Scale - Beam or digital?

[thefitter]

I'm starting to look into hand loading even though I told myself that I never would because I don't have the time. I'm researching equipment and want to know peoples opinions on scales.

I want something super accurate, easy to use and that will last a life time with minimal care. I don't mind spending money on quality as long as it performs and lasts. Thanks!

[HighLander51]

Get a digital, they are cheap, fast and accurate.

[not-fishing]

I have both;

Digitals have to be zeroed every time you use them. Digitals are susceptible to air currents.

Beams are just as accurate as digitals (if not more so) are cheap & simple.

So the question is: Are you going to buy a kit? Then use the beam that came with it and ave the money.

Do you want to spend the extra for a digital?

I have a RCBS Dispensing Digital that I use for all my rifle loads, the boy and I shoot in matches so I've reached that level of precision in my rounds. It's ok but I have to wait for each load to be dispensed. and we won't talk about how many times I double charging brass because I forget to move the funnel

First I work up the most accurate powder charges then clean & size brass, trim to length, neck turn brass, weigh brass & sort by weight, weigh all charges, weigh & sort bullets, measure chambers with bullet to be shot and OAL to rifle --- sometimes while making up .223 (on paper) rounds I just use the thrower and think of how easy reloading used to be

[XDRoX]

A good digital will be just as accurate as a beam but is faster to use and easier to read. But if you want it to last a lifetime, there is no digital scale that will. If you really only want to buy once, you have to go with a beam.
These are the two that I recommend:
RCBS

Dillon

[SixPointEight]

I own a cheap digital, and it's decent, however it has some "dead spots" it won't display. It will go from 25.1 straight to 25.3. No in between step. I'm actually buying a beam scale now, because the digital is nice when I need a quick measurement, but it sure isn't very consistent.

The moral here I guess is, don't go cheap if you go digital.

[Hoop]

I would get a beam unless you want to spend lots of money on a digital scale+thrower setup. Post up on snipershide about this, there is a guy who sells beam scales that he calibrates for not a lot of money (I forget the brand buy they are similar to an RCBS 505).

[SixPointEight]

I would get a beam unless you want to spend lots of money on a digital scale+thrower setup. Post up on snipershide about this, there is a guy who sells beam scales that he calibrates for not a lot of money (I forget the brand buy they are similar to an RCBS 505).

Sounds like it may be the Ohaus ones? A lot of people really like those.

[gau17]

Go with RCBS 10-10 scale and don't look back. Super accurate and worth the $$$.$$

I have the Charge master and use this scale to verify accuracy.

[mnguyen84]

if you're looking for a cheap beam scale that's accurate then I then you may want go with Lee's. There's no reason not to, unless you dont like the color red. But a digital scale will make your life a lot easier.

[Homebrew2]

... however it has some "dead spots" ...

The "least count" on many/most of the affordable digi scales is 0.01 GRAM which = 0.154 GRAINS so they simply can't resolve to 0.1 grain. However, one can estimate to 0.1 by trickling powder to where the display toggles between the higher and lower value.

[coma]

Let me ask you this first, are you loading for rifle or for handgun? Rifle loads IMHO need to be as preceise as you can get them, so a 3ple beam scale is a must, at least for measuring powder charge, for pistol either would do.
I like digital scales to weight cases and projectiles, but for powder charge only a beam would do.

[SixPointEight]

The "least count" on many/most of the affordable digi scales is 0.01 GRAM which = 0.154 GRAINS so they simply can't resolve to 0.1 grain. However, one can estimate to 0.1 by trickling powder to where the display toggles between the higher and lower value.

interesting. i've been using that method to get the charges it wont display, but i usually add .1 to my charge or, set my charge increments so i dont land in those spots

[tujungatoes]

my .02

get a decent beam scale. you won't be disappointed. it will last forever. and you'll never have to calibrate it, or worry about batteries dieing. rcbs, dillon, lyman, all have good scales. i wont include the lee scale. i like their products in general, but somethin about the scale just seems wrong to me.

[mstlaurent]

Beam. I have a Hornady and it is dead-on accurate and repeatable, which is not what I hear about digital scales.

[thefitter]

Let me ask you this first, are you loading for rifle or for handgun? Rifle loads IMHO need to be as preceise as you can get them, so a 3ple beam scale is a must, at least for measuring powder charge, for pistol either would do.
I like digital scales to weight cases and projectiles, but for powder charge only a beam would do.

Rifle only at this time. Why do you prefer digital for cases and projectiles?