What scale do you guys use?

[Diesel40]

What scale do you use when reloading shot shells.  I have a scale for matalic reloading but lyman recommends i get a scale that will go to 1000 grains.  Thanks.

[Val]

I use an RCBS electronic scale when starting a new load for shot shells. I weigh the powder charges until I determine the MEC powder cup that provides closest to the correct amount of powder. I install the powder cup into the press and I don't weigh the powder charge again.

[.45 COLT]

Redding balance beam 500 grain scale. I've been at it 50+ years, never needed a 1000 grain scale. A couple of times it might have been nice, but not nice enough to justify another scale.

DC

[rdmallory]

I just ordered one of these. 

Jennings JScale Mack 100 Digital Scale

I have seen a lot of good reviews.

Doug

[Graybeard]

Only reason for a 1000 grain scale would be if you are gonna weight shot charges in addition to weighing powder charges. To be honest I seldom do either. I long ago gave up trying to see how fast I can push my shot charge so I've mostly come to accept what the bushing charts tell me it will throw for powder and accept what it throws for shot.

I have however in times past weighed both how much shot and powder my various bars throw in my MEC presses. Generally speaking both are less than what they are supposed to throw. Rarely and I do mean VERY RARELY will a MEC bushing throw more powder than the charts say it will. It's normally light by almost a full bushing in fact. I've yet to see any of my personal MEC bars throw a full weight charge of shot. It's usually at least 20-30 grains less.

In fact once when having trouble getting proper fill and crimps on some .410 shells I did a lot of weighing of shot and powder to see if I could find a combination that gave me complete fill of case without over fill so I could get proper crimps. If you've loaded a lot of .410 shells you likely know they can be a real pain to get to crimp properly.

I ended up having to drill out my bar a wee bit to get it to drop a full half ounce of #9 shot I wanted in my skeet loads and depending on the powder used at times had to go one bushing higher or lower than the one called for to get proper case fill.

Loading shotshells really isn't rocket science. You are working with very low pressures even compared to what black powder loads deliver for centerfire rounds and a tiny bit of powder or shot doesn't jump pressures drastically as it can in centerfire rounds. If you aren't working for max to begin with which I never do any more you're likely to find the equipment makers have built in just a bit of safety margin but having their bushings and bars drop a tad light or at least that seems to be the way mine all work out.

So bottom line as to scale is I darn seldom use one at all and when I do I get by fine with the same one I use for centerfire loading.

[Diesel40]

Thank you for the input.  Good to know that it is really not necessary.

I have an uncle that lives about 3 hours away that reloads alot and I am going to go see him soon and he is going to go over everything with me, but I am trying to learn as much as I can before hand so I am as familiar with everything  before hand.  Thanks.