Which scale

[beanz2]

[JagerDog]

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/BPI-BallistiScale-1500-Digital-Scale/productinfo/6880300/

When you get into handloading , might add a beam scale.

Weighing variable weights on a bean scale is a PITA.

[trackcage]

I have a Hornady digital unit that was fairly cheap. Three years later and it's still working great and accurately.

[BBC-M]

RCBS Chargemaster is nice.

[triggs75]

RCBS Chargemaster Would be my minimum.

I went full r...... and got the A&D FX120I Scale & AutoTricklerV2 with the area 419 add ons that I slowly added. Here https://www.area419.com/product/auto...-fx120i-scale/

I would buy it again in a heartbeat. It is very quick and very accurate.

[stevec223]

If you have some time before you start reloading,, watch for a nice older RCBS-OHAUS 10/10 beam scale... Digital scales you can wait on as they get better every year ..One you buy today will be obsolete in a couple of years.. Having one of each type is very handy to check each other,,, and ease of use in alot of cases...
Cheers...

[bigdawg86]

I like my RCBC 5-0-5 scale. That's all.

[RestrictedColt]

For me this digital showed a great bang for the buck balance and it works well. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also like beam scales. Both types have their ups & downs and as much as I initially thought it was nutty, I like having both on the bench.

Your scale choice may be dictated by the cartridges you want to weigh, all scales are limited, so do verify that before you buy.

[RiskyBusiness]

Lot of cheap scales that will float by the hundredths when removing weight. Stay away from those $10 Chinese scales and you'll be alright.

[hambam105]

What hand loading skill level are you aiming for?

[beanz2]

If you have some time before you start reloading,, watch for a nice older RCBS-OHAUS 10/10 beam scale... Digital scales you can wait on as they get better every year ..One you buy today will be obsolete in a couple of years.. Having one of each type is very handy to check each other,,, and ease of use in alot of cases...
Cheers...

Thank you, sir. That is a good suggestion I will likely follow. Retirement is not on until 5 to 7 years, earlier if the wife prevails LOL

What hand loading skill level are you aiming for?

[JagerDog]

Did anyone actually read what he's trying to do?

A pocket electronic is perfect. A beam scale or chargemaster type is stoopid for this.

[tonyjr]

I own both the digital and beam .
Beam scales have to be calibrated / checked every time you use them . Mine
are taken apart when stored [ no room on bench ] the digitals are stacked on shelf .
Both the digital and beams need to settle down when in their spot
Easier on a digital - push a button to zero . All my digitals are always plugged
in / turned on and I change the battery [ ies / rechargeables ] every 6 months .
Buy a set of weights to check either kind . Or go cheap and just buy some washers
Cycle both kinds with the weights - dust / spider webs - etc .
After 5 to 10 powder drops , recheck weight of powder , it can and does change .
If you are [ should to learn scale ] weighting cartridges , don't be surprised to find
different readings . A little in case length , primer etc . This is why you check OAL
when reloading .
Primer length / weight is not checked after reload - just the primer height .

[beanz2]

Did anyone actually read what he's trying to do?

A pocket electronic is perfect. A beam scale or chargemaster type is stoopid for this.

Thanks. OP here. I can fancy myself getting into hand loading some day. Just no time at present.

I own both the digital and beam .
Beam scales have to be calibrated / checked every time you use them . Mine
are taken apart when stored [ no room on bench ] the digitals are stacked on shelf .
Both the digital and beams need to settle down when in their spot
Easier on a digital - push a button to zero . All my digitals are always plugged
in / turned on and I change the battery [ ies / rechargeables ] every 6 months .
Buy a set of weights to check either kind . Or go cheap and just buy some washers
Cycle both kinds with the weights - dust / spider webs - etc .
After 5 to 10 powder drops , recheck weight of powder , it can and does change .
If you are [ should to learn scale ] weighting cartridges , don't be surprised to find
different readings . A little in case length , primer etc . This is why you check OAL
when reloading .
Primer length / weight is not checked after reload - just the primer height .

I'm such a newb to hand loading, but can I assume the primer and bullet weights are usually consistent? I'm thinking factory cartridges loaded with "brand name" bullets like Sierra Match King.

How about cases? I guess I can clean the empties I have been saving and see if they vary a lot. The empties are from one manufacturer and from the same batch.

Is it a reasonable assumption that if I weigh cartridges, and if the bullets/primers/cases are consistent in weight, then the only variable is the powder weight?

[JagerDog]

Thanks. OP here. I can fancy myself getting into hand loading some day. Just no time at present.




I'm such a newb to hand loading, but can I assume the primer and bullet weights are usually consistent? I'm thinking factory cartridges loaded with "brand name" bullets like Sierra Match King.

How about cases? I guess I can clean the empties I have been saving and see if they vary a lot. The empties are from one manufacturer and from the same batch.

Is it a reasonable assumption that if I weigh cartridges, and if the bullets/primers/cases are consistent in weight, then the only variable is the powder weight?

No. It's a stack-up of variables, with the case typically being the largest variable. Bullets will vary a grain or so. I've never weighed primers, but being they don't weigh much to start with they prolly don't vary a whole lot. Powder weight within a given lot is one of the smallest variables. Expect your completed rounds to vary by 5 or more grains if you're not handloading with pre-selected components. Even when pulling out all the reasonable stops, there will be variances. Benchresters will weigh brass and bullets and segregate them. Maybe one or more will pipe in what they regularly see as variances with even the best of components.

That $25 pocket scale is more than ample. Mine's been rock solid. Sets up in seconds, calibrates in seconds, weighs in seconds. Readings don't wander. A bit of hysteresis and a slight lag to changes are the only caveats.

If you're trying to enhance accuracy by segregating completed commercial rounds by overall weight, forget about it.