Help with New Scale

[PBking51]

Good afternoon everyone, I have just about had it with my balance scale and want to look into a digital option. I started out reloading using a cheaper pocket scale to verify small charges for pistols from my thrower. I hated the fact that I had to turn it on, let it warm up, turn it off, and calibrate every time. Soon after I was given a Lyman/Ohaus M5 that worked well and for standard hunting loads under 60 grains it worked beautifully. As I got more into target shooting I had borrowed a Dillon from my father who was a lot more dedicated to LR shooting than me, but I found similar issues as my pocket scale which I attributed to the significantly more electronics around and wiring in the room where I reloaded. I figured I was destined to use a balance forever.

I picked up an omega trickler (which I love) and am now debating on picking up a new scale, as I had a new in box RCBS balance that cannot seem to get on the same page as the Lyman for accuracy. I always tossed around the idea of a chargemaster, but only off of what locals recommended. I just found this site, when looking for a place to offload some of my stuff as I downsize...and I see a genuine wealth of knowledge that I'd like a piece of

Is there a tried and true simple electronic scale that the community here uses? I will be using for strictly hunting loads again as I have a lot less time than I did 4 years ago for super LR work. I am in "sell mode" so its hard for me to justify 250-350 on a charge master, I would just like to get close from my Harrell's thrower and trickle up to the appropriate load. Can this be done for under $200? under $100?

 

[R.Morehouse]

Cheap electronic scales can be a bit crazy-making with drift. There is a way to make your balance a bit more user-friendly. Get a cheap webcam and aim it at your balance pointer and run it through a laptop or similar and it blows up your pointer making it really easy to deal with. If you have already have the laptop your total investment will be around $25. bucks.

Regards
Rick

 

[Fast14riot]

A simple addition to your beam scale is either a web cam and tablet with magnifying app, or an old smart phone with magnifying app, pointed at the beam pointer. This eliminates any parallax from not being in the exact same position every time, also can allow you to see one or two kernels of powder added. Tuning up the balance beam by checking the knife edges and saddles for nicks or debris, gluing a needle to the pointer (and rebalancing the beam), replacing the magnets with stronger NIB magnets to reduce hysteresis, and some people place a magnet under the pan to stop swinging as well.

 

[Fast14riot]

Also, check out this recent thread...

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/remarkable-little-scale.3985753/

 

[Straightshooter1]

+1 on using a balance beam scale with a web cam to view on a lap top or tablet. I do this with an old web cam up close where I can see the difference of just one kernel. In doing this, I get very accurate and consistent loads. A smart phone with a magnifying app can work just as well once you've got a way to mount the phone in the right place.

 

[PBking51]

I would like to have a plug in (AC) style scale. I think that's an excellent idea about the camera pointing at the scale to eliminate parallax but my qualm right now is it seams like the foot on the balance always needs adjustment even though it's in the same spot.

Does anyone here have any experience with the charge master or the one frankford? I don't need a satorius by any means. Just looking for something with a good simple operation and track record.

 

[JFrank]

Good afternoon everyone, I have just about had it with my balance scale and want to look into a digital option. I started out reloading using a cheaper pocket scale to verify small charges for pistols from my thrower. I hated the fact that I had to turn it on, let it warm up, turn it off, and calibrate every time. Soon after I was given a Lyman/Ohaus M5 that worked well and for standard hunting loads under 60 grains it worked beautifully. As I got more into target shooting I had borrowed a Dillon from my father who was a lot more dedicated to LR shooting than me, but I found similar issues as my pocket scale which I attributed to the significantly more electronics around and wiring in the room where I reloaded. I figured I was destined to use a balance forever.

I picked up an omega trickler (which I love) and am now debating on picking up a new scale, as I had a new in box RCBS balance that cannot seem to get on the same page as the Lyman for accuracy. I always tossed around the idea of a chargemaster, but only off of what locals recommended. I just found this site, when looking for a place to offload some of my stuff as I downsize...and I see a genuine wealth of knowledge that I'd like a piece of

Is there a tried and true simple electronic scale that the community here uses? I will be using for strictly hunting loads again as I have a lot less time than I did 4 years ago for super LR work. I am in "sell mode" so its hard for me to justify 250-350 on a charge master, I would just like to get close from my Harrell's thrower and trickle up to the appropriate load. Can this be done for under $200? under $100?

Ya wanna sell that M-5

 

[PBking51]

I just want it working flawless again, haha

 

[JFrank]

I would like to have a plug in (AC) style scale. I think that's an excellent idea about the camera pointing at the scale to eliminate parallax but my qualm right now is it seams like the foot on the balance always needs adjustment even though it's in the same spot.

Does anyone here have any experience with the charge master or the one frankford? I don't need a satorius by any means. Just looking for something with a good simple operation and track record.

I just want it working flawless again, haha

tune it up a bit

 

[mjl650]

I made a phone holder out of an older style pants only clothes hanger with clips that was in my metal recycling container. I measured how high the camera lens had to be off the bench then bent and cut the hanger accordingly. The phone is held secure with a rubber band on top. Works like a charm.

 

[Texas10]

Also, check out this recent thread...

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/remarkable-little-scale.3985753/

Bought one of those. Works great! First thing I found was my beam scale was toast. This little scale does drift a bit but it's easy to work with. I place the pan on the scale and turn it on. When it's ready and reading zero with the pan on, I trickle in the powder and charge a case. Then set it aside and use it as a standard. Every 10 or so loads I turn the scale off and on again, then dump the powder in the standard cartridge back in the pan checking for any error or drift.

Doing this keeps it within a few hundredths of a grain.

 

[Fast14riot]

^^^ also this. They say the man with two watches is never really sure of the time....

 

[Mikemci]

Clean your scales knife edges and agates and rub a pencil point against your knife edges, to deposit some graphite on them. Make sure your pan hanger swivels freely. I bet it'll be it's old accurate self again.

 

[Fast14riot]

Bought one of those. Works great! First thing I found was my bean scale was toast. This little scale does drift a bit but it's easy to work with. I place the pan on the scale and turn it on. When it's ready and reading zero with the pan on, I trickle in the powder and charge a case. Then set it aside and use it as a standard. Every 10 or so loads I turn the scale off and on again, then dump the powder in the standard cartridge back in the pan checking for any error or drift.

Doing this keeps it within a few hundredths of a grain.

I bought one when the original referenced thread was posted, over been incredibly happy with it. I tend to notice drift when the tare weight or zero is off just a little, I will put that case aside, recalibrate, then reweigh that charge. I do not have any fluorescent lights or other radio emitting sources on the entire level of the house. It drifts maybe every couple hundred for me. Great little scale.

I compare it to my tuned Redding T1, typically they match.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I just got the Grizzly Bald Eagle scale. For a few pennies less than $70 to my door, I sure believe it’s going to be alright for a economic scale that measures to the hundredths. It’s going to be the typical digital though, zero pan often and jiggle or lift pan up and then back down after trickling.
My plan is to throw close on my Uniflow, trickle up on the bald eagle then quick re-check on my Lyman 1500 digital. That’s what I have been doing with my beam scale and 1500, just wanting to eliminate the beam scale. Im tired of bumping it with my hands, plus the eye and neck strain.

 

[hoz53]

Good afternoon everyone, I have just about had it with my balance scale and want to look into a digital option. I started out reloading using a cheaper pocket scale to verify small charges for pistols from my thrower. I hated the fact that I had to turn it on, let it warm up, turn it off, and calibrate every time. Soon after I was given a Lyman/Ohaus M5 that worked well and for standard hunting loads under 60 grains it worked beautifully. As I got more into target shooting I had borrowed a Dillon from my father who was a lot more dedicated to LR shooting than me, but I found similar issues as my pocket scale which I attributed to the significantly more electronics around and wiring in the room where I reloaded. I figured I was destined to use a balance forever.

I picked up an omega trickler (which I love) and am now debating on picking up a new scale, as I had a new in box RCBS balance that cannot seem to get on the same page as the Lyman for accuracy. I always tossed around the idea of a chargemaster, but only off of what locals recommended. I just found this site, when looking for a place to offload some of my stuff as I downsize...and I see a genuine wealth of knowledge that I'd like a piece of

Is there a tried and true simple electronic scale that the community here uses? I will be using for strictly hunting loads again as I have a lot less time than I did 4 years ago for super LR work. I am in "sell mode" so its hard for me to justify 250-350 on a charge master, I would just like to get close from my Harrell's thrower and trickle up to the appropriate load. Can this be done for under $200? under $100?

the tried and true electronic many use is the A&D FX-120--- last i knew around 500.00 . if serious shooters could get a cheaper electronic scale than this to do the same job they would. Boyd Allen has reported on some lessor priced electronics he has had good luck with. you could do a search for those threads. But basically if you want to go cheaper than an fx 120 for an electronic you pay ur money and take your chances.

really for hunting a good beam scale is plenty accurate. i once fastened one of my beam scale down to the table so it didnt move and the adjusting foot didnt move. you could also just put a nut on the adjusting bolt.

what happened to your M5?

 

[hoz53]

Bought one of those. Works great! First thing I found was my bean scale was toast. This little scale does drift a bit but it's easy to work with. I place the pan on the scale and turn it on. When it's ready and reading zero with the pan on, I trickle in the powder and charge a case. Then set it aside and use it as a standard. Every 10 or so loads I turn the scale off and on again, then dump the powder in the standard cartridge back in the pan checking for any error or drift.

Doing this keeps it within a few hundredths of a grain.

i got a bean scale in the kitchen to

 

[Rsadams]

Look up Boyd Allen threads on tuning your balance beam , it's fairly straightforward.... There's no reason it shouldn't work perfectly but they do need maintenance and tuning.... As far as scales until you get to about $300+ in digital they all act about the same... A good digital is great but your balance beam scale should be able to be returned to perfect.... Having both is great to check one against the other.... With the digital I have gotten best results if you leave it on all the time and if not give it ALONG time to warm up basically.....