What scale ?

[xcudlaty]

Thank You all for answers, I was looking at RCBS M500 Or Layman 500 but they got only 0.1gr +- accuracy is it enough? I'm getting the same on my cheap digital one really. That Mettler looks interesting, by 3 places You mean up to 1/1000 gram ? (0.015 grain?) I got Lee safety scale, perhaps worth give it another go ?

[1066]

The M500 is a good scale - It has the standard Ohaus/RCBS floating Agate bearing/knife edge set-up and magnetic damping as all the other RCBS scales. Two points about the M500 - because the beam is graduated on both sides it can be used either right or left handed. The down side of this is that the zero pointer is about 6mm away from the beam, this means that you must view to beam from the same angle every time or you will have a parallax error - this can be overcome by using your phone or a camera to view the beam.
The other thing is, although the M500 had a die cast metal body, it is very light. This doesn't really effect accuracy and weight can easily be added to the base if felt necessary.

Accuracy...How much do you need? A good M500 will consistently repeat within 1/10th grain. There are around 5 individual kernels of Varget to 1/10th with each kernel weighing around .02gn. Having a scale that resolves to less that the weight of a single kernel is pointless unless you are planning of cutting kernels.

Here's an M500 in use weighing well within a 1/10th grain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NNIC2Qn50U&t=24s

[xcudlaty]

Oh I'm happy with 0.1 accuracy, as long it's 0.1 not 0.17 one time and 0.02 next time.

Just looking at advert for Lyman 1000, looks ok How good or bad lee safety scale is, as I said I got one and maybe try it again ?

[1066]

If you are talking about the Lyman Pro-1000 beam scale, I'm not a fan. They have mean little knife edges and fixed bearings - also I think they may be in their range that have the awful plastic body. If you are thinking of the Lyman XP 1000, then I'm even less of a fan.

The Lee scale has some good design points, unfortunately it's made at the very minimal cost so not able to take advantage of those plus points.
The whole thing is too small, with the short length of the beam making it difficult to see any movement. The tacky vernier adjustment is difficult to see and difficult to use. The damping is poor.

Look around and buy an RCBS 502/505/ 5-10/ 10-10. There re plenty of good ones about and will last a lifetime. No matter how much you spend on a digital it will be in the scrap bit within 10 years.
What ever scale you end up with - buy yourself a basic set of grain checkweights.

[xcudlaty]

I've just spend almost 2 hours playing with lee scale and my digital kubei. Well, bl...y things showing exactly the same. to 0.1 gr, I've checked digital with 10,20 and 50 g weights, 168, 175 gr MK sierra bullets (keeping weight very well ) 195 gr Hornady Eldm (some of them got 0.1 gr more than 195). Than start to weight different amounts of powder. With bit of practice on lee I had perfectly the same what on digital one. I guess for now just use digital and check on lee every 5pcs or so? I'm going to load some ammo tomorrow, will see how it's gonna go.

Thank You for advices

[Pete]

3 decimal places indicates 0.001 gm, AKA 1 milligram, or 0.0154 grains...

Pete

[dromia]

Checking a balance beam scale against the digital is not a good idea.

As has been said earlier balance beam scales need check weights, they are the foundation of certainty.

You have no actual idea of the veracity of either scales or the bullets.

The Lee scale has to be the worst balance beam scale ever. It can be made to work but it is finicky and easily knocked off. The cups on the beam that the ball bearing sits in can have burrs and deformities that means the ball bearing doesn't seat properly. Lee is not known for tight tolerances. Their mould tolerance is +3thou FFS!

Lee says it is "readable to 1/20 grain" whatever that may mean typical Lee instruction obfuscation to hide things.

Lee make to a price point and in reloading kit you get what you pay for still holds true, mostly.

Charge weighing is the most critical part of hand loading, there is no skimping on getting this repeatably correct, your well being and those of others on the range depend upon it.

[channel12]

I use a Lyman beam scale for smokeless loads and a cheapish digital scale for black powder and Pyrodex loads.


Somebody somewhere is yelling you can only measure black powder/Pyrodex by volume while ignoring the fact their volume measure is calibrated in grains

[dromia]

Weight is a proxy for volume and volume is a proxy for weight.

Two sides of the same coin.

I suspect that this volume only myth came about by the fact that BP being a relatively inefficient propellant means that there is some latitude in loads so that the requirement for weighing each charge isn't so crucial when using volume dispensers especially in the field.

[xcudlaty]

I know amount of powder is most important thing in reloading, that is why i was looking for advice about scales, I agree lee isn't most accurate one. But I've checked them yesterday with calibration weights 10g, 20g and 50g and they both showing the same results. Also previous loads couldn't be that bad, I managing to get this sort of group at 100 yards

and 300 yards

Anyway I think I'll give Gempro go and get some decent beam scale