I am interested in what current brands and models are popular. I inherited a Lee safety powder scale. I learned its advertised accuracy is +/- 1/20 gn. I see others like RCBS 505 is 1/10 gn. I have found the Lee scale difficult to use. Bottom line, I'm in the market for an accurate, reliable, durable beam scale. I will get a set of check weights.
Beam Scales
- Thread starter Odyssey
- Start date
CaptainMal
Silver $$ Contributor
Find an old Lyman M5 on Ebay or even here. They work. You can even pay extra to have them tuned but not necessary for most hunting and general shooting.
I actually had four but recently sold one to a local fellow. Use them for my hunting guns instead of the four digital things I also have. All you really need and simple to use.
I actually had four but recently sold one to a local fellow. Use them for my hunting guns instead of the four digital things I also have. All you really need and simple to use.
R.Morehouse
Gold $$ Contributor
Curious what you find difficult to use with the Lee?
I am working with small pistol charges. 1.0gn - 3.6gn typical. A 1/20gn accuracy is significant at the lighter charges. The scale takes a long time to settle. My biggest frustration is it being easy to bump the set weight when removing and replacing the pan. If it was only for periodic use, not a big deal. When weighing every charge it's a PITA. I saw YouTube videos of other scales where you can lock the setting and/or designs where it was much less likely to accidentally bump the setting when removing and replacing the pan.
R.Morehouse
Gold $$ Contributor
You may be best served with an electronic scale if 1/20g is critical. Just depends on what your budget is as to the quality. My FX-120 set-up would work for you but they aren't for the budget minded. For loading at the range, I generally preload on the FX and put the charges in small glass vials to make it a bit easier and have the charge accuracy of the FX. Best of luck. I have a few Parker tuned beam scales and found for my old eyes I aim a cheap web-cam at the pointer and run it through an old laptop....
Regards
Rick
3Sigma
Silver $$ Contributor
I bought an old M5 (Ohaus) to compliment my RCBS M500 that came with my starter kit. It is much more sensitive and precise, but there are some accuracy concerns (using check weights). I just shifted my setpoints and make sure I use the same scale for the same load. ±.05gr consistency, but that is rounding up or down between hash marks.
Only concerns are it takes a longer time to settle than the M500 and there is a bit of hysteresis between increasing weight and decreasing weight (around .05gr). I'm sure I could tune both out if I wanted, but this amount of variance is low on my pareto curve and likely undetectable with my equipment and skillset.
Only concerns are it takes a longer time to settle than the M500 and there is a bit of hysteresis between increasing weight and decreasing weight (around .05gr). I'm sure I could tune both out if I wanted, but this amount of variance is low on my pareto curve and likely undetectable with my equipment and skillset.
I'm a big fan of old Redding beam scales. I have several from fleabay, and for the price they can't be beat.
Last year I purchased a Lyman Brass Smith beam balance to use in the interim while I got my 40+ year old Ohaus beam balance refurbished. I was pleasantly surprised - the new Lyman holds zero and is well within the advertised + or - 0.1 grain precision within my range of use which is 5.5 to 45 grains. I check with a set of RCBS weights regularly.
I'm so pleased with the new Lyman that I haven't went back to my old beam balance.
I'm so pleased with the new Lyman that I haven't went back to my old beam balance.
The 1010’s on E Bay are going for around $140 ish .. somewhat overrated IMO
Hate to go off topic , but, where would one send an Ohaus 505 to be refurbished? I am currently using a Redding that is great. Got it to replace an RCBS digital that I lost trust in.
I was also happy with my redding until I got my hands on an Ohaus 505 and an RCBS 1010. That dang Redding takes forever to stop bouncing, while the older Ohaus scales settle down really quick. Just my experiences with one Redding. Could be my Redding's magnets have gotten weak.
6MMsteve
Gold $$ Contributor
change out the magnets to some little longer rare earth mags it will stop very quickly..that's what I done to my 5 10 rcbs scale it works fine now stops very quickly
I bought a Redding a few years ago to replace my RCBS 10-10 that I bought new in the 70's.
The Redding works better than it ever did.
The Redding works better than it ever did.
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