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best scale to buy.............

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bobaldoo View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bobaldoo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: best scale to buy.............
    Posted: April/03/2012 at 00:02
i use a lee scale and have no problems with it, but in my old age it is very hard to see where the 1/10 grains are..was wondering which scale you all think is the best,was told the electronic scales were unreliable..looking at the rcbs 5-0-5 scales...any help would be greatly appreciated.............thanks..........
"I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you and the people who knocked these building down will hear all of us soon."   g bush....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rjtfroggy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 04:45
  
   I use the RCBS digital that came with the powder dropper and it is always with in +/- .1 gr.  when I check on the 5-0-5.I always check first 5 loads then randomly through out 10 counts when I load(usually 100 at a time).
 Either way you decide check Ebay for your scale and for balance beam look for Ohaus they seem to make them for everyone.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Crosswire Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 09:21

It depends on what you want to weigh and how you work.  If you want to weigh fixed items such as bullets and cases a digital is the way to go.  If you want to weigh powers by dropping light and trickling up, get a beam.  If you're determined to set your scale on the bench top, get a digital, if you make a sturdy shelf to hold your scale up near chin high (as they should be placed) get a beam.

Electronics fail, it's just a matter of time and the scales tend to be quirky according to the temperature and power voltage.  Those guys who luck into buying a good digital love the things, those who don't get good ones generally don't care for them very long.  The reloading digitals are cheap Chinese 'throw-aways', it's not worth the seller's cost to maintain a repair shop for cheap electronics, so they usually just replace any that fail during warrantee. 
 
Lee's little beam scales are actually quite good - very sensitive, very accurate - but the vernier reading tenths scale can be difficult to deal with and they are so light it's easy to move them around accidentally during use; ANY other magnetically damped metal body scale is a better choice for most of us.  The RCBS (Ohuas made) scales are quite good, ditto Dillon's beam scale which sells for a bit less than green's.  Redding's scale is excellant but a bit costly and it works no better than others.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 09:35
I still prefer to use a beam scale. You might be able to find an attachable magnifier...fly tying guys use them.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 09:44
I have the RCBS Chagermaster combo.  I also have a Hornady beam scale.  So far, my chargemaster has worked well.  I verify often with my beam scale get consistent measurements.

Many times though, I just use my Lee powder hopper, I don't even measure every load just get it set and dump direct into the cases.  It is surprising how good of ammo I get doing that.

My hornady progressive press makes very accurate ammo as well.  I think there is a lot to be said about measuring by volume vs weight.  I have a friend that reloads for a living and he swears by volume measuring by just using a good dispenser vs weighting every load.  He claims you get more consistency that way.  I am beginning to believe he knows what he is talking about.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 09:54
I have the RCBS Chagermaster combo. I do 100 to 500+ case's at a time and check every so often on a Lyman digital scale. I have never had a drop more or less that .2. I love it. while its dropping the powder I can seat the case that dropped ahead of this one. It makes MY time in the room more efficient. I calibrate it, zero it and roc n roll. Its well worth the $ they ask for it.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 09:55
I have been struggling with my Lyman dispenser recently.  I think an additional florecent light has started to cause it to be a bit inconsitant as I am always having to recalibrate it.  I am considering going back to a manual dispenser and beam.
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 10:02
Originally posted by SVT_Tactical SVT_Tactical wrote:

I have been struggling with my Lyman dispenser recently.  I think an additional florecent light has started to cause it to be a bit inconsitant as I am always having to recalibrate it.  I am considering going back to a manual dispenser and beam.


When I wired my gun room, I ran two new lines direct to my breaker for just this reason.  My lights are on one circuit and my outlets on another as florescent lights cause havoc with many electronics. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 10:08
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Originally posted by SVT_Tactical SVT_Tactical wrote:

I have been struggling with my Lyman dispenser recently.  I think an additional florecent light has started to cause it to be a bit inconsitant as I am always having to recalibrate it.  I am considering going back to a manual dispenser and beam.


When I wired my gun room, I ran two new lines direct to my breaker for just this reason.  My lights are on one circuit and my outlets on another as florescent lights cause havoc with many electronics. 


I ran 3 circuits, one for power tool (drills ect) one for normal outlet stuff, powder dropper, tumblers ect, and on for the lights. You can get a tan in my loading room with the lights I have..


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 10:51

Yep lighting and other electronics noise can drive digital scales crazy.  Also don't forget its winter and static electricity will do the same thing.  I found rubbing down my dispenser and my scale with a used dryer sheet really helps control and disipate static!  Then of coarse there is vibration and wind currents that will cause problems too.  I have a ceiling fan usually on low in my loading room. I have to turn it off to drop powder.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 11:13
I have the Lyman scale/trickler, and regret not getting the RCBS instead. However, it's not bad and usable. Usually when it goes screwy,it's very noticeable. Static, vibrations, and breezes will affect it, so I wipe it down with the used dryer sheet often, have it set on a solid cabinet seperate from my loading bench, and close the AC duct when in use. Unfortunately, it's next to my breaker box, and the room is lighted with 8, 75 watt flourescent tubes. I recalibrate often.
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 12:34
That the same one I have, Lynn  It does well for the money.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 12:43
I don't know that the RCBS is more reliable than the Lyman. I've read reviews where the RCBS had the same issues as the Lyman, but you can seperate the scale from the trickler, and that can be handy. I like to check the weight of thrown charges sometimes and the trickler on the Lyman gets in the way.
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 12:52
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 13:33
Wow, can you imagine that time it would take to drill each piece of powder.  Whacko  Reloading takes to long the way it is now.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 13:49
Originally posted by BeltFed BeltFed wrote:

I don't know that the RCBS is more reliable than the Lyman. I've read reviews where the RCBS had the same issues as the Lyman, but you can seperate the scale from the trickler, and that can be handy. I like to check the weight of thrown charges sometimes and the trickler on the Lyman gets in the way.
Agreed  Lynn thats why I got another digital Scale off eBay.  It's a jeweler's scale that measures to 0.05grains.  found it for $24.95.
 
Most scales list their display resolution as their accuracy and thats wrong, beware!  If a scale displays to 0.1grs (resolution) is should be accurate to at least 0.03gr.  not to give false readings because of rounding.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 13:51
Jon loads using a particle accellerator! Cool
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 13:53
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Wow, can you imagine that time it would take to drill each piece of powder.  Whacko  Reloading takes to long the way it is now.  
 
Yeah it would be right up there with turning each of your bullets.... Whistling
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 14:17
Originally posted by budperm budperm wrote:

Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Wow, can you imagine that time it would take to drill each piece of powder.  Whacko  Reloading takes to long the way it is now.  
 
Yeah it would be right up there with turning each of your bullets.... Whistling
It actually took me half way through that article to catch on that it was an April Fools story because some of the steps people take already seem like overkill. Accuracy for a benchrest shooter is affected by different things than for someone shooting antelope in windy conditions in rough terrain. My point is: Figure out what the biggest impediment to accuracy related to the kind of shooting you do and practice against that. Other than sighting in or load testing, I go to the range on harsh, windy days.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bobaldoo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/03/2012 at 15:05
thanks again fella's............
"I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you and the people who knocked these building down will hear all of us soon."   g bush....
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