Powder scale (stay with beam or upgrade)

[TXCOONDOG]

I'm currently using a Hornady beam scale but was considering buying a digital scale.

Stay with what I'm using or upgrade to a digital scale. If upgrade to digital which one is accurate and more important, consistent ?

[The_Shadow]

The digitals are very nice for finding unknown weights really quickly, Just check on the various differences.
My Frankford Arsenal only shows even numbered tenths on the grain scale, 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 it not a bad thing as it is just a few kernels.  They due tend to drift and require constant rezeroing...so getting to understand any scale and how it works and any shortcomings is key to working with them.  I prefer my balance beam for loading ammo, but will check with the digital to make sure each are in agreement! 

[sqlbullet]

Beam scale for powder in my book.  Digital for finding weight of an object that isn't known.  Wade nailed it.

[cwall64]

I am still using my old Ohaus 10-0-5 from many years ago, but I recently bought a RCBS ChargeMaster Duo and love it.  Like was said earlier, I always calibrate it when I start using and if a long session I normally calibrate halfway through (I might be being anal on that)...  It is rather expensive, but for measuring out and weighing each charge (aka 800X) I feel comfortable that it is reasonably close.  I do not know if I would just buy the scale or not, but the combination of the powder drop and scale is great.  I do still verify every 10th or 20th against the Ohaus.

[Hermit]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/142513/lyman-micro-touch-electronic-powder-scale-1500-grain-capacity-110-volt?cm_vc=ProductFinding

its what i have been using...always corded and fire it up 10-15 mins before use and check zero at start of the session and somewhere in between

[reransom]

You may want to look outside the shooting industry for your Balance.
I am a trained and working chemist and have been using digital balances for 35 years.

Because a unit is digital is not a guaranty it is accurate or precise but a quality unit will be both.
You are looking for both.

Read the specification on the units your interested in and also read the ratings from purchasers.
There are many quality balances that are selectable between grains, grams, ounces and pounds.

A self calibrating unit would be a good option in you can afford it. Calibration is something many, many people forget about.
You can check the calibration on any balance. If a balance isn't self calibrating it can be a chore to calibrate.
Don't get me wrong about self calibration.
You still have to go though the steps but everything is internal to the unit and you need do little more than push a button or move a lever and then the unit will calibrate.

These are the three things you want:
Accuracy

Calibration

Precision

ACP can mean more than Automatic Colt Pistol

If you are trying to make accurate loads you want a unit that reads at least to 2 decimal places and not every other single digit.
You have to have accuracy but you can't share your data in good faith without precision.
If you share your data the recipient also has to be both accuracy and precision.

Your unit needs to be in calibrations and the person your share your data with has to also be in calibration.

If I can help with any questions please feel free to ask.

Calling my mobile is best.

Randy

PS - If you aren't sure about the difference between a balance and a scale find out before you make a purchase.
You want a balance not a scale but many use the words interchangeably.

[TXCOONDOG]

I ended up ordering a tuned Redding balance beam from Scott Parker.

Life time warranty and supposed to be tuned to read one kernal at a time and should settle quickly.

Everyone that I talked with says great things so I geuss I will find out.

PS: So much for going digital.......a high end digital balance was more than I wanted to pay

[reransom]

I ended up ordering a tuned Redding balance beam from Scott Parker.

Life time warranty and supposed to be tuned to read one kernal at a time and should settle quickly.

Everyone that I talked with says great things so I guess I will find out.

PS: So much for going digital.......a high end digital balance was more than I wanted to pay

Analytical balances can be expensive but there is a large used market for lab equipment. Big companies replace old equipment just to get new features. A used balance may only be a year or two old and can be bought for 10 cents to 20 cents on the dollar.
You just need to keep checking.

I picked up a used Melter (top of the line brand) that read to .001 grams or .01 grains for about $ 75.00 a repair part cost me $6.00
(broken glass door). If I had bought it new it would have been $900.00+.

Remember you want a balance not a scale. A balance has a fulcrum a scale has a spring.
A unit that work by using a load cell is considered a balance.

There are so many advantages to digital that you don't realize you missed out on until yo make the switch.

Respectfully
Randy

[TXCOONDOG]

I ended up ordering a tuned Redding balance beam from Scott Parker.

Life time warranty and supposed to be tuned to read one kernal at a time and should settle quickly.

Everyone that I talked with says great things so I guess I will find out.

PS: So much for going digital.......a high end digital balance was more than I wanted to pay

Analytical balances can be expensive but there is a large used market for lab equipment. Big companies replace old equipment just to get new features. A used balance may only be a year or two old and can be bought for 10 cents to 20 cents on the dollar.
You just need to keep checking.

I picked up a used Melter (top of the line brand) that read to .001 grams or .01 grains for about $ 75.00 a repair part cost me $6.00
(broken glass door). If I had bought it new it would have been $900.00+.

Remember you want a balance not a scale. A balance has a fulcrum a scale has a spring.
A unit that work by using a load cell is considered a balance.

There are so many advantages to digital that you don't realize you missed out on until yo make the switch.

Respectfully
Randy

I'm just a dumb country boy that likes to shoot so I appreciate the information.

[Pinsnscrews]

To make it easier to read my balance beam scale, I set my ipad up so the camera lines up with the pointer, then Zoom in so I get a nice big image.

[gandog56]

For me a digital is just so much easier to use. Just dump it and weigh it. Works well with a trickler, too.

[RJPDVM]

I use my Dillon for nearly everything, its fast and accurate(within reason-0.1 grain) and consistent. As has been mentioned for weighing unknowns, like sorting brass its the only weigh. I use the Ohaus to check and verify.  The balance can differentiate between  kernels of Varget while the electronic takes 3 or 4 to change readings. This means the only way to be consistent with weights is to approach from below at a kernel at atime until the next higher tenth registers.

[tommac919]

When doing normal target/plunking ammo I run with the digital scale... it's quick and close enough since I not running more than mid loads.

Upper end loads ALWAYS get the balance scale as a second check. They are all hand checked.

[gandog56]

When the digital scale accuracy is +/- 0.1 grain, and so is the balance beam's, why bother?

[DenStinett]

As others have said;
Digitals are great for a chick check, but I still use my old RCBS 10-10 when it really counts