beam or electronic loading scale
 

I am looking into a loading scale and I don't know which way to go. I know the pro's and con's of both the beam and electronic scales. So which would be best for limited space to load in?

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I've been wanting one of those all in 1 scale and dispenser so bad I can taste it. Just punch in amount of grains you want,and it'll be perfectly weighed out quickly.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

Im skeptical about the perfect but it would be damn close. Id have to see to believe or have some strong testimony.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I've had trouble with electronic balances in the past...repeatability problems...tare problems...I've gone back to my beam balance. Perhaps things have changed with the elect. balances over the past few years, but I'm gonna have to be really convinced before I try them again.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I have both, and I prefer to use my balance scale while weighing powder charges. The electronic scale comes in handy for weight sorting cases, quickly checking weights, etc. I really don't use my electronic scale much, though.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

yeah that was one of the forseen problems I thought of. working in deli's and meat rooms, I have seen the same problems with the high end food grade scales. At the place I work now, we use an spring style scale.

this helps a lot, I may get a beam balance. now which one. rbcs 505 or lee safety scale? I have heard good things about both.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I have the Pact didgit scales.push a button and she dumps out the charge.
Have had it 5 years now with no problems what ever..And it is accurate..
I have checked it with other scales and it weighs the same..

The only bad thing is it is not really made for ball powders,like Hodgons.
it seems to jam up at times.But this is mentioned in the direction sheets..

A friend of mine has the RCBS automatic and he likes his as well...I load
and average of 250 rounds a week if the weather is good..

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I have both, and I prefer the electronic scale. It's much faster to use. It is, however, important to turn the scale on and let it stabilize for several minutes before calibrating it and using it. If you don't let the scale stabilize it won't hold a zero very well. I also recheck the calibration every so often to be sure it's accurate.

If I just need to quickly weigh something I'll use the beam scale. If I'm were planning to actually spend time working at the bench with a scale, I'd fire up the electronic scale in advance.

Mike

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I have a Pact scale, and it works great. Good luck.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

My rcbs electronic scale is just as consistant as my old 10-10 balance scale,but it is much faster to use.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I have a Lyman electro and Lyman beam on the bench always.After 10 charges, I'll check with the Beam.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

Agree completely with Pawildman and Dan. Nothing to fail on a beam scale as long as you don't crunch it. I've sent my PACT in for repair 4 times now, paying shipping $5 to them and $10 to get it back. Still will not calibrate. They told me last that it must be cell towers. Makes a nice paperweight now.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

Iwent on a quest several years ago looking for a high quality digital electronic. All I found was junk. I bought 3, one from cabelas, RCBS, and a dillion. They won't update real time, so trickling a load is about impossible.

I can throw a powder load and trickle much faster with a beam scale.

Also, the digitals can have calibration issues depending on your power, or if any noisy (electronics) appliances are running, or vibrations. They are great for weighing fixed things like broadheads, or bullets or brass. But truely suck at wieghing powder charges.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

with elelctronic scales, that was one thing I did think about. noise is knowen for messing with all kinds of electronics.

where I be loading, I have the computer and tv near.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I have the original electronic model 90 scale sold by RCBS.It was quite expensive(about $350 US many years ago),and larger than most,but it is very consistant and updates very quickly so trickling works well.I use a measure set just under my desired weight,and trickle every charge.My television is about 8 feet away,and it does not bother the scale at all.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I've had a electronic...it was ok,but I have a Redding and a CH beam scales and I canstart dumping powder and if I had someone pressing bullets I could keep them busy!Alot of that does depend on the powder dump though,love my RCBS! It's been good from right below 7 grains to 30 grains and beyond if need be.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I start this thread the help me out finding a scale. I am more confused.

but I am not getting one that you need batteries only.

I am also on a budget.

note: this is great help and to see all the options out there

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

For a budget go with a beam scale!Not as fragile and temp or weather(lighting storms,misc) sensitive! You can find them at gunshows or maybe ebay,but watch Midway for sales!

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

There is much more to electronics and RF noise than, TV is 8ft away. These transduces are very sensitive, and sometimes nothing for some, but alot for others. So unless you have a spectrum analyzer or at least an oscilloscope, only way to tell if its a problem is to buy one. Its usually really bad in a subdevelopment like Mossyoak33 on here is. He had noise issues.

But still bet I can beat you in trickling a powder charge:Dwith a beam.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I am looking at beam. I am going to ask for it for christmas.:D:D

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

Get a beam balance, you can't go wrong with them and they cost lest than electronics.

I recently bought a cheap electronic balance ($29), it reads within 0.2gr which is good enough for quality checking while reloading for rifles, culling brass, or culling cast bullets. I works very well and greatly speeds some things up, but I wouldn't want to rely on it as my sole measure for weighing.

I normally set up my powder thrower using my beam balance, and randomly check my charges using the electronic balance.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I used a Pact digital for a while but got tired of having to recalibrate and having to wait for additional powder kernels to register. I now use a Redding beam scale in conjunction with a Lee Perfect powder measure and Redding trickler and have been very happy with this arrangement.

Here's something I did recently that has speeded up my powder weighing. I've alwayshad my beam scale sitting on my reloading bench when using itand when I weighed a charge I had to kind of bend over soI could be at eye level with it. This was awkward and slowed things down. A few weeks ago I decided to try something new. I took my Sony camcorder and set it on a tripod in front of my reloading bench. I set the camera at the same height as the scale andzoomed in on thescale's indicator. I then hooked the camera to a portable TV and set that on my reloading bench. So now when weighing powder I don't have to bend my head over to see the indicator, I just look up at the TV in front of me.Sincethe camera is zoomed in on the scale's indicatorI get a view that's much better thanI ever got with my naked eye.I'd say this has speeded up my powder weighing by 25% or more.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I have the RCBS 505 and the Lyman 1200 DPS II. Both of them are consistant. The DPS is quick. I am dispensing a charge while I am seating bullets.The charges are preprogramed into the Lyman, and it's a matter of pushing a button to dispense my preselected charge. I love the power scale, and use the 505 to check my charges every once in a while. The digital scale will vary if the furnace kicks in, yes it is that sensitive. It has a plastic cover that covers the pan, and that eliminates the fluctuation, if you close it. It is very simple to operate, and I love it.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

That is pure genius.:D

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

What I can tell you is that when checked with my check weights,my scale is always exactly on calibration.If I bump the table or scale when loading,and throw off the zero,the zero will read + or -.It is easily rezeroed by pressing the zero button.With my 10-10,it could still be bumped off zero,and took longer to rezero.


It's too bad that you are so far away,as I would enjoy taking you up on that bet.Since switching to the digital,my reloading time has been reduced significantly.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I have the RCBS chargemaster. It is nice for weighing brass and bullets. When it comes to powder, it is nothing more than an EXPENSIVE powder dump.

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

I do make it edmonton some. [:-]

What I am trying to explain is, your example is not always the rule. The simple answer to the noise issues is "it depends".

RE: beam or electronic loading scale
 

Absolutely,it depends on the particular scale,and the location.As such,I can only relate my own experiences with electronic scales,just like everyone else.:D