Well, I'm not too happy with my Hornady balance beam scale. It seems rather finicky and seems too sensitive to the slightest shift in position. Needless to say, accuracy is paramount when you're trying to wring the best possible accuracy out of your handloads. So, I did a review walk-through and the Frankford Arsenal DS-750 came highly recommended as did the Hornady 050106. They are both electronic scales and my last experience with an inexpensive Hornady wasn't anything to write home about. I'm asking my fellow reloaders for their input. Any thoughts gentlemen?
Best Reloading Scale
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
I still like using my balance beam scales, I have the Lyman and Lee brands and when set up on a stable surface both read identical weights. I also have an electronic scale I picked up on Amazon that reads well also, but for some reason still prefer the balance scales.
I have been using a Lyman Gen 6 for several years, no issues. If it doesnt hit a target weight that I enter in ... example 42.0g, it will always throw 0.1 under, so 41.9. I keep a trickler right next to the unit and will add the extra couple of kernels to get it to the correct number. I am sure you will get a lot of recommendations for the RCBS Chargemaster, this seems to be the go to for electronic scales
for balance beam i have tried the new RCBS 500gr scale, Dillon eliminator and Redding, all new manufacture. I love the idea of a balance beam and frankly, in terms of fine accuracy, all of them move the needle with a single grain of extruded powder. However, none of them will go back to perfect zero consistently. maybe older balance scales will, i have many reviews stating they don't make them like they used to.
In terms of electronic scales, i have had the RCBS 750gr and the one attached to my charge master. They both work very well, but due to the .1 grain resolution, don't have the same accuracy "potential" as the balance, one grain of extruded powder does not register on the electronic. I have considered buying one of more high tech electronic scales. However, practicality has got in the way for now. I shoot at a max 325yrds and the type of accuracy i want does not equate to what i need. So for now, i will resist the temptation to spend more money on scales.
the other thing i will mention about the electronic scales, is that i have found they can be sensitive the static. For quite sometime i could never figure out why my electronic scales would drift by .5 of a grain right before my eyes, very frustrating. Then i realized i was wearing my microfibre hoodie or similar garment in the dead of winter. Once i grounded myself, the drift issue went away, but not before investing in a dillion eliminator beam scale and the chargemaster. Overall i ended up ahead, love the chargemaster.
Practically speaking i think each scale measures to the advertised .1 grain accuracy. So, i'd say up to personal choice. I find the electronic faster, easier and as accurate as i need, even though maybe not as accurate as i think i need.
In terms of electronic scales, i have had the RCBS 750gr and the one attached to my charge master. They both work very well, but due to the .1 grain resolution, don't have the same accuracy "potential" as the balance, one grain of extruded powder does not register on the electronic. I have considered buying one of more high tech electronic scales. However, practicality has got in the way for now. I shoot at a max 325yrds and the type of accuracy i want does not equate to what i need. So for now, i will resist the temptation to spend more money on scales.
the other thing i will mention about the electronic scales, is that i have found they can be sensitive the static. For quite sometime i could never figure out why my electronic scales would drift by .5 of a grain right before my eyes, very frustrating. Then i realized i was wearing my microfibre hoodie or similar garment in the dead of winter. Once i grounded myself, the drift issue went away, but not before investing in a dillion eliminator beam scale and the chargemaster. Overall i ended up ahead, love the chargemaster.
Practically speaking i think each scale measures to the advertised .1 grain accuracy. So, i'd say up to personal choice. I find the electronic faster, easier and as accurate as i need, even though maybe not as accurate as i think i need.
I think beam scales are very accurate - no need for batteries or electricity. This one caught my eye (ohaus beam scale) played with one at work not sure why it was in the caretakers office though. May switch over to this scale in the near future. It will even work if we get hit by an nuclear magnetic pulse. That being said, I found my Hornady electronic scale to be pretty good.
"to the last grain
"to the last grain
- Location
- West Quebec
I still use my RCBS 505 to check my digital
Thank you all. I had the "wandering" zero problem with my inexpensive Hornady scale and I do like the balance beam scale. Currently, I have an older Hornady balance beam scale. I don't like the single screw frontal bearing point. I've been looking at the Ohaus 5-0-5 or at least something with a broad frontal bearing point to gave a more stable footing. I'll keep on searching but I appreciate all you gentlemen and thank you for sharing your experience.
- Location
- West Quebec
The Ohaus is the RCBS I believe
While not being the top end of digital scales, it certainly is better than any reloading brand digital scale, I have an A&D FX120 which I love for speed and accuracy.
Since this thread is based on beam scales, I also have the RCBS 5-0-5, and have previously owned RCBS chargemaster combo.
Once I got the FX120 the chargemaster combo became very irrevelant, I had no desire to use it anymore and instantly sold it, yes it had all the mods and care for most accurate readings possible.
I still own my RCBS 5-0-5, and it holds on it's own next to an FX120, they are both giving me same readings and same accuracy (although the 5-0-5 you must perceive the subtle changes on your own and know how to look for them).
The FX120 will win when it comes down to speed obviously.
All this to say, that my 5-0-5 will never be sold, great backup, and if anyone is looking for a beamscale, I can't see how they could go wrong with this one.
The RCBS 5-0-5 is pretty much the gold standard of affordable quality balance beams. I started with a Lee safety scale and quickly figured out its quirks and how to get it to read accurately with consistency. It actually is a very accurate scale but suffers very finicky operation. You get what you pay for, but if you know how to use it you do get accuracy. Upgrading a couple years later to the 5-0-5 was a very pleasant experience. It still retains excellent, repeatable accuracy but with much smoother and simpler operation. And over 5X the weight capacity. Setup, zeroing and adjusting is faster and easier but my favourite part is the approach to weight. The Lee has a very narrow weight range between where the beam starts to lift and your target weight. Its easy to blow right past and have to remove powder from the pan. The RCBS has a much wider range and smoother operation. Its now my #1 trusted scale. I've added and RCBS Chargemaster lite for loads that don't need tenth grain accuracy. At first it was a little inconsistent, varying .1 and almost .2 on rare occasions as compared on the 5-0-5. RCBS recommends a break in time and after a couple hundred drops it has settled in. My last batch was 50 rds of 9 gr red dot for .30-30 and none measured a full tenth off. Between the 5-0-5 for precision loads and the CM lite for higher production stuff I'm quite happy. Neither can do what an FX-120i can do, and I envy those with auto tricklers set up on theirs, but for my budget this combo kicks ass.
Best scale setup is an a&d fx120 with auto throw and auto trickle.
I couldn’t justify the money. Ended up with a gempro. At first I thought it was garbage but after using it for a while and figuring out it quirks, it’s fast and reliable to measure within a kernel or two of powder.
Joe
I couldn’t justify the money. Ended up with a gempro. At first I thought it was garbage but after using it for a while and figuring out it quirks, it’s fast and reliable to measure within a kernel or two of powder.
Joe
Which gem pro? What did that cost ya?
I have a 10-10 and the hornady dispenser. I use them both- but the hornady is faster and nearly as accurate. When I'm super anal about it I load up a bowl -0.2gn on the hornady and trickle the last few grains on the 10-10. Not sure it makes a difference.
Keep balance beams clean- I normally give mine a hose-down in alcohol if it gets finicky. Seems to bring it back to normal.
Keep balance beams clean- I normally give mine a hose-down in alcohol if it gets finicky. Seems to bring it back to normal.
Gempro 2-300 it was a couple hundred bucks.
mmcintyre1220
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Tillsonburg, Ontario
I use an rcbs 2000. No issues at all.
