Slide Scale vs Digital Scale

klink1983

klink1983

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I was out in the garage this morning loading some rounds, and for redundancy I wanted to measure each load by both scales that I have. I have a Lee safety measure and my digital scale is a Hornady GS 1500. I took my time and calibrated the slide scale with the weight set to 0 and gave it a good 10-15 minutes to level. As I was loading I was measuring every 2nd or 3rd charge with both scales. What I was noticing was that when I would transfer the powder from the slide scale to the digital there was a variance of anywhere from 2 to 5gr. To be safe, I re calibrated both and I was getting the same issue. I calibrated the digital scale another time and weighed a few projectiles and it was right on the money. In the end I opted to use just the digital scale.

I'm new to reloading so until I get the hang of things more I want to be 1000% for sure that I am not over charging a round. So I'm good for measuring using both scales, so to me that isn't an issue. My garage was built probably in the 40's but when I built my work bench last month it was setup to not be supported from the floor. The support for the table is in a triangle ranging from the outer edge, down to where the floor meets the wall.

Who else here uses slide scales or both?
 
I didn't have the patience or a supple enough back to hunch over the scale and individually add granules of powder to the safety scale while it swings up and down.

Got me a RCBS RangeMaster 750 and never looked back.
 
For some reason my lee scale seems to be loosing its zero all the time which is a bummer cause its more responsive then the digital scale when using the trickler Does anyone know how to fix that?
 
I have used an Ohaus 5-0-5 scale ( smae as RCBS scale) for 30+ years for reloading and electronic scales at work and due to its robust nature and repeatability I prefer the manual scale for reloading. Your Lee scale may have dirty or fouled fulcrum point that could cause inconsistent measures but as mentioned above the reputation of the Lee scale is not great though I must add I have never used one so I cannot definitively say they are flawed.
 
For some reason my lee scale seems to be loosing its zero all the time which is a bummer cause its more responsive then the digital scale when using the trickler Does anyone know how to fix that?
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Save yourself a lot of aggravation, and invest in a different scale.
 
klink1983 said:
I was out in the garage this morning loading some rounds, and for redundancy I wanted to measure each load by both scales that I have. I have a Lee safety measure and my digital scale is a Hornady GS 1500. I took my time and calibrated the slide scale with the weight set to 0 and gave it a good 10-15 minutes to level. As I was loading I was measuring every 2nd or 3rd charge with both scales. What I was noticing was that when I would transfer the powder from the slide scale to the digital there was a variance of anywhere from 2 to 5gr. To be safe, I re calibrated both and I was getting the same issue. I calibrated the digital scale another time and weighed a few projectiles and it was right on the money. In the end I opted to use just the digital scale.

I'm new to reloading so until I get the hang of things more I want to be 1000% for sure that I am not over charging a round. So I'm good for measuring using both scales, so to me that isn't an issue. My garage was built probably in the 40's but when I built my work bench last month it was setup to not be supported from the floor. The support for the table is in a triangle ranging from the outer edge, down to where the floor meets the wall.

Who else here uses slide scales or both?
Click to expand...

It's funny you mention comparing scales because I did the exact same thing a week or so ago. Being a newb reloader I weighed a bunch of my powder charges on both a rcbs 5-0-5 and a Hornady GS. What I found was that I was + or minus .1 of a grain with many charges being bang on the same. If I had any complaint it was that sometimes the zero of the GS 1500 would drift Not sure if it was temperature change or me breathing on it or what but I would occasionally have to re-zero the digital scale. Oh and if I took to long the digital scale would turn itself off which of course would require turning back on, re-zeroing etc The rcbs was always ready to go. :)
In the end I feel pretty confident with either. I also found I could be pretty darn consistent using lee scoops and verifying on the scale. It was likely the slowest 40 rounds ever reloaded...lol
 
I started with a Lee scale.
It lasted no less than five minutes here.
Junk is junk and that Lee scale fits the junk criteria to a T.
I have an Ohaus 5-0-5 and it works wonderfully.
 
I have an Lyman D-5 beam scale (made by Ohaus) that I use for reloading. I also have a digital scale that I use to measure my coffee when I brew a pot..... Seriously....

I have heard / read about lots of guys that use a digital scale for reloading, but you have to watch out for a few things (in no particular order): dead batteries, shifiting / drifting zero, inadequate sensitivity....
But then again , I have heard of guys spending $$$ on a digital scale (lab grade) that takes care of all of these issues except one....

I guess the bottom line is: how much convenience do you want to pay for?
 
hunter5425 said:
I have used an Ohaus 5-0-5 scale ( smae as RCBS scale) for 30+ years for reloading and electronic scales at work and due to its robust nature and repeatability I prefer the manual scale for reloading. Your Lee scale may have dirty or fouled fulcrum point that could cause inconsistent measures but as mentioned above the reputation of the Lee scale is not great though I must add I have never used one so I cannot definitively say they are flawed.
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What hunter said.
I have the RCBS 505 and find it very repeatable.
Electronic scales that are affordable seem to lose their zero very quickly
 
OldDude said:
I have an Lyman D-5 beam scale (made by Ohaus) that I use for reloading. I also have a digital scale that I use to measure my coffee when I brew a pot..... Seriously....
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Hahaha that's funny i do the same to measure my espresso shots works like a charm
 
Have both of those scales also. And both sit and collect dust. That digital scale is crap, won't hold zero. I now have a dillon d-terminator that won't hold zero either so I got myself a rcbs 10-10. Bingo!! Perfect for my needs. Works great. I load target loads so precision ammo is a must. Bought it on EE for 90 bucks.

I won't go digital again.

Side note fluorescent light make you scale jump all over why I have no clue

Good luck
 
Bottom line,, a balance beam scale, a good powder measure and a trickler, from one of the standard (lifetime warranty) manufacturers, will give you accuracy when you need it, speed when you need it, not break the bank, and put you in the game. IMHO these are the gold standard of powder handling.
 
I use a Dillon manual that was tested with multiple certified weights and it was dead on down to .1 grains.
 
bigi said:
I use a Dillon manual that was tested with multiple certified weights and it was dead on down to .1 grains.
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Yep, that's what I would expect from any BB scale of that quality. For the sake of argument, I'll suggest that even if for some reason your BB scale were empirically off by a 10th or so it wouldn't matter. Its the consistent repeatability that really matters and working BB scales are ultimately reliable in this regard. If you work up a load for your rifle with a specific scale and can consistently produce that load time and again with that scale, does it matter if the 61.2 gr you think you're using is in actual fact 61.1 ?
 
I use the RCBS Chargemaster, and I used a different RCBS digital scale before that, and I have had no issues at all with an inconsistent zero, or with charge to charge consistency.
 
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