Budget scale?

[MuleyFever]

So tried loading up my fist rounds yesterday and the Hornady scale I got sucks. Won't hold zero at all.

Any scales under $100 worth buying. I don't have any interest in spending hundreds for convenience. I know the Chargemasters are nice but I just want a simple scale for now.

 

[tdhanses]

Hornady gs-1500 has been very reliable for me for years. I always double check my charges on it, think it’s $40 or that’s what I think I paid.

 

[tdhanses]

I’ve also found frankford arsenal stuff to be reliable yet affordable.

 

[Muley Buck]

I have a Gempro 250 (now discontinued) and I like it. No headaches with it. Almost non existent drifting and great at being repeatable. I believe the Gempro 300 is the one that now takes its place. I'd look into one of those, it would be dollars well spent. I still use mine along with an RCBS Chargemaster.

 

[MThuntr]

get a balance beam scale...cheap electronic scales get bad enough reviews that your safety and money is best spent on a balance beam scale especially if you're only doing a handful of rounds.

 

[Muley Buck]

Balance beam scales certainly have thier place. I still keep and periodically use my old ohaus scale. It keeps my electronic scales honest.

 

[MuleyFever]

Looking for an entry level digital scale is frustrating. They all have a bunch of good reviews and then enough bad reviews to make you question it. The little Frankford Arsenal is on clearance all over. I’ll pick one up and if it’s no better I haven’t lost much.

Those Gempro scales seem pretty good.

 

[Muley Buck]

A buddy of mine uses a Lyman digital scale and he says it's accurate and likes it. I've never used it so I can't speak too much about it.

 

[deadi]

20 years with the same balance scale. Slow but reliable and easy to check.

 

[MrTim]

I think I have the same Hornady scale. I use it to get within a couple tenths then double check and trickle the final kernels onto a beam scale. Sometimes the Hornady will get off by a couple of tenths, but it only takes a second to rezero. Again, I double check every charge on the beam scale though.

 

[andersonjk4]

How much do you reload? Like others I have been using a RCBS 505 for 20+ years and its been great. I reload less than 100 rounds a year, so if it takes me and extra 5-10 minutes per reloading session no big deal. I have never found the reviews of digital scales to be trustworthy enough to make me want to switch.

 

[MuleyFever]

Do the beam scales easily measure to 0.1? I have never used one but I won't be reloading a ton so maybe I should look into one.

Just watched a video. Seem way better than I had pictured in my head. I just imagined the beam going up and down and never really giving a solid reading.

 

[MuleyFever]

Would the RCBS 1000 be worth the extra money over the M500?

 

[Muley Buck]

I wouldn't buy a newer beam scale. If you want a beam scale look on Ebay or elsewhere and try to find an older one that was made by ohaus. It will be a better made, more repeatable scale.

 

[SawtoothShooter]

Another note is to check government auction places like gov planet. You can get Ohaus and other older balances and newer digital scales there that measure down to a 1 and in some cases a tenth milligram (0.01 to 0.001 grains). They were used in hospitals/labs, so not exactly designed for reloading, but I got a Satorius there for $300...

 

[Mt Al]

RCBS beam scale here, wicked cheap. It's slow but can be turbo charged thusly:
-Charge thrower. They take a while to set up. I set it up to throw a few grains shy, then set up the trickle charger over the pan. Throw the charge into a scoop, scoop into the pan, twist trickle charger until balance is achieved, put powder into case via powder funnel. I never would have bought one of these, but my friend "loaned" his to me 18 years ago. If I'm doing a bigger run or 223 prairie dog rounds I use this.
-"powder scoops" or whatever they're called. I think mine are Lyman. If you get one that's close to your charge you can learn to eyeball what a few grains shy looks like in the scoop when you scoop from the powder bottle. Then, as above, put it in the pan, twist already-pre-placed-over-the-pan trickle charger until level then put in the case.

If I start reloading in volume in the future, doubtful, I'll pay for a high dollar electronic scale but will probably check it so much it will be a waste.

 

[gpo1956]

My Redding balance beam scale is 45 years old and is still the only scale i use.

 

[16Bore]

RCBS 10-10. Don’t skimp here.....

 

[Stalker69]

How much do you reload? Like others I have been using a RCBS 505 for 20+ years and its been great. I reload less than 100 rounds a year, so if it takes me and extra 5-10 minutes per reloading session no big deal. I have never found the reviews of digital scales to be trustworthy enough to make me want to switch.

Yep, same here I reload a bunch more then that, but when I reload I am in no hurry, and the charge weight is the most critical part to get exactly right imo. And I still use and trust my RCBS beam scale.

 

[msmetarzan]

So tried loading up my fist rounds yesterday and the Hornady scale I got sucks. Won't hold zero at all.

Any scales under $100 worth buying. I don't have any interest in spending hundreds for convenience. I know the Chargemasters are nice but I just want a simple scale for now.

My friend and I are using generic Professional Digital mini scale TL-series, It has proved accurate. Just remember to take out battery after use.