Author Topic: Boy did I screw up! I just would not listen to those who knew....... (Read 2698 times)

JimG · « **on:** January 25, 2012, 11:41:07 AM »

I had asked on this forum a week or so ago about scales and tricklers. I wanted opinions on the Lee scale vs the Redding #2. Should of listened. I bought the Lee scale and it got returned this morning to Midway. I understood the instructions just fine, I had no trouble reading the 'odd' .1 grain vernier scale. The problem was it took an hour to zero the overly sensitive scale. Yes the table top was PERFECTLY level. I made sure of it. Once I finally got the thing zeroed, I checked it with a scale weight check set that I had previously checked on a buddy's electronic reloading scale. The Lee was not accurate at all. I spent hours with this thing and finally gave up. Sooooooo..............

Redding #2

or

Dillion Eliminator (beam scale, not the Determinator electronic)

Friends don't let friends buy Lee Safety Scales. EVER!

wncchester · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2012, 12:04:31 PM »

"The problem was it took an hour to zero the overly sensitive scale. ... The Lee was not accurate at all. I spent hours with this thing and finally gave up. Sooooooo.............."

I have a Lee Safety Scale for back-up and really don't like to use it but I've never found it to be "overly sensitive" nor hard to zero. Beam scales don't even benefit from a "PERFECTLY level" platform, we perfectly level the scale left-to-right when we zero it and, within reason, that's all they need. I can't imagine how anyone could spend "hours with this thing" to get it right. Out of the box, mine sets up and zeros perfectly in two minutes or less and I don't find it to be inaccurate at all.

I hope you can do better with a different scale but ... ?

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2012, 12:34:24 PM »

I have not tried a Lee scale. I do have RCBS scales a 5 0 2, 5 0 5 and a 5 10. They all do a decent job. Why 3 scales? I bought the 5 0 5 many years ago. I then got out of reloading for a number of years (15 maybe). When I started back up, I could not find my scale, so I bought a 5 0 2 to get by with until I could find my 5 0 5. Sure enough it showed up, a lost puppy came home. Then my Father-In-Law passed and I got his 5 10 since I was the only one in the family that reloaded.

Buy quality and you get quality results

Good Shooting and Good Luck

Tom W. · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2012, 01:21:18 PM »

I had a Lee scale for a while, and I didn't like it at all... I finally got a Pact electronic scale, and love it!

JimG · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2012, 01:26:00 PM »

Wncchester- The Lee scale can't be leveled. It has no leveling screw or wheel like an RCBS or the Redding. So the surface the scale is on has to be level per instructions. Maybe I got a bad one??? The beam took minutes to stop moving. At first I thought maybe it didn't have the magnets in it for the dampener. I looked and it did in fact have the magnets. Have no idea how anyone can deal with a scale like this one. Scales in general are not new to me. Worked with an old triple beam Ohaus at the print shop for years to measure ink for custom print jobs. Granted we were weighing in ounces not grains but the process is similar.

necchi · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2012, 03:34:49 PM »

Go for the Redding, you'll like the graduated scale on the needle end.
Buy just once and not have a worry for years.

Now keep in mind every scale reads a little different because of conditions. You could measure a certain amount, then take it over to your buddies scale and it will be different.
It doesn't matter, the powder measured only pertains to you and your application. What does matters is the scale be able to repeat that measurement time and time again.

Oh, and you didn't make a mistake, you just learned. Learning is good, I've had several lessons like that from Lee (hint,hint)

fastchicken · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2012, 04:06:33 PM »

I started with the Lee scale and have had no problems with over 1500 rounds I've loaded. Mine takes a minute or so to zero out and seems accurate, although I never used a check weight on it just various .22 bullets, but they all showed to weigh what they were supposed to.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2012, 04:17:34 PM »

I've loaded thousands of rounds using an RCBS scale I bought probably in 1984. I check it occasionally with standardized weights and it's always right on and it's not at all hard to zero (maybe 20 seconds).

Larry L · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2012, 04:25:55 PM »

The Lee scale does not have a leveling foot on it- that's true, but it does have a leveling device on the beam itself. The knurled wheel behind the sliding weight caliber balances the scale. I have one sitting in front of me and I can't imagine not being able to balance, level and use it accurately but then I didn't have yers in front of me. Beam scales are pretty much foolproof.

Graybeard · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2012, 05:40:14 PM »

Forget the beam and get a digital scale. I've used nothing else for the last 25 years or so I guess it has been. My first was made by PACT and sold by RCBS under their brand name. I got it when the digitals first came out and haven't bothered with my beam scale since. Baring a shut down of the electrical grid I don't imagine I ever will again.

I've now added one of the Hornady dispenser scales and will use it for all stick powder loading but I'll continue to use my two RCBS measures to dispense ball and flake powders and check the setting with the old reliable RCBS digital.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2012, 11:57:46 PM »

I am not a "I told you so" kind of guy. I am glad you got to see some of the reasons it was not recommended. Look at the brite side, you are now better informed!! At least you did not have any questionable loadings!!

Good luck with the Redding! I know its gonna be a winner for you!

CW

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2012, 02:55:51 AM »

started out with a pacfic scale about 1977 or 6 about 4 years ago was given a RCBS use both . Somewhere in the years between was givin a Lyman from way back and passed it to another shooter can't remember who now. Never tried the elec scales as the others work fine so far and I don't care to pay what they cost. If starting out I might try them. Few Lee products have worked well for me Case trimmers and moulds were ok.

bobg · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2012, 03:54:35 AM »

cw is probably right so i will say it. TOLD YOU SO.

Catfish · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2012, 10:43:00 AM »

I will no longer buy anything that was made by Lee. Even though they are the cheapest stuff on the market THEY ARE STILL THE MOST OVER PRICED ON THE MARKET.

mdi · « **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2012, 10:49:38 AM »

I have a Lee scale and find it more sensitive than my other two, Lyman/Ohaus and RCBS 5-10. Were you breathing on the scale or had a fan going in the room? And how do you know your friend's electronic scale is more accurate than a beam scale? I know there are a lot of good electronic scales out there for reloaders, but there are a whole lot of bad ones too (flourescent light sensitivity, wandering zero, power sensitivity, auto-shut down too soon, etc.). Too bad the Lee scale didn't work for you, as it does for thousands of others...

Swampman · « **Reply #15 on:** January 26, 2012, 11:07:26 AM »

I like the RCBS beam scale. I would only trust a digital after carefully checking it with weights before each use. I use them everyday at work.

JimG · « **Reply #16 on:** January 26, 2012, 12:03:44 PM »

No fan, I was not breathing on the scale. How do I know his scale was accurate, well with the scale check weight set I have. I really wanted this little inexpensive scale to work but this particular one would not. I have another scale on it's way. It's not a Lee though.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 26, 2012, 12:34:57 PM »

I have had my Redding scale since 1974, it's just as dependable and accurate today as it was when it was all shiny new.

cjrjck · « **Reply #18 on:** January 26, 2012, 12:35:18 PM »

When my Lyman beam scale broke, I bought the Lee. Will admit it is very basic. However, since I load mostly larger capacity cartridges, I utilize the incredible Lee powder measure and weigh the first and every tenth on the Lee scale and a backup digital I have. Works great in that role.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #19 on:** January 26, 2012, 12:41:07 PM »

I havent used a beam scale in over 10 years. Digital for me. Theres three on the benches. Nothing wrong with a good beam scale though. The lee scale is a tinker toy.

GH1 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 28, 2012, 12:30:42 AM »

mdi,
You bring up a great point about fans in the room. If I don't kill my ceiling fan it blows my RCBS beam scale all over the place. Oftentimes I can't even feel the breeze but the scale sure can.
GH1

Buckskin · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2012, 04:02:15 AM »

RCBS beam scale has worked great for me. And I second what Swamp said, I use a high end digital scale quite a bit at work and you would be suprised how often they need calibration. I would not use a digital for reloading without verifying the accuracy every day.

wncchester · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2012, 06:50:09 AM »

" I would not use a digital for reloading without verifying the accuracy every day. "

At one time I calibrated/repaired professional grade electronic scales. Without access to my old electronic maint. lab I don't - and won't - have one of the quirky things on my bench. Beams work too good and reliable for me to fool with cheaply made electronic gimmicks, and ALL reloading digital scales are cheapies no matter how much they cost.

Buckskin · « **Reply #23 on:** January 29, 2012, 03:22:05 AM »

Quote from: wncchester on January 28, 2012, 06:50:09 AM

" I would not use a digital for reloading without verifying the accuracy every day. "

At one time I calibrated/repaired professional grade electronic scales. Without access to my old electronic maint. lab I don't - and won't - have one of the quirky things on my bench. Beams work too good and reliable for me to fool with cheaply made electronic gimmicks, and ALL reloading digital scales are cheapies no matter how much they cost.

There is no doubt about that. We have three in our lab and they probably each cost 5x what the higher end reloading scales costs, and all are quirky.

JimG · « **Reply #24 on:** January 30, 2012, 05:19:51 AM »

Bought the Dillion and it came today. Read the instructions. Easy to zero and is very accurate with my scale check weights. Completely satisfied with it.

mdi · « **Reply #25 on:** January 30, 2012, 08:02:48 AM »

Quote from: JimG on January 30, 2012, 05:19:51 AM

Bought the Dillion and it came today. Read the instructions. Easy to zero and is very accurate with my scale check weights. Completely satisfied with it.

Excelent! Now quit writing and get to loadin'...

noylj · « **Reply #26 on:** February 03, 2012, 07:47:57 PM »

Ilovetheideaofusingabuddy'sbalancetodeterminethecheckweight'sweight.
Youneedacalibratedweight.
Rightnow, youdon'treallyknowifyourbuddy'sbalanceisofforifyourbalanceisoff.
TheLeeisjustasgoodasanyotherlightweightbeambalance.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #27 on:** February 04, 2012, 12:44:22 AM »

Quote from: noylj on February 03, 2012, 07:47:57 PM

Ilovetheideaofusingabuddy'sbalancetodeterminethecheckweight'sweight.
Youneedacalibratedweight.
Rightnow, youdon'treallyknowifyourbuddy'sbalanceisofforifyourbalanceisoff.
TheLeeisjustasgoodasanyotherlightweightbeambalance.

OMG. Use the space bar man!!! You post is three REEEELY LOOONG WORDS!! Lol

CW

Buckskin · « **Reply #28 on:** February 04, 2012, 02:38:06 AM »

Quote from: noylj on February 03, 2012, 07:47:57 PM

Ilovetheideaofusingabuddy'sbalancetodeterminethecheckweight'sweight.
Youneedacalibratedweight.
Rightnow, youdon'treallyknowifyourbuddy'sbalanceisofforifyourbalanceisoff.
TheLeeisjustasgoodasanyotherlightweightbeambalance.

You gotta be kidding...

BBF · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2012, 08:21:00 AM »

I use an RCBS Digital scale. I also use the two check weights every time I use the scale and double weigh the powder for each case. Slow work, yes but I got time.