Which Beam Scale?

[ELR LVR]

RCBS 502 - great repeatable scale, a very smooth scale with a nice big powder cup
I dont care for 3 Poise scales like the 505
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My personal use is Lyman D7 because the beam has deep engraved in markings vs taped on/printed
I have 2 of these because I like them so much
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everything else is personal pref
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The 10-10 looks neat but...... you get over its novelty pretty quickly ,
(I dont like the threaded tenths thimble, i like to slide a tab into a notch)
it is packable though which may be nice if you take it out in the field and load onsite
a padded cardboard box serves me just fine though for my D7's
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For a nice affordable digital, Gemini 20 (LIKE $50 BUCKS)
I bought this for chemistry stuff, but has served very well for weighing primers in the .001G scale
Mine has a backlit readout and I just recently replaced the batteries after 10 freaking years!!!
IT IS VERY ACCURATE

 

[DirtySteve]

I would recommend a 5-10 or 10-10 scale.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[qldreloader]

If buying a new beam scale (not a 2nd hand older model) I think the Redding is the only choice. I have 2 of them and they are accurate to .1gn total variation (i.e. +- 0.05gn) verified by a lab scale IF I set zero with check weights close to the charge weight and trickle up. So if throwing 24.2gn of powder I use 24gn check weights in the pan, set the beam to 24gn and and align the pointer to the centre mark. Then I set the beam to 24.2gn and begin weighing.

If I zero out with nothing in the pan and the beam set to zero the accuracy is closer to +- 0.1gn.

 

[Mark W]

Which beam scale? Any Parker tuned scale made by Ohaus in America, IMO.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

To use a beam scale these days is just being masochist. They belong to another era. Any digital scale - even cheap one will beat a beam scale. Move on - it’s 2026 !

There’s two side of the coin on beam and digital. All I know now on my journey is if my fx-120i die's, I will somehow hopefully scrap up enough cash to buy another one. There will always be be a beam scale in the cabinet too for a backup.

 

[Mark611]

I use an old REDDING scale along with my LYMAN M5 both were calibrated with my A&D scale This REDDING scale I am going to post a pic of, my Redding scale was like new in the box when I purchased it 20yrs ago and I use it every time I reload along with my M5 and my A&D scale

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/TYsAAeSwCQBpOhFd/s-l1600.webp

this pic is from a current sale on ebay, but it's just like the 1 I have and it is very accurate once it's set up correctly!

 

[Leo_B]

Well, if I go green then when it's set up properly I can take instant ready Redding readings.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Well, if I go green then when it's set up properly I can take instant ready Redding readings.

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/t...ale-and-powder-measure.4173562/#post-39413990
Looks like a good deal.

 

[gambleone]

Redding #2

 

[JohnW...ski]

This is what I use, all inexpensive components, well, except for the computer. One kernel of N133 moves
the pointer.

 

[Syncrowave]

I have had RCBS scales made by Ohaus for years. I find that a lot of powders are too coarse to be thrown to my standards. For those I throw the charge into the scale pan and trickle up to the desired charge.

Same here, since 1981, with my RCBS 10 • 10 and RCBS Uniflow and RCBS aluminum trickler. Works great!

I have tuned up all of my scales myself and told others how to do it, so that the scales are more sensitive and repeat well.

I'd be interested to hear any tips and techniques you might have on this, as I really like mine, but it does seem that I need to rezero it every time, using the tilt adjustment screw on the left...

I have a RCBS trickler that I use with my balance scales. With much use, I have gotten very proficient with it.

I modified my RCBS trickler to add a coil spring to the trickler tube...if I need to add "a lot," I position the tube so its ingress hole is upward (painted a line on the tube to indicate this), then thrust the tube forward, toward the pan, and it adds much more, faster. Then when you get close, you can "rotate trickle" to the mark as normal.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Lee would be my recommendation...let the beatings begin, lol

Lee Safety Balance Beam Mechanical Powder Scale 100 Grain Capacity

The Lee Safety Magnetic Powder Scale is designed so that it will never need adjustment. The beam is made from a very tough phenolic metal alloy base....

ads.midwayusa.com

I agree. I have used, rcbs, lee, redding, dillon, and several electronic scales. The Lee has been the most accurate, sensitive, and a resolution of 1/20 gr if you choose to use it. Every match i won in 2025 including nationals and state shoots was loaded on the Lee scale. Laugh all you want.
The Lee deluxe powder measure throws as accurately as my harrells btw.

 

[old_heli_logger]

I agree. I have used, rcbs, lee, redding, dillon, and several electronic scales. The Lee has been the most accurate, sensitive, and a resolution of 1/20 gr if you choose to use it. Every match i won in 2025 including nationals and state shoots was loaded on the Lee scale. Laugh all you want.
The Lee deluxe powder measure throws as accurately as my harrells btw.

I wasn't kidding, this IS my recommendation for this gentleman's use. I still verify everyone of my powder charges with one. I used to use a Lee powder scoop and then trickle up. Now I use an RCBS Loadmaster and verify with the Lee

 

[Janeau]

This is what I use, all inexpensive components, well, except for the computer. One kernel of N133 moves
the pointer.

View attachment 1756263

I would hate to be you doing 10000 rounds a year. There is better ways to live than using a very very slow beam scale…while you beam scalers spend time doing so with tricklers and scoop..I am out shooting, competing and winning matches - all of it using digital scales since 1990 when Dillon got it’s dominator digital scale out. Results speak by themselves - were it matter- on target.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I would hate to be you doing 10000 rounds a year. There is better ways to live.

That’s the great thing about this hobby, there’s many ways to enjoy it.

 

[Syncrowave]

I would hate to be you doing 10000 rounds a year.

IME with digital scales, you could weigh the same charge 10,000 times and get the same number of weight values.

Plus there's the joy of the scale killing a brand-new battery within 2 hours if you walk away without pulling out the battery ... then the joy of digging out the AC adapter ... the challenge of finding an extension cord ... by then, chances are I will have lost interest ... I think instead I'll go count the pieces of gravel in the driveway again!

Digital scale is a solution in search of a problem, at least for weighing charges. Either way, if you throw charges of coarse powder, you're going to need to trickle up, and a digital scale is no faster than a beam scale for that operation, since the slowest part of the process (the "limiting operation," so to speak) is the trickling itself. I've also never been convinced of the need to weigh every charge to the nearest femtogram (a lot of BR guys don't weigh their charges at all, since the density of smokeless powder changes with RH, but throw exclusively by volume) ... But hey, knock yerself out!

 

[Doom]

Before biting off on a beam scale I would advise giving serious thought to its location and lighting arrangement. One of the major drawbacks to the beam scale is the ability to repeatably see the indicator without parallax. This can be overcome by some of the inexpensive digital scales, even the Chinese ones on Amazon. One of the drawbacks of the cheaper ones is the small display.

Especially for people with eye issues eye fatigue is an issue that should be considered.

 

[BoydAllen]

Before biting off on a beam scale I would advise giving serious thought to its location and lighting arrangement. One of the major drawbacks to the beam scale is the ability to repeatably see the indicator without parallax. This can be overcome by some of the inexpensive digital scales, even the Chinese ones on Amazon. One of the drawbacks of the cheaper ones is the small display.

Especially for people with eye issues eye fatigue is an issue that should be considered.

This is just one example. It solves all the problems. You don't need a fancy webcam. Mine are manual focus, the latest well under $20.

 

[Syncrowave]

No parallax on my RCBS 10 · 10, since the moving "pointer line" and the stationary "center line" are in the same vertical plane, and when it indicates "on," the two engraved lines are in the same vertical plane, the same horizontal plane, and are probably less than 1/32" apart, left-to-right.

It reads the same whether you're reading it from 90° in every direction ... or 45° off in any direction.
I'm fairly certain this gets me to within ± 0.05 or 0.1 grain, which is more than I need.

As for the rotating tenths wheel, it seems like a hassle until you consider that the sliding weight with notches is a fairly delicate arrangement, easy to bump accidentally and move unwittingly, whereas the threaded wheel is harder to move and also has a plastic screw to clamp it in place ... great for loading 100 cases with the same charge. I do that far more often than I change charge weights with every case (such as for a ladder test). YMMV