I have what I thought was a good Hornady Pacific reloading scale. Now understand something; I'm not a long range precision shooter anymore but if I'm loading 45 gr. of powder, I want 45 gr. of powder. Here's my dilemma. I set up my scale, zero it, and then tap the balance beam so it floats up and down. It doesn't go back to zero. I tried loading the pan with a measured charge, dump the charge into another container, and then dump that back into the pan. It doesn't go back to zero. I tried cleaning all the bearing surfaces and the problem persists. I picked up a Lyman scale second hand and it also gives me some reason for concern regarding accuracy. I was gifted a Hornady electronic scale, one of the $45. ones, and it would do weird things like showing "0" and then arbitrarily go to .002 or 3 or 4 even. I found out later that they're sensitive to electric fields and I have a power bar affixed to my reloading bench and a work light above it. I've seen some very expensive mechanical and electronic scales but being a pensioner, short of a windfall of some sort, they're beyond my budget. So my fellow gunnies, any thoughts?
Reloading scale woes!
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
a mechanical scale should work... make sure where the beam is suspended is clean and not covered in dust or stuffs ...
some electronic balances are crap. besides this the following can be issues:
- the result may drift as the thing warms up. let it warm up for 1h before you use it
- static affects measurements. if you have plastic on plastic then it could be an issue
- your balance could be crap
some electronic balances are crap. besides this the following can be issues:
- the result may drift as the thing warms up. let it warm up for 1h before you use it
- static affects measurements. if you have plastic on plastic then it could be an issue
- your balance could be crap
The Hornady digital scale never worked for me. I tried everything, sent it to Korth for warranty, got a replacement, same thing. Zero wanders all over. I can tell my RCBS 505 needs a cleaning when it doesn't oscillate as much as it should or when I tap it to oscillate and it settles higher than it stopped when adding powder. A cleaning always fixes it. Make sure you got everything good and clean. A quality balance beam should be very reliable if it is clean, level, set on a solid surface and there is no air movement.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I have a Hornady brand balance beam scale with magnetic damping - probably a successor to Pacific scale?. I have found it quite reliable, but have to keep it out of drafts, like any scale. I set in position, then use the little nuts on far right end to get it reading "0". Then I set a test weight from my Lyman Digital scale in the pan - has always read correctly so far!. About only thing I can think of to mess up on a balance is dirty "knives" or seats on the fulcrum, or perhaps if gravity quits, I guess, but don't think that last one has ever happened...
Like OP, have had too many unexplained "issues" with electronic scales - I no longer trust them - I prefer to use the balance for that reason.
Like OP, have had too many unexplained "issues" with electronic scales - I no longer trust them - I prefer to use the balance for that reason.
I know how you could fix the scale with the wandering. 002 gr issue.
Get some masking tape put on the scale readout and cover the 3rd decimal place. So you can only see .00 and not .000. That would completely solve your perceived problem because 1) The scale isn't accurate to a thousandth of a grain and 2) even if it was .002 gr is of no consequence to you.
On the balance beam that won't return to zero, either the bearing surfaces are dirty or worn, or it's hanging up in the damper if the scale has seen rough handling. Magnifying glass is $2 at dollar store, help you look at the bearing surface.
Get some masking tape put on the scale readout and cover the 3rd decimal place. So you can only see .00 and not .000. That would completely solve your perceived problem because 1) The scale isn't accurate to a thousandth of a grain and 2) even if it was .002 gr is of no consequence to you.
On the balance beam that won't return to zero, either the bearing surfaces are dirty or worn, or it's hanging up in the damper if the scale has seen rough handling. Magnifying glass is $2 at dollar store, help you look at the bearing surface.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've been using an RCBS 5-10 balance beam scale for the last 35 years and I've found that the only time it will not read consistently accurate is when the bearing surfaces get dust in them. If you've cleaned the surfaces then I wonder if they are worn. Sounds like you purchased the scale used and there may be a reason why it was up for sale!
I've tried a few electronic scales and have learned not to trust them. My Hornady electronic rarely comes out of the drawer it lives in these days.
I've tried a few electronic scales and have learned not to trust them. My Hornady electronic rarely comes out of the drawer it lives in these days.
billbmcleod
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Back very close to Bruce County
I had a Lyman beam scale that would stick and found the dampening device had been bent and although it did no appear to be touching it was causing the scale to stick at some random spot.
Thank you all for your input. From what I've read, this is considered to be a very good scale (Hornady Pacific mod.M). I have cleaned all the bearing surfaces with a clean soft lens cloth. I don't use any lubricant that attract dust or debris. All 3 poise's are set at zero. The pointer is as well. When I gently tap the balance beam up or down, it'll slowly drift back to either just under or just over the zero. I hung a fine linen thread over the balance beam bearing point and it gently stirs a little due to the AC vent but I don't think it's enough of a breeze to account for the oddball scale performance. I think I'll just have to learn to live with it. I don't do compressed or max loads and it's predominately hunting ammo I'm loading so I don't think 1/10 of a grain will make much of a difference. Still, it's a minor irritant.
I had the same problem with a 5-0-2 RCBS scale a few years ago.
I cleaned all the bearing surfaces, no joy.
Finally I removed the dampening magnets from the frame and wiped them down. I don't know what I expected to find, it was desperation at that point.
After reassembling the scale, everything worked fine.
I really can't explain what changed, maybe one of the magnets was loose?? Possibly some ferrous debris on the magnets??
Anyway, it was consistent after that.
Won't cost anything to try it.
Edit - if the air from the AC vent you mentioned is causing a problem, you should be able to see the pointer move up and down over a period of time. In my experience, air movement isn't consistent enough to let the pointer completely settle in one spot. Your problem sounds more like a sticky spot or insensitivity.
I cleaned all the bearing surfaces, no joy.
Finally I removed the dampening magnets from the frame and wiped them down. I don't know what I expected to find, it was desperation at that point.
After reassembling the scale, everything worked fine.
I really can't explain what changed, maybe one of the magnets was loose?? Possibly some ferrous debris on the magnets??
Anyway, it was consistent after that.
Won't cost anything to try it.
Edit - if the air from the AC vent you mentioned is causing a problem, you should be able to see the pointer move up and down over a period of time. In my experience, air movement isn't consistent enough to let the pointer completely settle in one spot. Your problem sounds more like a sticky spot or insensitivity.
manicmechanic
CGN Regular
Does the scale still act up if you close the vent? Any chance some magnetism is throwing off the scales? Florescent lights or something else in the immediate area perhaps?
I had my ancient Lyman powder scale acting strangely & not holding zero & found the pin with the knife edges was loose and would rotate in the balance beam. After contacting Lyman, it was replaced under warranty, despite the fact I bought it used and that it was over 20 years old...
I had my ancient Lyman powder scale acting strangely & not holding zero & found the pin with the knife edges was loose and would rotate in the balance beam. After contacting Lyman, it was replaced under warranty, despite the fact I bought it used and that it was over 20 years old...
You can clean the magnets by wrapping double sided tape or reverse masking tape so sticky side is facing outwards. Metal shavings and filings can be a pain. I clean out magnet tracks for linear moment fairly often.
My RCBS 505 went bonkers for a short while until I clean the knife edge pivot.
Some lighting that causes Hall effects may also be effecting it(digital scale). Experiment.
My RCBS 505 went bonkers for a short while until I clean the knife edge pivot.
Some lighting that causes Hall effects may also be effecting it(digital scale). Experiment.
Last edited:
It's been my experience with handloading that a tenth of a grain, one way or the other doesn't make even a smidgen of difference to accuracy or velocity, unless you're using a small case, such as the 223 Rem or you are loading very close to the maximum for your particular rifle.. The last part is moot, as you've already stated you don't load to maximum.
As for your beam balance, most of them only guarantee accuracy to a tenth of a grain, plus or minus.
There are so many other issues that can affect your load, other than a few granules of powder.
For instance, primer lot, powder lot, variance in bullet weights, case capacities etc.
IMHO, you're loads will be just fine.
I, like you, no longer participate in match shooting. My eyes just aren't good enough for the task anymore. I do like friendly competition though and appreciate accurate rifles/handguns.
