Digital scales.

Balance beam - gravity is always right, set you zero once with certified calibration weights and your good to go. Have used many different electric scales and they are all a pain to keep accurate. Yes the balance beam is slower, but is it? Zeros wonder, have to re-zero it again etc. I used an electric to weight sort 200 pcs of brass, re-weighted them on the balance beam after and at least 25% of the cases switched positions in the loading/sorting block. Would have been faster to just use the beam in the first place IMO. A good balance beam can weight powder to the single kernel too, way under the .1g the scale shows.
 
manitou210 said:
Good read here on Balance scales vs good digital scale.
Looks like Electronics are more accurate, Maynard might confirm this that 1/10 gr of powder at 1000y can affect verticle by 3 or 4 " ??

http://www.6mmbr.com/mxx123test.html
Click to expand...

You can get an Acculab VIC 123 (120gm) accurate to .001gm or .015gr on Ebay for US$259.95 shipped out of Online Lab Supply located in Ontario. I bought the VIC 303 model (300gm) 3 weeks ago and I'm very satisfied. I can confirm that a stick of Varget = .02gr while H-4831 = .06gr.
 
I bought a RCBS rangemaster 750, after hearing good reveiws one after another. Some other brands got mixed reviews, and others were horrible. I still have a balance, but digital is sweet.:D
 
manitou210 said:
Good read here on Balance scales vs good digital scale. Looks like Electronics are more accurate, Maynard might confirm this that 1/10 gr of powder at 1000y can affect vertical by 3 or 4 " ??

http://www.6mmbr.com/mxx123test.html
Click to expand...

Yes the mxx123 is a good scale, but a half a grain (.5g or 5/10ths) of varget only chances my rifle's velocity (308 with 154s) by approx. 33 fps. A change in velocity of 33fps at 1000 yds is a difference of 8 1/4" (3/4 moa) so .1g (1/10th) difference should only move you 1.5" (than is 1/8 moa click at 1000 yds) and the V Bull is 12" in size so why worry? Even with the new smaller 1/2 moa V Bulls, why worry? The wind will move you alot more if you miss it's change. Don't get me wrong, yes you need a good load for 1000yds that will shoot a nice flat water line, but .1g difference should only be one 1/8 moa click change at 1000 yds, two tops.

With a balance beam, you can see it move as you add each kernel and you can get it exact, to the kernel, with a lot less hassle than with a electronic one with their wondering zero. The electronic one shows the change too, but 40g is 40g so who cares. The Balance beam is cheaper and it works better IMO with no BATTERIES
 
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I have a Lyman, Dillon and RCBS. All work well. The Lyman takes a 9v battery for those occassions when you wnat to take the scale to the range.

Beware of the ultra cheap no-names. Do not trust them.

I have a 45 gr 22 Hornet bullet on each of my scales which i use from time to time just to make sure that electronic scale is telling the truth. So far, it has never failed, but nice to be sure.
 
While I appreciate the above comments I have bench rest shooting friends stateside who swear by volume loading powders and don't weigh much of anything. I use a balace beam for setting my pistol loads using my Dillon powder measure but that is about it. I don't shoot much rifle and when I do I do use the balance beam scale.

Take Care

Bob
 
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