Electronic Scales (and dispensers)

[1972]

I'm getting back into shooting again and want to get some GOOD equipment for reloading. I have no scales at this time so will have to get some. In the old days I used the beam balance (such as RCBS 1010) but I see now they have a number of electronic scales and even some combination electronic scales and dispensers. For example the RCBS Chargemaster 1500. I'm not asking anybody to be critical of any products out there, but can some of you serious re-loaders (BR shooters) tell me if any of these combination scales/dispensers REALLY work as well as the manufacturers say they do? Are they as accurate as carefully using a top end beam scale?

Also, is there any one type, model, or brand, that is considered to be the "best"? I see most of the manufacturers make one, but as is usually the case I assume some of them work better than others. Cost is not as much of a concern to me as quality.

Thanks in advance for any opinions or advice.

 

[walker2713]

I've never been a huge fan of RCBS equipment, but I'll say that the RCBS Chargemaster is one of my favorite reloading tools....wouldn't ever want to be without it.

I've got Harrel's and Redding powder dispensers, a 10-10 and Brian Enos electronic scale...but my "go to" piece of tools for weight and powder is the Chargemaster.

Good luck,

George

 

[KT]

I'm not a BR shooter, but I am a F-class guy.

I used to use a beam scale like most other people. I refused to change until I knocked my beam scale off my bench and broke it.

I did some searching and reading and ended up going with the RCBS chargemaster. It works quite well. Especially if you do the straw trick in the end of the spout. It doesn't over charge near as much. It cut my reloading time in half.

I did however just order a Gempro 250 to make my loads even more precise. So I will drop my charge on the RCBS .10 short and then hand trickle to the Gempro because it reads down to .02grains.

Just to try and get them even more precise.

I haven't tried the PAC or Hornady so I can't comment, but I'm happy with the RCBS.

KT

 

[eddywitay]

I use a Harrell's premium Culver measure to throw the charges and a sartorius gd-503 to weigh every charge and a Omega powder tricolor to get it down to single powder kernel accuracy.It it i think the best way to be pretty much perfect but it is probably the most costly way also.that is just what i do

 

[tonedaddy]

I have a Hornady lock & load auto charge, loaded about 2000 rounds with it. No problems. I will never go back to throwing and trickleing charges again! Especially handy for load development.

 

[Scott Harris]

What distance are you shooting BR at? The further you shoot, the more accurate you want to weigh. In other words, you probably want to weigh to the nearest kernel at 1K, but that would be a waste of your time at 100 yards. Here is my experience:

The RCBS Chargemaster is accurate to +-0.10 grains....if you allow it to do a final weigh after the dispense finishes. In other words, wait for a reading after the final beep and if it reads the number you want, then it is accurate to +-.10grains.

The Denver Instruments AY-123 is an excellent scale and can provide +-.05grains so long as you re-zero it as needed: which could be just about every weigh.
The Sartorius GD-503 is a superb scale that weighs to +-.01 grains and does so very quickly with little drift. As mentioned, you don't need this level of accuracy unless you are shooting out to 1K....IMHO. Then again, if you can afford it, it is definitely the best scale of those mentioned.