Mechanical Scale

Damn, I wasn't expecting this much of a response and I definitely appreciate it. I just ordered an Ohaus 505 off Amazon for $85. I figured I'd grab it new since buying it used plus shipping would have been close to the same price.

The idea of having manual made check weights for specific charges is a actually great. I do have check weights for my digital scale and I calibrate based off of a 50 gram check weight, it's just a pain having to re-zero then check with the check weight every so often to make sure it hasn't drifted. With the custom made weight I should be able to just simply put it on the scale and it'll give me the charge weight every time. I still always want a mechanical scale since I never trust electronics.

Thanks for the help
 
Maple57 said:
The problem with check weight sets is that a) you need to buy it up front and B) that they don't come specifically in the target weight we want... instead with these weight sets you have to build a set of weights that together weigh our target weight. Then do it again for our next reloading project.

Far more expedient to make a custom validation weight even if its just a ball of tin foil. That way the check weight weighs exactly what the target load is (including pan) and with no fiddling with a bunch of tiny little check weight bits.

To your point, this method confirms at the target weight and not some other weight far away from the target weight, which is my point as well.
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Okay, I'll bite, how do you confirm the weight of your home made check weights? If you have an exceedingly good balance beam scale, the manufacturer claims an accuracy of +/- .1, so attempting to weigh in in .2 increments is pretty optimistic. I doubt that you gain much attempting to weigh closer than the .5 gr check weight confirms with the majority of balance beam powder scales currently being sold. My solution to the whole balance beam accuracy question was after 3 consecutive scales weren't repeatable, and one of them being relatively expensive, was to get a Gem Pro electronic scale that reads to .02 grs. When the display bounces between .02 and .04 you can assume it is weighing .03. Why did I go this route? So that I can weigh powder charges to a tenth of a grain with confidence, which is not possible with any balance beam scale.
 
It's not important that the weight of a home made weight is exactly what you think it should be. Its important to have a fixed point of reference to the target weight with a cheap scale.

Obviously its better to have a reliable and precise scale. I have a Vibra HT balance which is crazy accurate (0.002 grains) and priced accordingly, but most guys wont have something like that.

Before I got the Vibra I was like most guys... For the more affordable strain gage scales like most guys will be using, just having a fixed point of reference is a great sanity check.

Suppose you have a pan that weighs 100 grains and your target powder charge is 38 grains. Just make a weight that weighs as close as you have the ability to measure to 138 grains. Now you can switch back and fourth between the pan with powder and the 138 grain check weight. If you get the same value repeatedly, then you can trust it. If the values are different then you have a problem.

If you decide you want to increase the load to 139 grains, well the powder and pan should weight one grain more than the 138 grain validation weight.

The load is 1 grain heavier, so even if the validation weight was actually only 137 grains, does it really matter? As long as loads are developed safely relative to that fixed reference point.
 
Amazon sells calibration check weights with ASTM classification. The lower the classification number, the higher the quality of the weight...

I have the RCBS verification weights. Recently verified their weights using a very sensitive scale (A&D Engineering FX-120i), filed them to be exact weight as the digital scale can weigh including the 50gr. calibration weight. Those are now my reference/calibration point for my mechanical and digital scales.

Unless you're preparing recipes for others, it is not that critical how accurate your scale is in terms of the weight figures it produces... What matters most is the repeatability, i.e. shows the same number every time with the same weight...
 
Yup 20$ can get you a calibration weight kit. I just tested my older RCBS 505 with a 5g weight ( 77.16grn ) the lightest I have, and my scale read it off at 77.2grns.
 
You guys seem to be missing the point. Those purchased weights you mention do not weigh the same as the load you are preparing.

Even with a cheap scale you can compare between two things that should weigh the same switching back and forth and try to detect if there is a slight difference.

Whatever, if you don't get it by now I'm done here.
 
Maple57 said:
You guys seem to be missing the point. Those purchased weights you mention do not weigh the same as the load you are preparing.

Even with a cheap scale you can compare between two things that should weigh the same switching back and forth and try to detect if there is a slight difference.

Whatever, if you don't get it by now I'm done here.
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So, I do it my way, you do it YOUR way. If the scale is off with a known weight. It is going to be off, with anything in between. And sorry for buying something to help me check the accuracy of my scale. Because ultimately it is my fingers to loose, not yours.

If the cheap scale is even right. Loading 308 this week. You think I could get 2 scales to agree on the powder load thrown? Nope, There was upwards of 1 grn difference in some of the powder thrown measured. But hey my 16$ check weights help me calibrate and check.
 
Maple57 said:
You guys seem to be missing the point. Those purchased weights you mention do not weigh the same as the load you are preparing.

Even with a cheap scale you can compare between two things that should weigh the same switching back and forth and try to detect if there is a slight difference.

Whatever, if you don't get it by now I'm done here.
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Maple57, I have one question for you. Why is everything you address contentious? It seems your motto is: "My way or no way". Lighten up, there is
more than one way to skin a cat. [Or verify your scale] :) Dave.
 
I have RCBS check weights, I used them to correct my scale when I switched to a plastic pan to make loading the case easier, I watched a few videos and tuned my scale myself. I ended up getting the 5-10 scale, free, and both my scales do match. However what Maple is trying to say, is that it does not matter what your true weight is, as long as you use the same scale, at the same weight. So, when you arrive at your favourite load, you match your charge weight by creating a weight equivalent to your load. This now enables you to check your load easily. When I tuned my scale, it was impossible to get it spot on at all numbers, so I got mine tuned closest from the 0 - 75 grain area. At my 6.5mm load, it's out a hair, so I wrote that down as a reference number. It is faster to create a weight for each load you do....... its been on my to do list.
 
Maple57 said:
You guys seem to be missing the point. Those purchased weights you mention do not weigh the same as the load you are preparing.

Even with a cheap scale you can compare between two things that should weigh the same switching back and forth and try to detect if there is a slight difference.

Whatever, if you don't get it by now I'm done here.
Click to expand...

No point missed. If we have two identical guns that shoot great with the same exact load, my gun will shoot that group with 5.54 grains, your gun will shoot that group with 5.44 grains... Powder exact same quantity, but scale calls them different... It only becomes an issue when you start sharing recipes with other people...

Keep in mind, I try to calibrate every measuring device to the best of my capabilities, but where does that end? Accuracy tolerance? Precision tolerance? Never-ending story... One should define their acceptable tolerances and live a happy life...
 
RCBS 505 just feels right to me. Maybe because my father has used one since I was a little gaffer and when I got my own reloading gear, that's what I bought :).

When I bought my 505 I got a used one for 1/2 the price of new. But it came in the original box with the original receipt...with a new price back then being lower than what I paid! That old scale has seen a lot of price inflation in its time.
 
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