scale accuracy

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thepolinator

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So I am about to start reloading. The last piece of equipment I need is a good reloading scale. my question is, what kind of accuracy am I looking for? Is 1/10 grain accurate enough for hunting and target shooting at 50-300 yrds? or should I be looking at something more precises? I am not competing, so its just for my own practice and enjoyment, but I want to be able to surpass what I can achieve with factory ammo.
Thanks,
 
Surpassing factory ammo is usually more to do with tailoring loads to your rifle rather than accuracy. 0.1gr is pretty standard for reloading and is perfectly fine for up to 300yds. The only reason to go to a higher precision than that is normally when doing long range precision shooting such as for competition or long range hunting (500-600+ yards).
 
When it comes to long range accuracy, there is still no need for a scale more accurate than .1 grains in reality.

A very slight variance in powder charge is not the determining factor in long range accuracy.

I would be quite willing to wager that it would normally take [in a 30-06 sized case] close to .4 grains to see a vertical spread out at 800+ yards.

Obviously, smaller capacity cases are a bit more sensitive to charge variances.

The fact that few BR shooters even use a scale to drop charges [just a very accurate powder measure] supports that fact.

There are many who get anal about this, weighing charges out to .01 grains. If that's what makes you feel warm and fuzzy, OK.

But to actually think that this is what it takes to be competitive is simply imagination.

Regards, Dave.
 
Eagleye said:
When it comes to long range accuracy, there is still no need for a scale more accurate than .1 grains in reality.

A very slight variance in powder charge is not the determining factor in long range accuracy.

I would be quite willing to wager that it would normally take [in a 30-06 sized case] close to .4 grains to see a vertical spread out at 800+ yards.

Obviously, smaller capacity cases are a bit more sensitive to charge variances.

The fact that few BR shooters even use a scale to drop charges [just a very accurate powder measure] supports that fact.

There are many who get anal about this, weighing charges out to .01 grains. If that's what makes you feel warm and fuzzy, OK.

But to actually think that this is what it takes to be competitive is simply imagination.

Regards, Dave.
Click to expand...

Very well said Dave, I couldn't agree more.
Bruce
 
If you spend the effort to work your charge weight into the middle part of an accuracy node, 1/10'th of a grain up or down will make no measurable difference at all with anything less than a hyper accurate LR comp gun.

On the other hand, a few tenth's more may need to be added with some powders to stay in the groove if it's very cold.

As to scales: You will never regret picking up a RCBS/Ohaus 10/10 and enjoying it for the rest of your days.
 
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RCBS or Dillon.

I have a Dillon balance beam and an electronic one. They are never off more than .1 from one another at the most; often times, less.
 
Working to .1 is fine but you have to realize that all the scales listed above are not accurate to .1. The RCBS electronic scale for example is only good to .2 extreme spread and most of the mechanical scales are not even this good. If you really want to be within .1 then your scale needs to be better than that. If you are hunting Bambi it won't matter but if you are shooting Palma at 1000 it will. More so with smaller case capacity, .1 over 25 or .1 over 45 for example.
 
The biggest gain in my quest for true competitive ammo came when I realised my scales were not as accurate as I believed - try and compete with a 223 and you learn this real fast. With each increase in cost and better precision, my groups shrank and consistency went up.

Now I have spent for a digi scale what some have for their entire reloading set up.

spent alot, got alot... and with an accurate rifle, you will see 0.1gr on target at distance in cases as big as a 300WM. It is not until you can measure within 0.1gr will you see its affect on target.

For now, just get a balance beam scale (I like Lee.. works, cheap) and enjoy the learning process of making ammo. There are way more areas to figure out before worrying about a few kernels of powder

But eventually, it will be crucial.

Jerry
 
i measure every powder charge with the digital scale and check the digital scale with the reliable beam scale. I must do this because the powder dispensor is off by alot sometimes. Checking every powder charge makes the digital quite important. I use a scale that was advertized with a .1 gr error, but the thing actually reads in .2 gr increments. The error is one half of the smallest reading if i remember my chemistry class correctly, be aware of this when buying. In other words, to get a reading as low as .1gr you need a scale with a .05 gr error. However, .1 grains of say 4320 is maybe like 2 kernels so..
 
The last 200m is the real PITA :)

ALMAR, assume you have an analytical beam scale? If from a reloading company, likely no better then their digi scales.

Your understanding of equipment error is correct. The error of the measuring device has to be SMALLER then the unit you are trying to measure. Better milligram scales will have an error of +/- 0.02gr which is +/- 1 kernel of Varget, H4350 and H4831SC

So if the goal is to have every load to the same 0.1gr, the powder charges have to be weighed on a device that can SEE at 0.06gr MAX. Less would be better.

or put another "weigh", each charge has to be within 2 to 3 kernels of powder...

And Yes, you can see 0.1gr (4 kernels) of powder variation on target in a 308 case with an accurate rifle...

Jerry
 
Mystic Precision said:
The last 200m is the real PITA :)

ALMAR, assume you have an analytical beam scale? If from a reloading company, likely no better then their digi scales.

Your understanding of equipment error is correct. The error of the measuring device has to be SMALLER then the unit you are trying to measure. Better milligram scales will have an error of +/- 0.02gr which is +/- 1 kernel of Varget, H4350 and H4831SC

So if the goal is to have every load to the same 0.1gr, the powder charges have to be weighed on a device that can SEE at 0.06gr MAX. Less would be better.

or put another "weigh", each charge has to be within 2 to 3 kernels of powder...

And Yes, you can see 0.1gr (4 kernels) of powder variation on target in a 308 case with an accurate rifle...

Jerry
Click to expand...

Yes, I have the Lee beam scale that came with the kit. I use it as a reference to make sure that my digi scale didn't go off the mark for some reason.
 
I get consistent 0.5" groups with .223 using a powder measure. I have a good scale just to confirm the measure and adjust as needed. My loads fluctuate by +/- 0.2grn. No issues. There are a number of other variables that impact accuracy such as, but not limited to:

1) projectile mass
2) flash hole uniformity
3) case length
4) COAL

Most of this only counts when precision target shooting. Unless you are hunting mice at 100 yards, hunting is not affected by most of this.
 
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