all.
5. do a check with a known weight before use to verify the scale is within calibration.
6. If you listen to music while you re-load, do not have your audio source on the same surface as your scale, esp. a digital one. The vibration will make it drift. Also drafts or any vibrations.
7. Make sure you are not measuring a weight beyond the scales capability.
[ol][/ol]

Before you buy a digital balance/scale make sure you buy as much accuracy and precision you can afford, look at the stated readability, i.e. 0.1 gr vs. 0.01gr; reproducibility ± 0.1gr vs. ± 0.01 gr and see if the manufacturer states a drift measurement for the scale i.e. ± 0.001 gr over 1 hr or some wording like that. If you’re real serious about a balance I would look at used pharmaceutical equipment auctions or web-sites, O-haus, sartorious and Mettler make good balances, however Mettler’s are a little pricey:

Mettler AE200 Analytical Balance. (Inv #7239) Range: 0 to 205 Gram by 0.0001 Grams. The Mettler AE Series of analytical balances is considered by many to be the best analytical balances ever produced. Extremely easy to use, all balance functions are controlled by the front panel control bar- automatic taring, integration time selection, calibration, and to turn the balance display on or off. The balance features a built-in calibration weight to calibrate the balance to ASTM Class 1 specifications. More specifications: Capacity/Weighing Range: 0 to 205g, Taring Range: 0 to 205g, Readability: 0.1mg, Reproducibility: 0.1mg, Linearity: +/- 0.3mg, Stabilization Time: ~5 sec, Pan Diameter: 3-1/8", Balance Housing: 16-1/8" X 8-1/8" X 11-1/2". , We replaced the display module so you can depend on years of bright, clear readability. Very good used condition, checked, guaranteed. Price: $1495.00


Mettler BB300 Top Loading Balance, 310g X 0.01g. (Inv #7175) Single range model with plenty of Mettler standard features. Use the single control bar to control any balance function. The balance is equipped with electronic vibration and weighing process adapters and includes an electronic calibration function. Specifications: Taring Range (by subtraction): 0 to 310g, Resolution: 0.01g, Reproducibility: 0.005g, Linearity: +/- 0.01g, Stabilization Time: ~1.5 sec, Pan Size: 6-3/8" X 6-1/8" (16 X 15cm), Balance Housing: 10-1/2" X 6-1/2" X 2-3/8" (27 X 17 X 6cm). Very good used condition, checked, guaranteed. Price: $350.00

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

There'sNO POINT AT ALL in the use of a laboratory balance, or anything resembling one, for weighting small arms powder charges!

0.10 of a grain is way more than needed to get shot-to shot MV variation of 0 to 10 FPS. I have proven this to my own satisfaction over the past 40 years with four different makes of chronographs of my own, and several doppler-type owned by the U.S. Army as well.

Indeed, there are several slow-burning powders, such as H4831, IMR 4350, etc., where two powder kernels is all it takes to weigh 0.10 of a grain.

For edification, pull the bullets on any ten rounds of factory CF .30 caliber or similar rifle ammuniton, and weigh the powder charges. ANY factoryammo that has less than 1 grain variation between rounds is great stuff!

RE: Need a New Powder Scale
 

I'm not suggesting that people buy a lab balance, but rather demonstrate why their electronic balance might be falling short of their expectations. However, if I were to do a lot of re-loading and could get a cheap (~$350) used lab balance, I would consider it.