powder scale gift for new reloader. Is $125 wasted?

[Linko]

I have a relative who is going to start reloading. A powder scale is on his Christmas list.

I have a budget of around $125. Is buying one at that price point a waste. There are Chinese Ohaus balance 10-10's and simple electronice ones like the Dillon 1500 around that price.

His primary loading will be hunting rounds like the .300 Weatherby Magnum.

 

[Falfan2017]

For hunting rounds the little frank ford arsenal scale does everything you need for about 20 bucks.

 

[DngBat7]

I’d look for an 60’s Ohaus m5 or similar. The new China ones are junk. Or may be if some one has a used Scott Parker they will part with on here. Digital- you get what you pay for. I bought cheap digital scales and they drift like crazy. Makes me nervous not knowing how much powder I’m actually loading

 

[dsculley]

There are probably some on here who will disagree, but for the stated use the Lee Safety Scale would be a good choice. Add a rare earth magnet on one side to make the damper work better/faster. You will be surprised how sensitive and repeatable it is.

 

[joshb]

I’d get him a good, older balance beam. O’Haus or similar.

 

[JFrank]

Add some Lee dippers

 

[Linko]

Where can old balance scales like Ohaus be found?

And are the new RCBS M1000 and Redding #2 magnetic 505 balance scales any good?

 

[JFrank]

Actually with that size cartridge a powder charger may be more appropriate, perhaps a Lyman or Hornday, later add a check scale like a NJ made beam

 

[JFrank]

Where can old balance scales like Ohaus be found?

And are the new RCBS and Redding balance scales any good?

Search this forum for Beamers
My 1010 was very reasonable

 

[Ringostar]

A good old balance beam isn’t that hard to find. I got an old Ohaus 10-10 at a gun show for $30. I was in a gun shop a week ago that had lots of used dies. Also on the shelves was an old M5 in excellent shape for $30.

 

[Bc'z]

I have an rcbs range master ll , I'd let go of reasonable. I paid 120 bucks for it a lil over a year ago.
Not the best scale, but it ain't the worst either.
Edit, forgot to mention $60 bucks n its yours

 

[JFrank]

^^ that's a deal

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I would just go ahead and buy the new American made Redding #2 master scale. Brownell’s has it on sale for $83.

 

[JimSC]

I would bet a small sum that every almost load cell based scale uses the same electronics just different capacity load cells and resolution. I have a $20 one that is scary accurate and for two months now gets + or - .004 grams on a test bullet I keep in the box. The .004 is pretty much due to shop temps varying. Over the course of a loading session it won't vary .002. I under the impression that anything less than 500 was a waste of money but that little scale impressed me so much I ordered a Tree KHR 123 which is a few dollars more than you want to spend but just saying get the friend a 125 dollar Amazon or Ebay scale that has resolution to .001 gr or .01 gns and they will be happy

I just took a chance at a 300 match and loaded my rounds with the $20 special and shot a 581 agg and a personal best target with a half minute vertical spread with them. Hard to argue with results

 

[DngBat7]

Check eBay for a older ohaus. Usually have quite a few

 

[jimmymac]

I would just go ahead and buy the new American made Redding #2 master scale. Brownell’s has it on sale for $83.

+1 on this.

That scale will do the job nicely. It may be the first and last scale he ever owns.

We tend to overcomlicate things here. I get that. This is accurate shooter! But for the intended purpose and price point, this scale would be hard to beat.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Where can old balance scales like Ohaus be found?

And are the new RCBS M1000 and Redding #2 magnetic 505 balance scales any good?

I have the new RCBS M1000 and it is an awesome scale, closest thing I found comparable to the old Ohaus style. Dead accurate and repeatable every time don't rule it out.

 

[50bmg1979]

If it's just for hunting and plinking rounds you could go with a cheaper powder dispenser

 

[dcali]

For hunting, any scale will work. In fact, I would argue that for f class, any scale will work for 95% of shooters. But nobody believes me.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Nothing wrong with the dillon scale. Like damon said above 99.9% of reloaders would never know the difference. Weigh a bullet on day one, write that weight on the bullet in sharpie or scratch it in there then periodically check the scale