Scale, Beam vs Digital

[35WhelenAI]

Double darn, it looks like the beam scale that I like so much is not so bad after all...

 

[Sinistram]

You've clearly stumbled on another of those "Ford v. Chevy" debates among gun people! Personally, I'll never use a digital scale to reload. I have no patience for dealing with batteries, electronic interference, and finnicky China quality. I realize that sounds like an old man rant (I'm not old), but it's based on me trying the digital stuff as a new reloader about a decade ago. My RCBS 505 (made by Ohaus) is a thing of beauty and precision. I have loaded ammo that would shoot so well as to embarrass others who thought they had the smallest group, never once questioning whether it was 45.1 or 45.15 grains...

If you go balance beam, my biggest tip would be to build a riser for it about 10" tall so it sits above your bench and you can look at it at eye level. Eliminates fatigue and potential parallax errors. Make sure to make it large enough to fit your trickler, too.

 

[Wapiti1]

Get check weights. Regardless of the type of scale. Get check weights. Digital should be checked more often Get check weights. Temp swings, and humidity swings will affect measurements. Get check weights.

I matters not what scale you have, but you really should have check weights so you know it is accurate. My Redding from the 1960's is as accurate as my A&D digital, but only after I dialed it in with check weights. The Redding was off by almost a grain for probably 50 years. Not super important if that is the only scale ever used, but add a scale and they need to be reading the same.

Jeremy