Zeroing Scales
 

I have a friend who gave me some of his fathers reloading tools, after he passed on.
One of the items is a RCBS 5-0-5 scale (balance) it's a lot more user friendlythan my Lee scale, but when I compare a measured load they differ a few tenths of a grain. Is there a any way to see which one is really the most accurate??

Thanks again!

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

The way to find out how accurate the scales are is to get a weight kit. Check the link for more info... http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/...990&type=store

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

+1 I check my scales with a RCBS weight kit.

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

aye....the only way to be sure is to buy a set of check weights. i got mine from www.midwayusa.com. they are made by lyman....but any brand will do just fine. you should check your scales before you load and periodically while you are throwing charges. good luck.:)

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

Before I got a scale kit I just used a 168gr. Sierra matchking bullet.....:)
If my scale didn't read 168gr. with that bullet, it got adjusted until it did..

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

Yes, use SMKs, they are very consistant weight-wise. For the price of a set of check weights you can buy a whole box of them, purpose made check weights are really a gimmick you can live without.

BTW, as with anything else, scales have tolerances. Most of them are rated for 1/10th of a grain of error. Its very well possible that you could take two identical scales and have one read 1/10th of a grain low and the other 1/10th high giving a 2/10ths difference in weighing the same object. The best you can hope for is to zero the scale against something of a known weight (like a SMK- I keep a single one in a box just for zeroing my scale) to keep your reloading data consistant.

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

Coming form the Engineering measurement World please get a set of check weights so you can tell what any scales are acualy reading. Do not rely on what you asume a bullet is suppost to weight. And check you zero at your intended charge weight or as close as possible. You may find that say at a 60.0gr zero with weights your 0.00 is now 0.02 off. Be safe and make the purchase.

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

If you are working up your loads like you are supposed to be doing, you don't need the scale to be dead precise to the 1/10th gr (as I mentioned before, the balances aren't that precise to begin with)- you need it to read the same every time which is more important. And yes, Sierra Match Kings are very consistant- I've weighed samples of 30 or more bullets from each box of 4 different calibers/weights and if I find 1 out of every 30 that doesn't weigh the same as the others, its a suprise.Spend the money on another relading manual, or a box of SMKs and test this for yourself. Don't waste your money on check weights.


BTW, I work in a place that uses a lot of analytical balances, some read to 0.000001 gram, I've made up my own set of check weights from coins, paper clips, and other objects and havebeen careful enough to clean them before assigning them a weight value and handled them with only goves. I've tested them against SMKs enough that I eventually got to the point that I no longer use them and only use bullets to check my balance.

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

Briman makes a very good point. The measurement that you are loading to is relative. If your scale says 24.5gr and that is the load that shoots, it doesn't matter if it really weighs 24.3gr or 24.7gr.

Although most reloading scales are pretty good, the possibility of measurement discrepancies is another very good reason to NOT use loads that others post on internet forums as written without working up on your own. Who knows? Maybe the person that is posting the load has a set of scales that are .5gr off, one way or the other.

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

From an enginering standpoint?
Aretellin me,a very very quality controled bullet(it is match grade afterall) measured to exact specific standards, (they have to be, otherwise no competition shooter would ever use them) isn't comparable in every way,to a set of a set ofQUALITY scale weights.
Bothrequire tight tight tolerences, they are both doubled checked, tripple checked and quadrupiled checked..
I have yet to find any Sierra matchgrade bullet that didn't weigh exactly what it was suppose to, but can't say that for all scale weight manufactures.
With some scale weight manufacturers your relying on the assumption of what the weight is suppose to be, its no different than the average bullet....
Honestly I'd trust a Seirra's overall quality control and tolerences of their match grade Match Grade Bullet, over alot of scale weight brands....
It took me a long time, before I put money forward for scale weights because
I had a hard time finding a brand I could trust and rely on...

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

From a engineer stand point you have to be tracable to a engineering weight standard any thing else is a calculated guess pure and simple. And by the way check weights come in incerments so you can zero at almost any charge weight needed. And are on par with or cheaper than a box of bullets.
Yes you need to be, and can beconsistant using penneys, nickles and a few sorted bullets, but why not just do it right? Its taking one more veriable put of the reloading equation. Sometimes your load is faster than the listed velocity not because of a fast barrel but because your load is realy 0.02-0.03grs over and than could be very bad. I find it a good thing to know of much margin of safty I real have not just a guess.

I do not mean to afend anyone but if I want i can actual produce sometings weight and atomical make upin a scanning ectron microscope. many ofus posters do very neet things. And some like myself don't spellorfind mistakes in our post well, Be gentil.

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

I agree with the do it right thing 100%...
This is the way I feel about it I guess,..
I honestly can't see RCBS LYMAN etc, going through the rigours of precision making weights more so than like Sierra does their Match grade bullets..
So if precise engineering, is what a person wantsthan use precise weights from a quality manufacturer....
Something thats engineered to perfection,for safety amongst everything else.Go with like something that a company like Troemner.
It just seems to me most people use what their favorite reloading company supplies and call it good enough.
And all I'm saying is if thats the case you might as well use a match grade bullet until such a time you can afford to do so......

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

using a match grade bullet with a known weight is not without merit......however i believe the question was to attempt to find which scales was more accurate....the rcbs 505 or the lee balance beam. the lee scale is incapable of measuring ocer 100 grains. so a 155 gr match bullet won't work on the lee scale though it would show if the rcbs scale is close.

RE: Zeroing Scales
 

I may be 100% wrong, but I'd bet lymen or RCBS dose not make weights or have a company make weights just for them. The most likely purchase them from a company that makes weights, gage-pins, joe-blocks, etc.. All made toset standards. These standardsmay have diferent +/- ranges but still fall into a known standard. Its not uncommon to findone non-comforming bullet in box. I foundone in a box of speer bullets slightly different ogive and point profile. Measured .358 dia. and seemed to weight 180grs, but I just tossed it.