scales

[300 RUM]

I dont know how to create a poll but I will ask for maybe the 1000th time,

What is the better scale to use

Digital or Beam

if digital what brand

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I started reloading in 1982. I used a powder measure backed up by a beam scale for many of those years. The powder measure worked fine with ball and extruded powders but not so well with Varget and similar. If all I loaded for was target practice and hunting or plinking, that combo or even just the measure itself would be fine, but I shoot F-class competition and I learned the hard way that you have to trust the ammo you are producing is the best it can be. I used to throw short and trickle up, but it was a pain when loading the night before a match. It's exacting work and it's analog.

So, five years ago I bought an RCBS Chargemaster 1500 combo and never looked back. I learned the idiosyncracies of the device and I have loaded over 7000 match rounds with it since I got it. It's an awsome machine that allows me to load my match ammo very precisely and at a pace that fulfills my needs. I effortlessly load 100 match cartridges with Varget in about one hour, starting from completely prepped and primed brass.

 

[300 RUM]

I am currently trying to weigh Varget and using the dropper your right it does not measure consistently enough for any purpose. Having to trickle on my digital scale is a pain also, the scale has a glass case and if you dont use the case the weight bounces all over the place due to its .02 accuracy.

 

[amlevin]

They both work well if one takes care of them and understands each's idiosyncracies. Both hate wind. Beams are less sensitive to vibration. Digitals are easier to read.

Both should be checked frequently with check weights.

In the end, it's a matter of which works best for your needs.

I have three. Two digitals and a beam. One digital is built into a dispenser. The Beam just sits on a shelf on the back of the bench for nostalgia purposes. The last digital is used with a Uniflow/trickler setup I use for small runs of ammo.

No group will ever agree as to which is best but the discussion will definitely pass around some individual ideas.