This thread was about a scale issue...FIGURED IT ALL OUT. Thanks for the responses

[bballwizard05]

I got a cheap digital scale (not a kitchen one), but a gram scale (also has gn's).

So I'm trying to get to 46 grains, I used the "tare" function to cancel the weight of my collecting device (shot glass), and start zeroing in on 46 grains on my electric scale. Well I get multiple readings of 45-46, so I think "okay great now lets get it exact on the powder scale".

I put it on the powder scale.... and it shows up as 55.9 grains!!! WTF. I know I must be doing something wrong, because I have witnessed another person use this electric scale, in conjunction with the lee powder measure and do it correctly. I'll call them when they get off work, but until then I'm frustrated.

Here's the scale:

[Cowboy T]

If either of those scales came with check weights, you can use those to verify your readings.

[bballwizard05]

And of course neither of them did! The digital scale is supposed to tell you if it is out of whack, and you can use a 500g weight to re-calibrate it... but I have no way of knowing what 500g is without a working scale And I do not have any weights that are labeled.

[bballwizard05]

stupid double post....

[troysland]

Yes, might need to calibrate the scale with the calibration weight. My digital scale came with a 50 gram weight to calibrate with. Also, I would use the pan that came with the powder scale instead of a shot glass. Keep us posted.

[troysland]

Oh, a dollar bill is exactly 1 gram. Useless info I picked up as a youth, till I started reloading.

[bandook]

Try using something lighter than a shot glass - like the little powder tray thingie that came with the Lee scale.

[bandook]

Oh, a dollar bill is exactly 1 gram. Useless info I picked up as a youth, till I started reloading.

Useless indeed.

[bballwizard05]

Ok, let me clear something up. I weighed with both a shot glass, and the powder tray.

I mentioned the shotglass because that is what I use to receive one "load" worth of powder from the hopper.

I did try weighing with the glass, and thought "hmm, maybe its too heavy, lets use the pan" So I then used the "tare" function to calibrate to the pan, poured one "loads" worth into the pan and tried that. They came out to the same number (so at least I know the TARE function is working).

I have to run to the hardware store right now, I'll see if they have any marked weights I can use, if not I will give the dollar bill a try. I don't need the electric scale to be exact, but being 10 grains off is NOT COOL.

Keep the ideas coming, I'll report back.

Thanks all

[Casual_Shooter]

Try another scale to see if you can get two scales to read the same thing? Then you'd know which one wasn't accurate.

[5.56Geo]

You can use a 55grain .223 bullet and see how close your digital scale is. Most bullets are +/- 0.1 grains or there out of spec.

[sjg1966]

Sounds like you lee safety scale isn't zeroed. I have the lee safety scale and a redding scale and zero them each loading session. The lee scale is as accurate as my redding. I just make sure I zero it each session. FWIW I have the $30~ Hornady scale and I prefer my balances scales over it.

HTH.....Steve

[sjg1966]

You can use a 55grain .223 bullet and see how close your digital scale is. Most bullets are +/- 0.1 grains or there out of spec.

^This. I would say that's the next best thing, using a bullet since they are usually +/- .1gr like 5.56geo said.

Keep us posted....Steve

[bballwizard05]

You can use a 55grain .223 bullet and see how close your digital scale is. Most bullets are +/- 0.1 grains or there out of spec.

This may come as a shock... but I don't shoot .223 (gasp! no AR!) haha. In fact I don't shoot anything other than 22 that fires a projectile less than 100gn...


@Casualshooter: good idea. I only have the 2 scales though, and I don't know which one is accurate. So without a weight that I know already how much it is, I can't determine which is accurate.

Grr, the saga continues.

[bballwizard05]

grr.... I just weighed a dollar on the digital scale. came out to 1.1g

guess my lee scale isn't calibrated correctly.

Here is what I did (following the "great" details of the lee instructions)

1. Ball on zero, 1/10 slide locked at 0.
2. Pan is empty, and hung.
3. Turned adjusting poise until pointer lines up with the zero indicator.


Here is a picture. The pointer and zero indicator were perfectly lined up right before the picture, I have a window open nearby and I think it moved it slightly. Does the setup look correct?