Powder scale to Electronic ???

[smokemjoe]

Weighting out Bulleye powder in my Lee 1000 dish No.40
By RCBS powder scale it come out to 4.6 grs. evertime,
Then by RCBS Electronic scale , The same powder, it come out to 3.7 grs.
Which one is correct and which one to go by, Thanks- Joe

[dragonrider]

Just me but I will not use an electronic scale for weighing powder, excellent for weighing boolits and such but I don't trust them for powder. Use your beam scale. You need some scale check weights, should have got some with you electronic scale, if so use them to check you beam scale.

[GRUMPA]

I'll pretty much go with what dragonrider has to say along with another point. I did a massive search on the very same thing you encountered, and the beam scale always won the toss.

[Walt]

"Electronics" need to be calibrated, balance beams too. Personally, since getting an electronic scale a couple of years ago in a big trade I won't be with out one. I use mine for weighing everything that takes extra time on a balance beam. Bullets, cases, multiple/combined powder charges, etc. etc. I need both to be happy.

[Arlin]

I have had two different electronic scales, a RCBS and currently a Dillon. The first gave me problems since purchase and is sitting in a drawer some where. Been using the Dillon for 15 years with no problems. Consider buying the dillon and be sure to use check weights on yours.

[bbq223]

I got a cheap 30$ on on Midway stays right with my tried & true RCBS 5-10 scale.

[Longwood]

I was using an electronic scale yesterday that would give a reading when I passed an emptyh Red Solo cup over it.
The closer the cup, the higher the reading.
I can get it to read 1.6 gr.
I wont be using anything plastic to weigh with.

[rollmyown]

I trust a good balance beam 100%. Electronic not so much. Then there are batteries to worry about.

3.7 and 4.6 ?? Wow I hope thats not a max load in a 9mm!

[1hole]

Those (few) who get a 'good' digital seem to love 'em, those who get typical digitals don't. Electronics are quirky and WILL fail, it's just a matter of time. Mechanical scales will maintain both accuracy and sensitivity and will last forever if they are kept clean and not abused.

I was a precision instrument tech in the space program; there are no digital gimmics on my bench.

[John Boy]

I have 3 cheap NEVA digital scales because they don't make this brand anymore which are consistently accurate to 0.1/0.2grs. I have made comparisons of powder charges from the NEVA to the Lyman beam balance many times with different powders and both weights have been in agreement.

The strain gauge is the heart of a digital scale. A trick that I use to preclude humidity from effecting the accuracy readings from the digital scales is to tape a desiccant under the cover and keep it there when not in use

[Sasquatch-1]

Weighting out Bulleye powder in my Lee 1000 dish No.40
By RCBS powder scale it come out to 4.6 grs. evertime,
Then by RCBS Electronic scale , The same powder, it come out to 3.7 grs.
Which one is correct and which one to go by, Thanks- Joe

See if you have a jeweler in town that has a set of calibrating weights that will test it for you.

I have a cheapy I got from Harbor freight that I use to check the final weight on swaged bullets. It is only accurate to within two grains.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Just me but I will not use an electronic scale for weighing powder, excellent for weighing boolits and such but I don't trust them for powder. Use your beam scale. You need some scale check weights, should have got some with you electronic scale, if so use them to check you beam scale.

I agree with Dragonrider, check them both with known check weights. If you don't own a set, RCBS makes an excellent set of calibration weights. I wouldn't be without them.

I'm also with 1hole on using mechanical scales. I was an Electronics Technician and then a Technical Support Engineer for a 26 year career. I own two scales: An RCBS 10.10 and a Redding #2. I use an RCBS set of check weights to check them. I have no interest in buying an electronic scale. They can't sell a quality electronic scale for a price you can afford.

[Texantothecore]

Electronic scales also change over time as their components age. I just use Lee Dippers after having learned how to accurately use them by checking the weight on a beam scale.

[rocice]

I only have an electronic scale, http://www.rightonscales.com/web/ibal101.htm. I check it with Lyman check weights before every use and at least one time during reloading, http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/scales-measures/scale-weight-check-sets.php. I feel a check weight set is mandatory when using an electronic scale.

[thehouseproduct]

See if you have a jeweler in town that has a set of calibrating weights that will test it for you.

I have a cheapy I got from Harbor freight that I use to check the final weight on swaged bullets. It is only accurate to within two grains.
I agree with this. I wouldn't make this an issue of mechanical versus electronics, get a verified weight and see which is correct. Maybe something is bent on the mechanical scale. The check weight can't lie.

[pdawg_shooter]

I have had a Pact electronic for years and it is all I use. Reads right with my Reading beam scale AND my check weights. I let warm up for 10 minutes and calibrate before each use.

[Maven]

I have had a Pact electronic for years and it is all I use. Reads right with my Reading beam scale AND my check weights. I let warm up for 10 minutes and calibrate before each use.

Ditto for my PACT. Joe, maybe you need to recalibrate your scale and/or get in touch with RCBS or PACT as I think PACT made their electronic scales.

[largom]

Just me but I will not use an electronic scale for weighing powder, excellent for weighing boolits and such but I don't trust them for powder. Use your beam scale. You need some scale check weights, should have got some with you electronic scale, if so use them to check you beam scale.


+1 on dragonrider. I own two digital scales, a Pact and a Dillon. The Pact is problematic but the Dillon has never given me a single problem. I use the Dillon for weighing boolits and cases. When I weigh powder, and I weigh every charge, I always use my 5-0-5 balance scale.

Larry

[gwpercle]

Electronic scales also change over time as their components age. I just use Lee Dippers after having learned how to accurately use them by checking the weight on a beam scale.

And I thought I was the only person that still used a balance beam scale and powder dippers to charge cases with. I have a RCBS model 5-0-5 that is accurate and a pleasure to use.

I've been told by more than one person electronics were not as accurate as balance beam, but my main reason is the battery situation.... they always seem to need a new one at the most inconvient time and I can never find that spare I could have sworn I had for just such an emergency ! Balance beam = no battery.

I don't know why but most people assume anything electronic is better...not always. Ive got a 1968 chevelle that is totaly unelectronic and its going to stay that way ...it's never died or left me stranded in 36 years of driving and I don't need a computer to adjust , tune or repair her...but I'm getting off topic

I vote balance beam scale for powder weighing......gary

[mooman76]

I took my balance beam and made some check weights for my electronic scale so I could check it each time I set it up. I just took a couple different size pieces of old brass, weighted them and wrote the weight on them with a sharpie.

[Sasquatch-1]

The only electronic scale I have is a cheapy I way swaged bullets with. The thing is, ballance beam scales are not perfect either. I find that every so often I have to clean the pivot point on mine to get dust out or I will not get a good reading. Also When I set mine up in my current house I actually had to remove some of the shot from the inside of the pan to get it to tare properly. That being said I will continue to weigh powder charges on the beam scale.

[Hardcast416taylor]

At the present time I have 5 different powder scales in the loading room. I have 2 old Redding #1 scales, and a RCBS 5-10 as my beam scales. I have a Dillion electronic scale and a newer Hornady dispenser/scale. The Dillion is about 10 yrs. old, it seems to weigh heavier after 30 gr. is in the pan. The Hornady doesn`t dispense powder the same 2 charges in a row, always over dispensed. The old 5-10 seems to get used the most often. Yes, I still have my check weights I had from back in college all those many years ago for chemistry classes that I check the scales accuracy with using tweezers to move the weights with.Robert

[87Theworld]

Check weight and recalibrate the scale. I have to recalibrate my Dillion after weighing powder a few times. I noticed if electronics are on that also messes with my scale.

[uscra112]

My two attempts at electronic scales left me cold. Neither one would hold zero for more than a minute. I still use one for sorting .22 ammo, and I hit the "zero" button just before I put the cartridge on the platen, every time. This is a PITA, but still quicker than using a beam scale for that chore. No, I did not / do not have, (nor can I afford), a $200 scale, so maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but there it is. My reloading rhythm is not hindered by the settling time of a beam, because I'm seating a bullet in the last case charged while the present charge is weighing. No battery to go flat, no warmup time, no worries.

[Mal Paso]

I always wondered how accurate my RCBS 505 (by Ohaus) was so I bought a set of check weights.

The 505 said the check weights were right on. Pretty amazing for something with bits of metal and notches to detect 1/50 of a grain.