Beginner Powder Measure

[wapitibob]

I've always used a balance beam scale, a full check weight kit, and I zero the scale at my exact charge weight. I loaded 30 rounds tonight and several times cut a kernel in half to get the weight where I wanted it. You aren't getting that close with any electronics but they'll be faster and more convenient.

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

Rcbs chargemaster was a great starter set up! Until you get the reloading bug and step up to an autotrickler

Yes. Buy the rcbs charge master. I have balance beams, and stand alone digital scales I used to throw volume based charges into and trickle. Wasted time. I have the charge master and won’t go back.

 

[DadWil]

I like the balance beam scales Ohaus 505 or RCBS M500 over digital ....
If you go digital go high end $500+ analytical balance prices
I add a site tube to my balance beam scales so that I am looking at the scale straight on every time.

anything I weigh on a digital scale I verify on a balance...
advantage of a mech balance nothing to burn out or go dead
If you want real accurate check out the Prometheus Gen II (spoiler the internal workings are a balance beam)

 

[sdupontjr]

Everything mentioned so far is why I kept my beam scale. I have an Ohaus M5 scale that I used for a long time with simple Lee dippers. I'm not a bulk loader but I like consistency. I had read way too many threads with issues with electronic scales and dispensers, from heat up time, varying loads, over charging, static issues, etc.

Here is the M5 I use to use, with the Lee dipper and my DIY trickler.


So, I decided to pick up another scale, an older model on eBay. The older model work best, the newer one are usually Chinese knock offs. So, I picked up an RCBS 502. I shipped it out to California to a guy by the name of Scott Parker. He an engineer is I remember correctly and is a wizard with beam scales. He trues them and tunes them. This 502 scale is sensitive to one kernel of 8208xbr and definitely sensitive to 1 kernel of Varget.



So after using it for a while, I decided to try and make an auto trickle but incorporate a sensor on the beam so that power can be turned off. In a way, trying to eliminate the Lee dipper and have it set to auto dump. Thus my 1st attempt at making my own powder dispenser. Took about 7 sec to dispense a stout charge of Varget for one of my 308 loads.

I have then upgraded to the version I use now, all store bough items that total about $80 is catch items on sale. This version has a much larger hopper and adjustable feet for even more control.

My latest version will hold right at 1 lb of powder and will dispense 49 g of Varget in about 6-7 sec. I have it set to dispense just below setpoint so that I can bump the trickle button once and its dead on. Works wonderful, no over charging, no warmup, nothing. Pull out scale, pull out dispenser, plug scale sensor into dispenser and start loading. I have used this with Varget, 8208xbr, TAC, H1000, 4831sc and all work flawlessly. TAC is a little harder to get out of the tube when I finished due to much smaller ball powder, but as far as dispensing, work like a champ.

So really you can get as complicated as you want and spend a stupid amount of money on a V4 setup with a digital scale and all the bells and whistles or you can just simply use Lee dippers (or just a sonic plastic spoon), a beam scale and get to shooting.