Scale choice quesiton

[joelogic]

I have a XL650 and a Rockchucker and want to load .223, .308, 6.8, and .45. I will use the XL650 for .223, .308, and .45. I can use the rockchucker for 6.8 because I will probably only load 50 or so rounds at a time.

My question is should I just buy a basic scale or buy one that measures out powder as well? I am planning on using a Lee Perfect Powder Measure with the rockchucker.

From reading online people use the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo when loading needs to be precise.

I simple scale is about $150 and the Chargemaster 1500 is $299. The price difference wouldnt break the bank, but do I need it?

Thanks in advance.

[Jonathan Doe]

I bought a scale from the Ebay for $15.00 and it is serving me fine. I have benn getting about 1/2 minute group with my reloads in a Remington 5R 308 rifle.

[22popnsplat]

I had a rcbs chargemaster and sold it , it sat on a shelf and was never used . I use a rcbs digital scale but a decent beam would do . Acually i weight sorted 1000 cases once on a beam scale . The lee powder dispenser is crap , Acually I use 3 different ones . Rcbs uniflow , a harrel and for anything that wont work in the first two I use a belding and mull .The dillon powder dispenser for the 550 works pretty well with ball powders .
I did compare the Lee and the lyman #55 with the others I use and while they did work I did not think they worked as well.

[Ugly Dwarf]

Balance scales are nice to have on hand, because you never need to worry about dead batteries or the like. That said, they're slower to use.

I've not looked back since buying an RCBS Chargemaster 750. The electronic scale was a HUGE thing for me. It is much faster and is very accurate (I've checked it with a set of RCBS check weights - not just the "included with your scale ones"). It runs off 9v batteries (cheep and easy to find) or wall power with the included power supply.

If you're looking to go cheep, you can check out the Frankford Arsenal digi scale. I found the one I tried out to be accurate with fresh batteries, but the batteries died in a hurry (and weren't cheep). It also turns off after about 60 seconds, which was always about 15 seconds too soon for my pace when making powder adjustments.

Good luck

[USN CHIEF]

I have a XL650 and a Rockchucker and want to load .223, .308, 6.8, and .45. I will use the XL650 for .223, .308, and .45. I can use the rockchucker for 6.8 because I will probably only load 50 or so rounds at a time.

My question is should I just buy a basic scale or buy one that measures out powder as well? I am planning on using a Lee Perfect Powder Measure with the rockchucker.

From reading online people use the RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo when loading needs to be precise.

I simple scale is about $150 and the Chargemaster 1500 is $299. The price difference wouldnt break the bank, but do I need it?

Thanks in advance.

I load the same calibers on my Dillon 650 and I have the Chargemaster scale without the powder dispenser and it works fine for me. Then again, I have not had any experience with any other scales.

[rayra]

You're idea doesn't make any sense. You're willing to spend $300 on a scale, instead of $30 on a shell plate for your Dillon?
A basic balance scale to set / verify your Dillon press powder transfer bar settings would only by ~$35, from any major press maker.

If you've got the money to blow and just want to play with a high-end digital scale or powder dispenser when you already have a workable system, have at it.

[old-trapper]

i got htis one and LOVE IT...and it was cheap....very cool

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...145459986scale!!!

[old-trapper]

p.s. this scale weights in grains

[Rule .308]

I would just buy a simple scale like an RCBS 5-0-5 and a Redding powder trickler and be done with it.

[joelogic]

I did buy all the conversion parts for my dillon for 6.8spc. I guess I should just buy a basic electronic scale and spend my money on quick change kits. I was just thinking the dispenser would be faster than changing between calibers and when trying differnet components.

[Asphodel]

I'd concur with Rule, just get a RCBS beam scale, a set of 'check weights' just to be certain, and a powder trickler.

You have to decide for yourself as to how much charge weight error your intended use for your rounds will tolerate.

Doubtless, for many applications, an error of a tenth of a grain, more or less, will disappear in the other inherent errors in the weapon/load combination. Were the error to be a full grain, that could be a very different situation, leading to some rather bad groups.

A good beam scale will read out to that tenth of a grain, but it does take some care.....cleanliness, levelling, absence of draughts, etc. Proof the scale reading with check-weights fairly often, just to 'play safe'.

Basically, a beam scale 'transfers' an accepted standard of measurement, the check-weight, to the product, the powder charge. This is the basic principle of accurate measurement, a known or accepted reliable standard, transferred to the product. (in mechanical inspection, a micrometer is 'set' to a gage block, the 'reference standard....the gage block must have a cert from a cal lab, and the cal lab must meet NBS standards') This provides reliable assurance that the product meets the desired standard of accuracy.

An electronic scale may be convenient, but is it as surely reliable as a good mechanical beam scale?

I can't answer for any particular variety of electronic scale, but a 'drift' in values of electronic components is sometimes noticeable in other types of electronic equipment.

cheers

Carla

[Jonathan Doe]

i got htis one and LOVE IT...and it was cheap....very cool

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...145459986scale!!!

This is exactly what I use.

[CSACANNONEER]

If you are only going to have one scale, I'd get a mechanical one! If you want the best electronic balance, get a Dever Instruments balance. A bottom of the line DI is far superior to any electronic balance marketed for reloading. As far as getting one that dispenses powder goes, everyone that I know who has one, loves theirs. But, it really depends on what you are planning to do with it. I'd like to get one but, I'd still check each load on my DI afterwards to verify that it was as close perfect as possible.

[calidefector]

I have a RCBS 5-0-5, and a Lee Safety Powder Scale, along with the Perfect Powder Measure. I use the Lee scale to verify Perfect Powder Measure output and in conjunction with my RCBS trickler.

I use the 5-0-5 for bullets and finding undetermined weights. The Lee, while inexpensive, and not anywhere as beefy feeling as the 5-0-5, just seems so sensitive compared to the 5-0-5, and is my favorite for coming up to a pre-set weight.

Seems that by using the Lee Perfect Powder Measure, you would just need a simple scale to verify you're throwing the right charge. You could have that for around $30 in the Lee Safety Powder Scale (http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/powhan2.html), and then later go with something else as you grow in reloading.

[Jonathan Doe]

Actually I like a Dillon D-Terminator scale. very accurate, and sturdy.