Digital vs Beam Scale

Do you use a digital or beam scale?

  • Digital

    Votes: 50 30.9%

  • Beam

    Votes: 69 42.6%

  • Both - can't be too careful

    Votes: 43 26.5%
  • Total voters
    162
  • Poll closed .
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I use both. Routinely cross check the one I'm using with the other one. Don't want any time consuming big problems.
 
morcey2 said:
Beam. But I only started reloading a couple of weeks ago. It'll probably switch to 'both' in the next week.
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If you are loading near max/max powder charge loads, you really need a scale that's accurate to .1 gr.

Despite what they "claim", many lower priced digital scales are accurate to .2 gr and may not read consistently.

Place a 1/4"x1/4" piece of paper and see if your scale registers a reading (if not, keep increasing the size of the paper until it does to 1/2"x1/2"). If the scale won't read on a consistent basis to .1 gr, you may need a better beam scale that will.
 
That is probably the best qualifier regarding digitals, especially the low cost ones like the $30 MTM DS1250 I happily use.

I primarily load low-mid range plinking ammo and only use Win 231/HP-38 which has a pretty liberal range of charge weight going from min to max. My needs would be met just using the Lee dippers. lol I have found the Lee Auto-Pro disk powder dispenser to be quite consistent and would have no problem relying on it for charges closer to the max levels for SD ammo.

Those who choose to load right up to the max and those who use some of the other powders with a VERY slim margin for error min to max would do well to use a scale with precision levels to match their need.
 
RandyP said:
bds said:
Despite what they "claim", many lower priced digital scales are accurate to .2 gr and may not read consistently.

Place a 1/4"x1/4" piece of paper and see if your scale registers a reading (if not, keep increasing the size of the paper until it does to 1/2"x1/2"). If the scale won't read on a consistent basis to .1 gr, you may need a better beam scale that will.
Click to expand...
That is probably the best qualifier regarding digitals, especially the low cost ones like the $30 MTM DS1250 I happily use.
Click to expand...
That's one of many reasons why I suggest W231/HP-38 to new reloaders using mid-to-high range load data. Even if their scale/powder charges were off by .2-.3 gr, they would still be below max powder charge.

Add to this the issue of deeper seated bullet base in case neck and bullet setback, things add up to increasing the chamber pressure. And if you add mixed range pick up brass with unknown reload history (and undetermined amount of case wall stretch - can you say "thinned" case wall?), things starts to get interesting.

For some reloader, these factors may not seem significant but I have seen enough barrels/pistols blow up to have changed my reloading practice (why do you think I push W231/HP-38 with pressure target loads so much? ;)).

I like Titegroup as it produces accurate target loads using minimal powder charges but do not recommend to new reloaders as it has very narrow load range. New reloader thinking they are at start charge could be loading at max+ without knowing it.

I like the quote from the movie Matrix - "Do you really think that's air you are breathing?"
 
Beam scale only---RCBS 1010 30 yrs old. Never had to replace a battery, reboot, or throw it away due to electronic glitch. Also only use dial calipers and old-school micrometers. I work in offshore oil industry and automotive repair at home. Seen way too many high dollar electronic gadgets fail with sometimes disastrous results.
 
Both
I don't trust my digital as it is getting old like me----it has to be reset too often
My other is 40 year old RCBS 5-0-5 work great
 
My eyes are old and tired and I have trouble seeing the numbers on the beam scales. The digital scales are easily read and no adjustment is needed if you are weighing something with an unknown weight.

digitals are quick, easy and fast. Beams are accurate but hard to read and hard to adjust and they take longer, especially if you are weighing something with an unknown weight.

I like accuracy but the digital is accurate enough for me.
 
.....I wonder why component companies include beam scales in their package press kits??

Does this have to do with product liability concerns?
 
I use a RCBS 10-10, an ancient Lyman M5, and a new Lyman Pro 500. They all seem to agree with each other so it depends what one I want to look at that day(Usually the M5 is on the bench).
I have a nice My Weigh digital, it seems to like to drift and we have trust issues because of that. It is nice for weighing bullets, and other things, things that are not powder. Maybe some day I'll like it more, but I doubt it.
 
I use both, but I use them for different purposes.

My RCBS 1010 is used for critical applications such as weighing powder charges.

I use a cheap digital for non critical applications like weight sorting bullets.
 
.....I wonder why component companies include beam scales in their package press kits??

Does this have to do with product liability concerns?
Click to expand...

My Hornady kit came with a digital scale.
 
I use both. beams for powder and digitals for bullets and unknown weights.
 
I have 3 scales.
2 digital - Pact BBK2 & a Cabela's 1500, & 1 beam, an elcheapo Lee Safety Magnetic Powder Scale

I use the Pact scale 99.9% of the time.
But will dbl check on the Cabela's.

If they disagree (almost never) then I'll triple check on the Lee.

I'd probably use a beam scale much more often if I had a good one.
 
I'd probably use a beam scale much more often if I had a good one.
Click to expand...

The Lee one isn't bad at all. I have 2 a Redding and a Lee. I often use both to make sure they agree, but truth be told, when I only weight on one scale, I weigh on the Lee. Since I load mostly small pistol calibers pretty much all my charges are under 10gr, so I only use the right-side adjustments, and for that I just like the slider Lee uses vs the tiny weight on the Redding.
 
I use a digital scale but ALWAYS check it with a beam scale. I feel everyone needs two scales. I like seeing the actual weight of the charge on a screen, rather than adding up the totals of three beams. Too easy to make a mistake that way.
 
Used an RCBS beam for decades, now I use an RCBS Chargemaster 1500 to weigh and dispense powder. Beams are great until you are off one notch, then it's a 5.0 grain error. :eek:
 
I can see what a beam scale does. I can't see what a electronic digital scale does. I trust the beam.
Click to expand...

There are just bunches and bunches of things is theis electronic age I neither understand or can actually see how they work. This does not keep me from using the latest technology to the best of my ability. Digital scales being one of them.
 
Place a 1/4"x1/4" piece of paper and see if your scale registers a reading (if not, keep increasing the size of the paper until it does to 1/2"x1/2"). If the scale won't read on a consistent basis to .1 gr, you may need a better beam scale that will.
Click to expand...

How often do you weigh out only .1 or .2gr for a powder charge. I don't think the electronic scales are calibrated to weigh accurately at the low end of the range.

My $100.00 Hornady electronic scales won't pass your test and yes my beam scale does.

But if I put 5gr. of powder in the electronic scale and drop in a 1/4"x1/4" piece of paper it reads and increase of .1gr everytime.

The only complaint I have with mine is when the air conditioning comes on I may as well forget getting an accurate measurement out of it, but this screws up my beam scales also.
 
tightgroup tiger said:
How often do you weigh out only .1 or .2gr for a powder charge.
Click to expand...
Whenever I use Titegroup with 0.3-0.5 gr between the start to max powder charge, .1 or .2 gr becomes quite significant for me and I really get critical when working up to max charges.
9mm 115 gr LRN Titegroup Start 3.9 gr - Max 4.3 gr (.4 gr start/max range)

9mm 115 gr Speer GDHP Titegroup Start 4.5 gr - Max 4.8 gr (.3 gr start/max range)

9mm 125 gr LCN Titegroup Start 3.6 gr - Max 4.0 gr (.4 gr start/max range)

9mm 125 gr Sierra FMJ Titegroup Start 4.1 gr - Max 4.4 gr (.3 gr start/max range)

40S&W 155 gr Hornady XTP Titegroup Start 5.4 gr - Max 5.9 gr

40S&W 165 gr Sierra JHP Titegroup Start 4.6 gr - Max 5.1 gr

40S&W 180 gr Hornady XTP Titegroup Start 4.2 gr - Max 4.7 gr
Click to expand...
 
Whenever I use Titegroup with 0.3-0.5 gr between the start to max powder charge, .1 or .2 gr becomes quite significant for me
Click to expand...

Yes, it is for all of us, what I'm saying is try your test with the digitol scales after you put 3.9 gr. of titegroup in the pan and see if your scale don't pick up the small paper each time. Better ones will pick it up everytime.

I have a dribbler mounted over my digitols and it will pick up just a few grains of powder and register it when I'm hand loading my .357mags.

I'm not trying to undercut your post here, just saying to try your test in the bandwidth the scales are calibrated for.

My beam scales work 100% of the time, over 100% of the range, and digitols don't, your way right on that.

With that in mind the beam scales are far superior and are much better for a beginner than a digitols.
 
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