Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles What's a good DIGITAL SCALE?

Need an inexpensive scale to do what little reloading I do now days. Please, something that hasn't been a problem unit. Help me out here guys. powdr

Prolly have better luck posting the above in the classified . . . . just sayin'

Rule of reloading scales: Good, Digital, Inexpensive; pick any two.

I've seen reports of this being the best budget model out there:

bullets.com Bald Eagle Scale

I know that I'm being obtuse, but a 5-0-5 Ohaus or RCBS.

Depends what you call inexpensive. I've been using the same Dillon digital scale (D-Terminator IIRC??) for ~15+ years now and it's been completely problem free and accurate. I do calibrate it when I move it or haven't used it in a while, but that's really easy.

Dillon lists them for $140 now, and that's going to be cheaper in the long run than trying several el-cheapo low end scales. I watched several friends do that, all of them eventually went to the Dillon they should have bought in the first place.

Powdr, I really like my Lyman Gen 5. They make 2 different sizes. Gen 5 and Gen 6. Might want to look at them. Thanks Daniel

Cabelas (made by RCBS I believe??) But I'm not 100% confident in electronic scales.

Seems like I weigh a charge then take it off and re-weigh and there's a discrepancy.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/reloading/powder-handling%7C/pc/104792580/c/104761080/sc/544895280/hornady-gr-electronic-scale/2225617.uts

Don't trust them in my limited experience. Powder dropper or even Lee scoops and balance beam is faster and more accurate. A digital scale is great for sorting cases but I usually don't do that so I currently don't have one.

No experience with the Dillon scale but all of their other products I have used were good.

I think both the older RCBS scales I have are actually made by Ohaus. Wouldn't be surprised if that's the case with others as well. Never had an issue with mine. I calibrate occasionally, just because, but only HAD to do it once when it got "confused" somehow. As an extra check, I occasionally weigh bullets, just to see if it's in the ballpark. I use Lee dippers to load the pan, and "trickle" up or take a few grains out. With practice, I get pretty close most of the time, and right on the money fairly often. My regular tricklers haven't been out of the box in years.

Eventually, I want to get one of the power scales that trickle the charge into the pan on an electronic scale, but there's some other goodies I need first.

Thanks Guys, I just don't load 200 rounds a year anymore. Usually just an extra box or two for the rifles I've shot through the year. I'll shop around but at my age I don't need the Dillon. I'm sure it's a nice unit. powdr

I'm looking to buy an Ohaus 10-10 should anyone have one to sell.

If you are going digital, don't go cheap.

The cheap one's will try to kill you.

Midway has the Charge Master on sale for under $300 with free shipping.

Jennings
http://www.realguns.com/Commentary/comar118.htm

Yes, that's in my latest Midway flyer. I'm very tempted.

I used a PACT II for many yrs before it became erratic. I don't know if they're still available.
IF they are, based on the one I had, I'd recommend them.

Jerry

I found this on Ask Gunwriters Forum, under Best Reloading Investments, by Doc Rocket on P 10. This is a short excerpt from a long post but note his take on the Pact Digital Scale.
--------------------------
Curiously, I've determined in the sporadic reloading sessions I've had since 2013 that my electronic powder dispensers (yes, plural... I've tried PACT and Lyman, both) are not what I need, at all... and I've gone back to my old green RCBS powder thrower,
.........<<<<< although I'm keeping the PACT electronic scale.>>>>>

Since my previous post I checked the Midway site and they list the Pact Digital Scale, less than 150.$ Out of stock but backorder is available. I'll probably get on the backorder list. I like the Pact II and it worked very well for more yrs. than I remember. Quite a few.

Jerry

Do you already have a balance beam scale? That's a pretty low round count per year.

I'm a big fan of Pact. Have scale, despenser and chrony

This. If you don't want to buy a good one, don't buy one at all, just stick with a balance beam scale. Especially for only 200 rounds per year.

Low round count does not mean a cheap digital scale will serve you well. The difference between a good digital scale and a cheap one is not speed, it's accuracy and dependability.

I've been using an RCBS Rangemaster 750 digital scale for a number of years and it's worked fine. However, the 750 is discontinued and it looks like the replacement is the Rangemaster 2000. I haven't used the 2000.