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[Cecil S.]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Old bastards like me are dying all the time, and their stuff is being sold at gun-shows for half price. I got this 10-10 of mine with a package of stuff - a Rock Chuck Press, Uniflow powder measure, 10-10 scale, auto primer feed, and powder trickle -- all for $150.

That deal was smokin, but I'm always seeing good ones pretty comparable. jd

Someone will get my stuff for a steal and I have alot!

 

[nettle]

I used a 10-10 for decades and when we moved the movers destroyed it. I tried a couple of other beam scales and never really cared for them. About 3 years ago I found a nice used 10-10 and like jds holler says "why did I wait so long".

 

[762plinker]

For loading 30-30 and 30 carbine, a low cost digital scale will work fine. My friend has the little Lyman digital scale and it's just as accurate as the one on my Chargemaster.

both are 0.1 but the chargemaster can id less, the lyman is a step function and just aint the samePERIOD

 

[6Creed73]

I used a 10-10 for decades and when we moved the movers destroyed it. I tried a couple of other beam scales and never really cared for them. About 3 years ago I found a nice used 10-10 and like jds holler says "why did I wait so long".

I'd put the 10-10 at the top of the list for beam scales, not sure why they discontinued it. Mine got broken awhile ago and I picked up the Hornady magnetic dampening beam to replace it. it's pretty good too, not as good as the 10-10, but works for how I use a beam scale. Which is pretty much to check it against my digital scale.

I've thought about finding a used 10-10, but just can't justify it. If I was only using a beam scale to load then I'd find a 10-10...no discussion.

 

[nettle]

For pistol my Dillon 550C works just fine. I still prefer to relaod rifle the old fashioned way with a trickler and a beam scale.

 

[nettle]

Pic of my 10-10:

 

[South Paw Sammy]

You can get a good 10-10 some south of a $100.00 average I’d say $125.00 for a good American made one. And a good 5-10 for around $65.00. Both are great scales. Also a good Oahus 505 in the $90.00 range. They all show up on here from time to time.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Someone will get my stuff for a steal and I have alot!

It will probably happen to 75 % of us here.
But on the other hand I bet 95% of those have made sure what they have spent, did not cause a financial burden for their family.

 

[Davidheart]

Stay away from a cheap digital scale. I learned my lesson years ago and wish I did sooner. Purchase a decent beam scale and if possible put weight in the base of the scale to make it a little heavier. It'll serve him for life.

Had a Hornady digital scale once upon a time. It began throwing fluctuating numbers. I called Hornady after owning it a couple years and they swapped it out. Another year goes by and that scale did the same thing. I didn't realize the scale was off and I was shooting IDPA/IPSC at the time. I show up to a match but 80% of my loads were hotter than they should be, and granted the fluctuations were only 0.2-0.4gr, but it was enough to cause a dangerous situation. I ended up pulling myself from the match to inspect my ammo. When I called Hornady again they told me they completely discontinued that scale for that very reason.

A beginner shouldn't use a *cheap* digital scale.

Nobody should use a *cheap* digital scale.

It's not just about group size. Personally I want to keep my hands for the rest of my life and I do not desire high medical bills to pay for an accident.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Check weights are a must for cheap digital scales.
Calibrating @ 50 GRAMS is ridiculous for a pistol charge from 3 GRAINS to 10 GRAINS.
Full scale calibration is usually pretty stable, even with cheap scales. It's the low end performance that will be in question.
Using a cheap digital with 0.1 Grain resolution is asking for trouble at light charges.
Milligram scales are common now (a milligram = 0.0154 grains).
For pistol loads I would look into a good milligram check weight. 500mg (7.716 grains)
Stay away from Chinese cheap weights.
. A stainless steel weight from a reputable scale/weight manufacturer is cheaper than a new hand
A complete set will be quite expensive, but a few really good cal weights in addition to the cal weights supplied with a scale can help.

Here's a 5 gram, 2 gram, 1 gram, 500mg ASTM Class 1 weights. Several combinations closer to actual charge weights can be used to check scales. Class 1 weights might be overkill for reloading. Review class tolerances to pick the best cost to accuracy for your needs.

 

[NorCalMikie]

RCBS 505. If you end up NOT going full bore with the reloading thing over time (which happens quite often) you don't have that much invested.
If you REALLY get into it, you may be sorry you ever started.
You don't need to go new. LOTS of stuff on Ebay that can be had at a pretty good starting price. LOTS of ammo from starter to expert has been loaded with RCBS gear. Same with Lee but I prefer RCBS.

 

[TrapperBR549]

Ebay has a pile of beam scales. I'd take a 502 over a 505. There are usually some version of the 510 or 1010 whether RCBS, Lyman, or Ohaus.

 

[Flouncer]

Get the best you can afford is always your best bet. Otherwise your sure to spend more than one time
if you get my drift....pun there on the drift.

Soft No. The Lee beam is more accurate than him. By no I mean he could use the $100 wasted on "best" for powder, a reloading manual and boxes of bullets. Or, sadly, a single box of primers. I posted a video here years ago of a Lee Scale deflecting with a single grain of 4831, and resetting to zero perfectly. I have my scale from 1996.

"fussing with a Lee scale" ?? If you cant hack that, if that raises your blood pressure you are in the wrong sport. A SIMPLE beam scale like the Lee is and I quote " like a glass mercury thermometer, if it isn't broke you know its working correctly" Key word in this topic is "beginner" not benchrest competitor.

 

[dgeesaman]

CM 1500 he will thank you later. Tomy Mc

Yeah when I got started a Chargemaster was my splurge item.

It, along with everything other than my press, eventually got replaced/upgraded. But the Chargemaster is still on my shelf as a legitimate backup.

 

[South Paw Sammy]

Look in the classifieds. They have a 10-10 for sale right now. That would be a good one for him.

 

[Cecil S.]

Back in the day when i started out I used this Form and E-bay so 90% of my stuff is used.....but in good shape. as a newbie to reloading E-bay is great but you must shop around.

 

[coldboreshot]

Every beginner should start with a good beam scale to develope the appreciation and nuances of precision reloading, then later venture on to a good digital scale for higher volume loading if that may become required. Something like a 10-10 to start and then the new digital scale from Creedmoor. I here it is pretty nice.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Key word in this topic is "beginner" not benchrest competitor.

And we ALL had to start somewhere. What works for ME may not work for someone else. You WILL find out in time.

 

[Fast14riot]

NOT A BASIC DIGITAL...they are pure krapp. stick with a mag dampened beam to start with

Dunno, a $24 digital milligram scale gets me HM scores.

Smartweigh Gem20 on Amazon. It has been discussed and evaluated a bunch on here. Been using it for several years now.

 

[762plinker]

Dunno, a $24 digital milligram scale gets me HM scores.

Smartweigh Gem20 on Amazon. It has been discussed and evaluated a bunch on here. Been using it for several years now.

the difference is the area of your 10 ring is SEVEN times that of a 1k br 10 ring.
again start with thing you can control. a beam is much better than any basic entry level electronic