Beam powder scales vs cheap digital scales vs powder scoop

I

Iloverevolvers

CGN Regular
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Edmonton
I just received a Lee Loader Classic in .223 Remington (for ammo for my bolt rifle that has a 9.5" barrel; which IMO makes it more like a pistol for reloading recipe purposes). I have not yet used the kit to reload a single round, but I've begun the process. So far, I've bought some "once-fired" brass, removed their primers and re-sized their necks. So far, so good. Nice pleasant way to spend some time. Next I intend to buy some relatively inexpensive Campro 223 55 Gr FMJ SBT projectiles, some small rifle primers and a pound of Titegroup.

As probably everybody reading this already realizes, no matter what caliber the kit, the Lee kit includes a powder scoop as well as a chart with Lee's recommended combinations of powders and bullet weights, etc.. Let's face it, no matter what the technique of dipping and leveling the load, the scoop is going to pour out charges of powder that are not going to be very precise in weight but, presumably, "close enough". I'm sure that Lee's recomendations are going to produce rounds that are going to be safe to shoot even though the charges are not all precisely the same weight, because if they weren't, the Lee Loader Classic would likely not still be on the market today.

The reason I'm writing this post is that I'd like to load rounds that are definitely going be on the low end of performance -- low weight bullets, around 1000 fps and, therefore, low energy and low chamber pressure ....... probably lower than any on Lee's list of recommended combinations. I'd like these rounds to shoot fairly accurately on paper targets at a maximum of roughly 40 yards.

There's a very interesting thread in the "reloading recipes" forum that mentions using slightly above 3 grains of Titegroup to produce rounds that are not much more powerful than a typical 22LR round. (Therefore, a pound of Titegroup for a Tightwad is going to re-load a lot of rounds!:)) IIRC, Titegroup is not mentioned on the Lee chart included in the kit, so I'm going to have to buy a powder measuring device of some type to output roughly 3-grain powder charges.

Considering what I've said above about the type of round I'd like to produce, what would you recommend I buy for a device to weigh the Titegroup? Those of you who have one, is an inexpensive digital scale going to be accurate enough to do this job and, if so, which do you recommend (there are a tonne of them on the you-know-what "store")? Whatever it is should have the accuracy and precision equal to or maybe slightly better than that of a Lee Loader Classic powder scoop.

Thanks for any device recommendations.
 
The problem with a cheap digital scale is they drift as you use them.

The problem with beam scales is they're slow.

The problem with scoops is a lack of accuracy.

I don't think any method is going to make a huge difference at 40yds though.


I also don't know why you'd reload 223 at 1000fps when 22lr already exists and is cheap.
 
I use tightgroup in 45-70. I find a powder measure works well. I use my balance scale to verify each charge. RCBS 505 beam scale. I do have an electronic scale to use as well.

Be careful with using pistol powders in a big case. Really easy to double, triple or more charge.

Let us know what the accuracy is like if you do this.
 
The beam scale is always right.
As long as you always set it right.
An electronic scale is also highly accurate and serves to double check my work on the beam scale.
Weigh the powder tray and add the powder charge.
The digital display is much easier to verify than tiny black lines on the beam scale.
Much easier for a quick double check and much easier on your eyes depending on how old they are.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2026-03-25 at 19.16.23.png
    Screenshot 2026-03-25 at 19.16.23.png
    171.4 KB · Views: 7
OP, over the past 60 years of reloading, I've used scoops, early beam scales with heavy cast steel frames, with the beam knife edge balancing in V notch, cut Quartz saddles. They were made by several different companies and were OK for the powders and precision needed at the time.

I eventually went to a Dillon Digital scale, and I still keep an old RCBS 5-0-5 beam scale close by. The digital scale's only real advantage is that it's just slightly faster than the RCBS beam scale.

The only reason I purchased a Dillon digital scale, it was part of a package deal at a store promotion.

I like the large readout numbers on the display.

I use an RCBS powder measure to throw a slightly light charge and top it up on the scale with a "trickler."

I tried two different makes of electronic powder measures and found them to be abysmally slow, and not any more accurate than the Dillon digital or the other digital scale I tried, MTM.

The MTM scale runs around $70 from Amazon. It's not advertised as a "powder scale," but it measures in grains and ounces, and it's just as accurate as the $200 Dillon, but lighter, and the display isn't as easy to read.

When I'm loading for my 223 rem I usually don't bother with the powder measure. I use a scoop that came with a Lee set to get the initial load into the pan of either the beam or digital scale, and top it up with the powder trickler into the pan on the scale.

The Lee scoops or even home made scoops are ok, and once in a blue moon, you get a perfect load for your firearm. However, as mentioned above, the scoop method is the least accurate way to measure powder, and with most rifles, it shows up on the target.

I'm thinking you want to load 223 to 1000fps for a specific reason, such as training purposes, or whatever. I suggest you also get into bullet casting to reduce cost.

I have a good friend who shoots his 223rem in his hayshed during the winter months. He has a small room, which he heats with an electric heater, and shoots through a hole in the wall. His load is similar to what you want to achieve, and his range is only 25 yards. He shoots into a mound of sand. At 25yds, his sight setting is the same as the 100yd setting.
 
Iloverevolvers said:
I just received a Lee Loader Classic in .223 Remington (for ammo for my bolt rifle that has a 9.5" barrel; which IMO makes it more like a pistol for reloading recipe purposes). I have not yet used the kit to reload a single round, but I've begun the process. So far, I've bought some "once-fired" brass, removed their primers and re-sized their necks. So far, so good. Nice pleasant way to spend some time. Next I intend to buy some relatively inexpensive Campro 223 55 Gr FMJ SBT projectiles, some small rifle primers and a pound of Titegroup.

As probably everybody reading this already realizes, no matter what caliber the kit, the Lee kit includes a powder scoop as well as a chart with Lee's recommended combinations of powders and bullet weights, etc.. Let's face it, no matter what the technique of dipping and leveling the load, the scoop is going to pour out charges of powder that are not going to be very precise in weight but, presumably, "close enough". I'm sure that Lee's recomendations are going to produce rounds that are going to be safe to shoot even though the charges are not all precisely the same weight, because if they weren't, the Lee Loader Classic would likely not still be on the market today.

The reason I'm writing this post is that I'd like to load rounds that are definitely going be on the low end of performance -- low weight bullets, around 1000 fps and, therefore, low energy and low chamber pressure ....... probably lower than any on Lee's list of recommended combinations. I'd like these rounds to shoot fairly accurately on paper targets at a maximum of roughly 40 yards.

There's a very interesting thread in the "reloading recipes" forum that mentions using slightly above 3 grains of Titegroup to produce rounds that are not much more powerful than a typical 22LR round. (Therefore, a pound of Titegroup for a Tightwad is going to re-load a lot of rounds!:)) IIRC, Titegroup is not mentioned on the Lee chart included in the kit, so I'm going to have to buy a powder measuring device of some type to output roughly 3-grain powder charges.

Considering what I've said above about the type of round I'd like to produce, what would you recommend I buy for a device to weigh the Titegroup? Those of you who have one, is an inexpensive digital scale going to be accurate enough to do this job and, if so, which do you recommend (there are a tonne of them on the you-know-what "store")? Whatever it is should have the accuracy and precision equal to or maybe slightly better than that of a Lee Loader Classic powder scoop.

Thanks for any device recommendations.
Click to expand...
You are gonna need to either full length size your brass or use brass fired from your gun with a lee loader....dippers are actually pretty accurate ( no real difference than a powder measure).
 
homer76 said:
"So far, I've bought some "once-fired" brass, removed their primers and re-sized their necks."

I would suggest full length resizing brass fired in a rifle other than your own. Try chambering this brass to see if it works before you seat bullets. It may save you some time in pulling them apart.
Click to expand...
I have done as you suggest and every one of the once-fired brass works just fine. BTW, this rifle is 223 Wylde, which means that it can fire 223 Rem and 5.56 Nato equally well. Maybe this flexibility has something to do with this once-fired brass chambering and ejecting very well without having been fired in my rifle. After it is reloaded, the brass will only be used in my rifle.
 
I don't doubt digital scales are good for weighing powder, and to be truthful I've never tried one, but this is what I've been using for as long as I care to remember. No bouncing up and down it just works every time.
 

Attachments

  • scale.jpg
    scale.jpg
    46.2 KB · Views: 22
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom