Author Topic: Powder Scales: Digital or Balance? (Read 1037 times)

Holiday · « **on:** April 08, 2003, 12:49:15 PM »

I am going to have to buy a new scale and was wondering about what type to get. I like the idea of a digital, but right now my budget is a little tight. I have looked at the Hornady and RCBS balance scales and they are in my price range. Which of the two balance scales are best, and how does the digital scale compare?

bigdaddytacp · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2003, 02:49:30 PM »

Quote from: Holiday

I am going to have to buy a new scale and was wondering about what type to get. I like the idea of a digital, but right now my budget is a little tight. I have looked at the Hornady and RCBS balance scales and they are in my price range. Which of the two balance scales are best, and how does the digital scale compare?

.....I have both a RCBS 5/10 balance beam scale and the powder dispencer-digital scale set up......if limited to only one it would be the balance beam scale ......the digital is sensitive to drafts, from vents of central unit, windows, doors and overstrain the electric unit and some warranties won't cover them....the digital is great for case weight sorting or rimfire sorting and similar.....the combo dispencer/scale is nice for short/small run test batchs of loads but is a little slow for production......money might be better spent on a quality powder measure with micrometer setting for production with a easy measure type powder......for stick the digital does work well.......I haven't used a Hornady scale and most of their equipment is first rate that I have used.......RCBS is fantastic in customer support and warranty if ever needed....HTH..good luck and good shooting and loading!!

Savage · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2003, 03:18:41 PM »

Depends on the primary function of the scale. If the primary purpose of the scale is to verify powder measure settings and weigh an occasional powder charge then the beam scale works just fine. If you weigh every charge and load a lot, then a digital would be nice. I would guess that the main advantage of the digital might be that it's easier to read and faster to use.
Stay Safe,
Savage

BruceP · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2003, 03:29:08 PM »

I have to vote for the digital for all jobs. It is sinsitive to air currents but I just turn off the central unit down stairs when I reload. I could just close the air vent and the door though.
BruceP

KN · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2003, 03:51:44 PM »

Digital all the way!!! I'll never go back. Much more convienient and faster. They are sensitive to drafts and temperature changes though so if you use one its a good idea to have it in the room your going to use it for awhile before you start. I also leave mine on untill I'm compleatly finished so its electronics stay warmed up. I have used a Dillon for about 5yrs now and its still going strong. KN

Holiday · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2003, 03:57:05 PM »

Thanks for the input, Y'all have helped a lot!

savageT · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2003, 04:14:25 PM »

Holliday,
Ya know, I've used many different types of scales in my years in the lab including digital. I'm just getting into reloading and I was pleasently surprised how well the 5-0-5 RCBS scale works that came in my kit. Most of the balance scales are made by one or two manufacturers......so brand names don't mean very much. At this stage, I weigh out every charge I throw and trickle in the last bit to balance the beam. Not a big deal. I use a spare shell casing to dump the charge into then in turn I measure the charge into the pan. I suppose weighing each charge is a pain, but I don't find it at all a bother. Let's face it, the beam balance is a whole lot cheaper too! If you frequent e-Bay the beam balances turn up there all the time. Good Loading!

Jim

Ross · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2003, 06:37:03 PM »

Doc,
The two types may have different advantages, as mentioned above. I have both and seldom use the electric for my loading. Where Miss Milliamp really shines is segregating cast bullets.
The balance is about as fast when loading and measuring every charge, as the aim is to throw equal weights, not to find out what the weight is - you have already determined that.
Older scales were limited as to the maximum weight they could handle and it was no real problem, but segregating .45-70 bullets was not possible. The old two pan balances would detect a low powder charge on a .50-70.
Be sure you choose a scale that allows heavier weights than just powder charges.
Cheers from Grayest California,
Ross

Holiday · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2003, 06:31:14 AM »

Thanks for the information. I would like a digital, but the cost is a little prohibative right now and I need one NOW. My old Lee scale is malfunctioning and I'm afraid to do anymore reloading. So it looks like it will be a balance, either a RCBS or the Hornady. Both are good name brands, so I should be getting a good scale. Both weigh up to 510 grains. I'll mostly be using it to check my Autodisk, but I will be weighing my charges for my .25-06. Again, thanks for the input.

Mark · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2003, 07:11:23 AM »

I also recently replaced an older set of Lee scales with the Hornady balance made by Pacific. Have used it a few times with no problems and good results. I use a measure to throw charges a couple of tenths light and trickle stick powder into the scale pan. This goes pretty quick.

Ron T. · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2003, 12:34:00 PM »

Holiday... if I were going to buy a new powder scale today, I'd be the RCBS 5-0-5 made for them by Ohaus.

I wore out an Ohaus 5-0-5 after 40 years of use and called Ohaus to see if I could order the two V-shaped hard-plastic parts in which the balance beams extensions lay.

The gal I talked to said those parts have to be installed using a special air gauge which, of course, I didn't have. She said that now, Ohaus exclusively makes scales for RCBS only.

I ended up buying a RCBS 10-10 Powder Scale, the top-of-the-line RCBS Scale. However, I've found the "drum-type" 10ths. of a grain scale on the Model 10-10 very hard to read and I wish I had purchased the lower priced RCBS 5-0-5 which is the same thing as the old Ohaus 5-0-5 Powder Scale instead. The Model 5-0-5 was a very simple, quick & easy to set, readable powder scale which I'd prefer to the Model 10-10.

The 5-0-5's and the 10-10's scale's "arms" are magnetically "dampened" so the "arm" settles down & gives it's reading very quickly... and you can get EXACT powder weights... that is a perfect powder weight of "41.5" grains with a "0" difference.

From what I understand about the electronic scales and their "read-outs", if they read "41.5" grains (as example), the actual powder weight COULD be anywhere from "41.45 grains to 41.54 grains"... a variation of almost 1/10th of a grain of powder. THAT is a "BUNCH" if you're doing ALL you can to make EVERYTHING "consistent". Experienced reloaders KNOW that it's "consistency" that helps create those "one-hole-groups".

However, with a mechanical scale, this amount of "difference" would be quite noticable and show up very obviously because the "pointer" on the scale's "arm" would be noticably "high" or "low". The "pointer" would certainly NOT be on the "0" which indicates a PERFECT charge weight of "41.5" grains.

I hope this has reached you in time... buy the RCBS 5-0-5, you won't be sorry. I'd gladly trade my 10-10 for the 5-0-5, but I'd rather have EITHER one than an electronic scale.

Curtis · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2003, 04:29:07 PM »

For those of you who mentioned problems with drafts affecting digital scales:

I do not have one, so this is not first hand experience but I work in food industry and I noticed that all of the lab scales they use for testing have plexi-glass boxes around them that have an opening in front just large enough to facilitate placing samples on the scale. I assume this helps with the drafts. Hope this helps. :grin:

Curtis

ricciardelli · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2003, 08:48:13 PM »

I have an RCBS 5-0-5 and 10-10 on my bench. Never had a problem with either of them...and the 5-0-5 has been there a long, long time!

Holiday · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2003, 03:16:49 PM »

Well, thanks for all the advice, folks. I ordered the RCBS 5-0-2 scale Thursday. I think it is about the same as the 5-0-5, just with two poises instead of three, and about twenty bucks cheaper. Should be here about Wednesday or Thursday(I hope!).

Coydog C. · « **Reply #14 on:** April 18, 2003, 05:07:15 AM »

I have both and use both depending on the job. For my BP match ammo and regular smokeless ammo, I use my RCBS 10-10 mechanical scale to weigh/trickle charges. I like the way the balance beam indicates gradual changes while trickling. I find that the Digital scale (RCBS Powder-Pro) drives me nuts the way it settles while trickling in powder. It can jump 2 to 3 tenths of a grain at times.

If Im throwing charges for practice or plinking ammo, Ill use the digital because all Im looking for is a variance.

When it comes to repetitious type chores like weighing brass and bullets for segregation, its the digital all the way.

Chuck