Scale, Beam vs Digital

[nighthawkf-117]

Hello!

The last piece of equipment I need to aquire for my reloading setup is a scale. I've been eyeing a beam scale from RCBS. I like the idea of a mechanical scale vs an electronic one with batterys to run out. Anyone have thoughs on one vs another? If using a powder trickle to creep up on an exact weight does one work better than another?

Thanks for the input!

 

[bober90]

Probably depends on the digital scale, honestly. You won’t go wrong with the RCBS beam scale and trickling on it is very easy. That’s how I started. Just make sure you have a good set of weights (like the RCBS set).

 

[Bluefish]

Digital is easier, but more expensive. Cheap digital is worthless imho. I tried one and it wouldn’t hold zero long enough to even get a weight. I had a super expensive one from work that failed calibration probably a couple k and it was great. Read .01g.

I use my trusty beam scale and would recommend that to anyone unless they spend a lot on a digital.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I started off on a beam scale. Those things are garbage and a colossal waste of time. I quickly got tired of the slowness and the inconsistency of the beam scale. I went to a RCBS Chargemaster combo and have never looked back.

I would quit reloading if I had to use a beam scale again.

 

[A382DWDZQ]

Whatever you get, get a good quality scale. It really sucks to do a load work up, go to the range, get off results, possibly repeat that, and then find out your scale is giving you bad readings. Echoing what @Bluefish said, get a set of check weights, and make sure those are good. I was using my first set of check weights for a while before realizing that the 10gr weights in them were actually 9 something.

 

[KY_coop]

My hornady autocharge went in for warranty work and I used a powder thrower and trickler I bought but hadn't used yet. Weighing using a frankford scale and the loads seem more consistent. I'm gonna have to test it side by side when I get the autocharge back.

 

[Tahoe1305]

I have used both separately and still use both together.

Digital is faster, but take time to setup, I have to recal mine every 30 min or so, and more importantly I don’t trust it nearly as much as my old beam scales. I now check every ten or so on a beam and if one is in discrepancy, I always trust the beam.

I’d argue the best gain in the digital is a resolution of more than .1gr. But tests have been done on SD/ES with scales with more res than .1gr don’t improve SD/ES a ton. There are also beam scales that have resolution more than .1gr as well. I haven’t found one better than .05gr though (most beams will go to .01gr).

 

[TaperPin]

There is a slight difference in the pivot of different beam scales. The RCBS 505 has a long history of reliability - which I understand is because of the pivot. Guys that fine tune used scales won’t bother with many, but the 505 is one that is well thought of. RCBS no longer lists the 505, but it’s actually a rebranded Ohaus 5-0-5, which is still available new. Personally, I’d just get a RCBS version used on eBay - a lot of very lightly used scales are always on there.


Any trickler will work, but most are aluminum and very light weight. I prefer something heavier and the Redding #5 is made out of steel and feels just right to me.

 

[Blinddog]

add a camera to your beam, then you know your spot on.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Beam scales are accurate and repeatable. Nothing, I repeat nothing, electronic can be trusted like the laws of physics and a beam good scale. I use the beam scale to check the electronic scale on the few times I decide to give the electronic scale some work. If throwing hundreds of rounds, not the fastest, but from an accuracy standpoint nothing about beam scales is a waste of time when it comes to accuracy.