Best Balance Beam scale?

They are all pretty much the same in my opinion. I got one as part of an RCBS Rockchucker kit and it has been great. I consider a set of "standard weights" a must have to calibrate the scale at various load weights otherwise who knows what your really measuring. I use my scale as a quality control measure during all reloading activity.
 
Balance beam scales have been around since god was a kid. They work good too, just as long as you do your part
 
fdc said:
They are all pretty much the same in my opinion. I got one as part of an RCBS Rockchucker kit and it has been great. I consider a set of "standard weights" a must have to calibrate the scale at various load weights otherwise who knows what your really measuring. I use my scale as a quality control measure during all reloading activity.
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This always gets me, "calibrate a beam scale!"
Please, someone tell me how you do that.
The only adjusting required on a beam scale is to set it on a level surface, set the scale at zero, and make sure the beam is in the middle, at zero. If it is not dead centre, carefully adjust it to point at dead centre and you've got it. Maybe in ten years you should recheck, to see if it still indicates zero, when set at zero.
A well made beam scale, like the RCBS mentioned, will be just as accurate at 263.4 grains as it will at .4 grains.
 
H4831 said:
This always gets me, "calibrate a beam scale!"
Please, someone tell me how you do that.
The only adjusting required on a beam scale is to set it on a level surface, set the scale at zero, and make sure the beam is in the middle, at zero. If it is not dead centre, carefully adjust it to point at dead centre and you've got it. Maybe in ten years you should recheck, to see if it still indicates zero, when set at zero.
A well made beam scale, like the RCBS mentioned, will be just as accurate at 263.4 grains as it will at .4 grains.
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I should have been more clear, calibrate was a poor choice of words. Use the standards to ensure that the scale is measuring 5 grains when you put 5 grains on the scale for example. Does that make sense now H4831?
 
The 10-10 and the 5-0-5 are not SCALES, they are BALANCES. Electronic and spring devices that measure weight are called SCALES. Balances are uneffected by temperature and gravity/elevation because they work equally on both sides of the fulcrum. Not so with scales. Electronic scales have to be switched on for a while to stabilize the magnetic resistance to the applied weight. Then they need to be calibrated. After some time the calibration needs to be redone because it's warming up or the voltage changed. Their advantage is speed.
What I do is set my electronic scale to dispense 0.1grain less powder, dump what was dispenses into my 10-10 balance pan and trickle up to zero the balance. This is both fast and accurate.
 
fdc said:
I should have been more clear, calibrate was a poor choice of words. Use the standards to ensure that the scale is measuring 5 grains when you put 5 grains on the scale for example. Does that make sense now H4831?
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No.
As explained, you just check balance. If it shows zero when the weights are adjusted to zero, then it will weigh correctly at all weights marked on the beam and no check weights are required.
Good beam scale makers, like RCBS, are very precise in making their instruments, so it will be correct.
 
H4831 said:
No.
As explained, you just check balance. If it shows zero when the weights are adjusted to zero, then it will weigh correctly at all weights marked on the beam and no check weights are required.
Good beam scale makers, like RCBS, are very precise in making their instruments, so it will be correct.
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Not always true. I have an rcbs balance that weighs 0.1 - 0.3 grs low at any given weight according to the rcbs check weights I have. It depends on where the weights are sitting on the beam, if they're forward or back in there slot on the beam. And yes, I've cleaned it, changed locations on the work bench, pretty much everything. It's consistently low. I now balance to zero with the check weights set to the amount I'm using. YMMV.
 
nbmonte said:
Not always true. I have an rcbs balance that weighs 0.1 - 0.3 grs low at any given weight according to the rcbs check weights I have. It depends on where the weights are sitting on the beam, if they're forward or back in there slot on the beam. And yes, I've cleaned it, changed locations on the work bench, pretty much everything. It's consistently low. I now balance to zero with the check weights set to the amount I'm using. YMMV.
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You have a set of check weights for every charge you throw? Wow!
Well, like H4831 has stated, I have never found a need for check weights on a beam scale. Apparently, I've been messed up for 25 years (that's when I left scoops and got a Lyman 500).
And there you have it, Bruce, all those years of chasing perfect loads have been wasted. We've never really known if they were high, low, or in the middle.
Now I will have to use my check weights from my electronic scale to make sure my beam is correct before I throw another charge!
 
I have two balance beam units, a 10-10 RCBS and a 304. The 304 is the elite of balance beams, but takes up a bit more room. [the latter has been out of production for some time now]

I have a couple of electronic scales as well, but if using them, I always check the weight on the 304 periodically. It has the final say, lol.

And I agree with H4831 and Rookie Wildcat as to the use of check weights and the balance beam units.

Regards, Dave.
 
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When I use either a balance beam scale or an electronic scale, I use check weight sets to ensure the load I'm weighing is true and repeatable. Interestingly enough, based on my observations, the old school balance beam is consistently more accurate and repeatable than the electronic scale; you wouldn't think it shouldn't be that way. Nevertheless, I tend to check the charges I weigh on my electronic scale against my balance beam, when they agree, I consider the charge correct.
 
Well, I dropped my Lyman balance while I was moving and lost the copper plate that they use to dampen the beam movement, so now I need a new one. I was considering an electronic scale, but this thread has convinced me to get another balance..

Thanks, guys.
 
I have a lyman /ohaus M5 precision loading scale. this scale belonged to my father-in-law and is over 50 years old. it is very accurate and I always use the check weight when setting the scale for reloading. since my reloading bench(where I charge the case and seat bullets) is the kitchen table and everything gets packed up afterwards. it just helps my confidence knowing it is balanced to the exact weight. my biggest problem is my eye sight is starting to fail so I find it harder to match/line up the balance marks. will be switching to an electronic/digital scale in the near future.
 
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