Which scale is which? Which is the best bye?

[John O.]

While bargain hunting for a scale I found these two http://www.ebay.com/itm/Redding-Model-1-Powder-and-Bullet-Scale-USA-/201372043283?hash=item2ee2b58813
http://www.ebay.com/itm/REDDING-GREEN-POWDER-AND-BULLET-SCALE-MODEL-1-Excellent-Condition-Good-Color-/271920712353?hash=item3f4fbccaa1
I was wondering if the second one is a #2 rather than a number 1. As well as if you would suggest one over the other. Thank you for any input you van provide.

 

[riflewoman]

Neither. Either one is only 30 dollars less than this. . http://www.bullets.com/products/Powder-Scale/BE1188.

 

[1066]

I like these old scales and they are every bit as accurate, or more so at times, as the newer beam scales.
The first scale is an oil damped scale - accurate and well made, I think from memory the beam only weighs up to 350 grains. Being oil damped you can change the sensitivity by changing the viscosity of the oil.
The down side is that the oil system can be messy and the wire pan holder is less convenient to use than the platform type pan rest.

The second scale, I've never seen (I have about 30 beam scales) It looks like Reddings first attempt at a magnetically damped scale and the forerunner to the well know Redding No 2.

Both would work well but I've seen a lot better scales for the price - If you want a good used scale I would look out for an RCBS 5-10.

 

[John O.]

riflewoman even though I am a fairly young individual I do prefer mechanical means of doing things. If there is a problem you can more likely diagnose it and potentially fix it. Whereas with electronic devices unless you are a genius computer programmer you are up the creek without a paddle. Not to mention the nostalgia that an old beam scale congers up. As a side note at this present time thirty dollars is a lot of money when my net income resembles the fifteenth letter of the alphabet. Thank you for your input.

 

[riflewoman]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/712103/lee-safety-magnetic-powder-scale-100-grain-capacity?cm_vc=ProductFinding. This is less than either of those oldies and comes with a warranty. There are also 10 or so RCBS 505 scales on gunbroker most of which sell for less than those old reddings. Redding dropped those scales back in the 1960s for some good reasons. They didn't sell very well because people found oil dampening messy and the wire pan support wasn't very good. My advice is to keep looking or buy the Lee to get by with till you can get what you want.

 

[nmkid]

I recently purchased a beam scale from Dillon Precision and am very happy with it.

 

[rudysts]

what about a lyman D7 are they any good ?

 

[Dgd6mm]

Since you have looked at ebay I will make a suggestion. Go to the top of the page , look under the vendors and click on Amazon. Type in powder scales and take a look. There are good beam scales on there.

 

[John O.]

I need to check these out. Thank you.