Digital Scale?

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trixter

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Thinking about adding a digital scale to the reloading bench. I would like to use it to measure powder charges ans well as cases and loaded ammo. I don't want to spend a lot either (cheapskate Me).
Are there (not specific to reloading) scales that would work.
 
Not cheap ones.
Those $20 buck ones are for crack dealers.

I would consider an entry level powder scale to be a PACT or similiar scale from one of the major reloading manufactures.

It will allow you to trickle powder into the pan without going crazy, and won't automatacally shut itself off every time you pick up another empty case.

rc
 
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=438260

I have this one.

It works great.

Prepare to be heckled shortly over your decision to use a digital scale, and to have your thread about which ones are good hijacked by those arguing how superior their granpappys triple beam wheat grain bearing scale is.... It might also digress into a slugfest over how silly it is to actually weigh powder...pssh, who does that :rolleyes:

Seems to be how it goes....

Look for something that comes with a calibrating weight, thats listed as accurate within .1gr, has a large capacity ( 1000 grains or so) and is purchasable somewhere that has a lot of reviews about the product you ultimately choose.

There are many out there, ranging from $20- ridiculous.
 
If you buy a digital scale and spend under ~$200, then I highly suggest you also buy the set of check weights for your load range. For instance, if you load pistol then a set in the 5-10gr range; if rifle then a set in the 25-35gr range.
 
Just about ready to start reloading. Was thinking about a digital scale for weighing both charges and the finished product for catching possible double charges. Good idea or waste of time. How many grains would a 9mm Luger round weigh anyhow?
 
RCBS 750 Rangemaster is hard to beat for the money. Comes with check weights and hasn't failed me in the past few years. Weighs powder, cases, and bullets just fine. ~$120.00
 
This is the one time I take exception to what rcmodel sayes. I have a $40.00 scale that has served me excellently for years now. It does weigh a hundredth of a grain or 2 heavy by the readout, but that actually gives me a hundredth or 2 lighter charge. I don,t need to worry about 2 hundredths of a grain, and it repeats the same EVERY time.

So YES there are scales that will suit your needs without spending big bucks.

This has been hashed and rehashed over and over again here, might want to do a sesarch.

Might I add, my inexpensive/cheap scale hase NEVER weighed crack or any other drug.
 
Just about ready to start reloading. Was thinking about a digital scale for weighing both charges and the finished product for catching possible double charges. Good idea or waste of time. How many grains would a 9mm Luger round weigh anyhow?

Welcome to THR. With that said, what kind of question is this? How heavy a bullet are you considering. What powder are you looking at using, and how heavy a charge. What brand of brass? Weight will vary by brand.

BTW its almost impossible to find a double charge in handgun rounds with a scale.

Sounds as if you should acquire a couple of reloading manuals and read, read, read. The Lyman manual is highly recommended.
 
I have had a Pact for years now. Wouldnt be without one, especially for weighing cats bullets. MUCH faster. The Pack comes with calibration weights.
 
I have a twenty dollar Frankford Arsenal (or whatever that brand with the cannon is) and every time i open a new box of bullets I weight 5 or ten of them... Hornday, Rainer, Powerbond, Xtreme, Precision Delta, Zero - 135 to 230 grain. And guess what, all of them I've ever weighed are within +/- 0.2 grain of what is on the box and I figure that is mostly variation in the bullets.

I don't load anywhere that near the limits that two tenths of a grain is a concern.

Your mileage may vary, I am not a lawyer, I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, just one guys experience...
 
Oops I lied it's not Frankfort Arsenal it's an MTM Mini Digital Reloading Scale - DS1250

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Thanks for the welcome jcwit. Read "ABC's" already and about halfway thru Richard Lee's manual. I didn't really state my question all that well. I was more curious if weighing the finished round would be an added safety measure and you answered that for me already. Thanks for recommending the other manual. Remington new brass, Universal powder, Winchester 115gr. FMJ (flat bottom) and haven't decided on primer yet but leaning toward CCI's. Any opinions on this combo would be very welcomed.
 
Mr Breeze -
It is generally considered that there is too much variation in the sum of the metallic components to detect power issues by weighing the finished product.
 
Mr Breeze -
It is generally considered that there is too much variation in the sum of the metallic components to detect power issues by weighing the finished product.

Depends on how anal retentive you are... ;)

I've done that too and I don't agree for heavier charge weights (5-10+ grain powder charge). Here let me grab my notes... : )

Here is a near max (for me) load of .40S&W from September 6th 2010.

100 Federal Brass all push-through 'Bluge Busted via Lee FCD and kit' once fired - 10 case sample from 68.1-69.3 grain (1.2gr spread)

100 Winchester Small Pistol Primers - 10 primer sample 2.9-3.1 grain (0.2gr spread)

100 Hornady 155gr HP/XTP JHP - 10 bullet sample 154.5-155.6 grain (1.2gr spread)

So total spread is 2.6 grain...

I made a chart of these 10 rounds numbered 1-10 and sharpie'ed the cases, and weighed each one total.

A 10 power drop average was 5.5 - 5.8 grains of Titegroup and the measured spread was always within +/-1 grain total weight of the average assembled components total of 231.1gr (min) and 233.6 (max)
 
I was hung up on beam scales until my dad gave me an RCBS 750. That scale has been the biggest improvement to my bench in a long time. I have never had an accuracy problem. It is quick to warm up and have yet to find it off when checked with check weights.
 
If you do get a digital scale I would reccomend having a spare set of batteries on hand. After I got mine and stored my beam scale I had to replace batts and had no spares on hand. Broke out the beam scales for a week or so till I made a store run. Same with my digi calipers. Also bought dial one just in case.
 
Plus 1 on the RCBS 750.
I have been very happy with it.
As said above catching a double charge by weighing finished rounds is next to impossible.
I have found the best way is to look into each case as I set the bullet on it.
Since I am using a Hornady L-N-L I would have to do something unusual to get a double charge, I am more worried about a squib load so I check every 10 to 15 rounds.

Larry
 
I've used the RCBS 750 for about two years its excellent and I back it up with
a Lyman balance beam. Would feel lost without it.

Prior to the 750 I purchased 2 other cheap digitals and they were slow and inaccurate.
 
I've used an RCBS 750 and a 1500 with trickler for years now with no problems. The one thing I don't like is having to read the manual each time you have to calibrate the scale. We just entered the digital scale market with the Winstead Peters 2000 scale. We put a year into the design of the components and software. We tried to use all made in USA parts but fell short when we got to the load cell and lcd display, they just aren't made in this country any more unless you want to pay $1,000 for a load cell. We made a scale for Cabela's as well, and I personally think it is the best scale on the market under the $1,000 mark. Here is the link to the scale.

http://berrysmfg.com/product-i14802-c107-g8-b0-p0-Winstead_Peters_ACC_2000_Electronic_Scale.aspx
 
We bought a Cabelas 1500 recently and I still reach for the 5-0-5 every time.
It never fails with the digital. I weigh about 10 loads or so and have to calibrate it again. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. Also, it sets too high to trickle, and even if it didn't, you can drop a granule or two of powder at a time in and wait a couple seconds, then do it again and the reading will never change. Don't have that problem with a beam scale. When I'm measuring Varget or IMR-4350 the beam scale moves with each kernel of powder.
About the only thing I like the digital for is weighing bullets and checking the powder measure every 10 rounds or so.
Maybe I'm old fashion or just don't know what I'm doing, but I'll be sticking with the beam scale.
 
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