scale accuracy

Digital scales usually have calibration feature - look it up!!
Then again, the error as it is - 0.2%; not 2%.
 
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what did it measure in grains? that much of a discrepancy in grains is too high for reloading in my books. the cheap scales are notorious for poor accuracy.
 
I had an MTM scale that had to be replaced because of inconsistency. It calibrated perfectly with the 50 gr weight, but it showed a 150 gr bullet as 153 grains. When weighed on my RCBS 505 that bullet weighed 150,3 grs, which is the correct weight verified on my friends scale. A 2.7 grain error, just not good enough. By the way my dealer had to replace the scale, as MTM did not even bother to help me.
 
Balance beam scales introduce an additional level of inaccuracy in that your eyes must decide where centre is, whereas digital scales are objective, but it's more important that it's consistent than accurate. If it consistently reads a certain percentage high or low, I wouldn't sweat it. Using a book load of 50 grs when it's actually 49.5 or 50.5 grs will not matter, and if you're developing your own loads, it doesn't matter if what you think is 50 grs is 50.5 grs.
 
My lyman digital will sometimes read 49.9 - 50.1grains for a 50grain.

Usually cured through a little re-calibration.

Make sure the scale is level, free of vibration (like from a press) or air flow, have it powered up for a while in the room its going to be used it and calibrate it a few times.

I then recheck zero every 10rnds or so.
 
Is that the smaller layman scale with the clear kinda cover ? I cant rember what # it was but I had one b4 as well. I got rid of it due to inconsistency and how often it needs to be zeroed and re calibrated. Rockin the RCBS 750?? some # like that. the smaller green one. wicked scale. never half to re zero it and its very responsive.

anyhow back to the original Q. Does ur scale have a single 50g weight? and does it make you zero it b4 u calibrate it ? also after u calibrate and take the 50g weight off does it go straight back to 0.0gn ? on my scale i have a 20 and 30g weight. the 20g one actually weights like 20.3 or something. but it goes back to 0 when the weight comes off and never has any problems. I think ur good to go.
 
There's only one weight and it consistently weighs 50.09 and returns to 0. I thought maybe the weight could be off? I don't have anything of known weight that I can think of to check it against.

I think I'll just run with it, it's a pretty minor variance.
 
I think one of the better more affordable scales I've used was an RCBS 750. very accurate and consistent but only .1gr readings.
I picked up an acculab vic123 and its super sensitive, I've gotta watch my breathing while using it.
Some things I do to eliminate porblems with my scale:
-Make sure its level
-Scale includes a glass draft shield, and I also make sure there is no air movement in the room
-Turn the scale on and let it warm up for 1-2hrs before use.
-Plugged in to a monster power bar which has a built in line conditioner(go to "The Source" formally Radio Shack they are going out of business(everywhere) and everything was 70% off) , eliminating voltage discrepancies.
 
The little MTM cheapy scale should work all right for the bows & arrows guys weighing
their arrows, points & broadheads ... and may even be O.K. for segregating your brass into groupings that are 1.0 or 1.5 grains apart in weight.

I wouldn't use it on a bet for weighing powder.
 
first thing with any of electronic scales is if it's off- try changing the battery- even with a new battery , they can give funny readings- i use a beam balance scale that i KNOW is accurate and only use the electronic to check the weight of the loaded round- ie to make sure the powder made it into the case
 
We must remember that most digital reading devices only have a maximum accuracy (minimum uncertainty) of +/- of the least signiifcant digit. So in some of the examples mentioned above such as 49.9 or 50.1 is considered normal in the digital world and nothing to worry about. The least significant digit in this case will usually flicker and all you need to do is average it.

This situation can be explained theoretically fairly easily but I'm sure would not mean too much to the average user.

As far as I'm concerned, I can't see using a typical balance for hand loading when you have the relatively high repeatability of the digital devices. After all, when handloading, what you should be looking for is repeatability.

Duke1
 
my beam balance is ready to go , any time any where- the stupid electronic has to go through a whole system check and calibration each time it powers up- all i do with the beam balance is throw 1 charge, verify,make sure it's centered , and off i go- i check every 10 or so rounds to make sure the charge is consistant, and that's it-
 
Andy said:
Balance beam scales introduce an additional level of inaccuracy in that your eyes must decide where centre is, whereas digital scales are objective, but it's more important that it's consistent than accurate. If it consistently reads a certain percentage high or low, I wouldn't sweat it. Using a book load of 50 grs when it's actually 49.5 or 50.5 grs will not matter, and if you're developing your own loads, it doesn't matter if what you think is 50 grs is 50.5 grs.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm picking nits Andy and certainly I'm dating myself, but I find it very much easier to have confidence in a good balance beam, especially one acquired at anything close to the price of a decent digital, like Ohaus for instance. They're just such a simple device, not a lot can do wrong. Eyeball error can be remedied with a cheap magnifying glass if necessary.

As far as accuracy is concerned, I'd be hard to convince that weighing powder out to a 100th of a grain is going to control inconsistencies in a burning rate that is also influenced by inconsistencies in primers, brass, tempreature and how the powder happens to be lying (or compressed) within the cartridge, neck tension, etc. etc., it all adds up. The principle of diminishing returns applies to all such efforts.
 
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