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Beam Scale recommendations - vs Digital

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9.6K views 37 replies 27 participants last post by  TrapperD  
#1 ·
I need a scale and will probably get mechanical beam & digital .

The Beam scale that gets touted the most is RCBS . They are $ & hard to find

looked at some others and came across Hornady lock & load beam scale - made in USA & seems well made not cheap but under $ 100

any recommendations are welcome
 
#2 · (Edited)
I have had my RCBS beam for almost 50 years. You might try the used market, lots of people giving up reloading. I find all kinds of stuff at gun shows, others like to shop eBay. There is a beam scale on there right now for $38.00. I have come by a few other beam scale brands over the years, picked for a few dollars here and there, not as good as RCBS.


As far as a digital, there are some suitable ones like Lyman and Franklin Arsenal that will work, are very affordable and be just as close as an RCBS beam.
 
#5 · (Edited)
RCBS and Lyman scales are great, Hornaday scales OK, LEE scales are complete crap. Forgot to mention, Dillon balance beam scales are great as well. However, in latest Dillon Blue Press catalog, Dillon doens't have a balance scale in their lineup. (IMHO! And, I've used them all)
 
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#8 ·
I have the Lyman Pocket touch. It was inexpensive and seems to work well. I don't have a different one to compare to but it comes with a calibration weight. I calibrate it every time and it seems very reproducible. I TARE out (zero) an empty hull. I can take that hull on and off multiple times and it always comes back to zero. I do a test drop into that hull and put it back on the scale. I do this three times with the same hull and I blow out the hull each time with Dust-Off to make sure all of the powder comes out. Dropping into a hull seems to work better than dropping into the powder funnel/dish that comes with the scale. Powder bounces and scatters from the little dish.
 
#13 ·
I have the Frankford pocket digital and I do the exact same thing with tarring and empty hull, except I don’t bother blowing it out.

mine came with a 50 gram test weight and I also have a nickel that is exactly 5 grams that I use to double check as well

Michael
 
L
#9 ·
As long as the pivots do not get damaged, a beam balance is stable for it's entire life.

An electric scale depends on a load cell bridge, that drifts with age and heat. That is why you need to zero and span calibrate it each time you turn it on. Technically there is a warm up time to stabilize the temperature on the load bridge each time, but for our use is not that picky. Electronics do fail, I only have two electronic items that are over 25 years old that still work.

The RCBS and many others that are OHAUS design/production with the agate pivot blocks for low stiction will outlast any of us, and are pretty cheap.

From someone that has actually been in a gen 2 standards clean room calibration lab, they certify electronic scales for critical accuracy by comparing them to balance type scales.
 
#12 ·
Leo said:
As long as the pivots do not get damaged, a beam balance is stable for it's entire life.

An electric scale depends on a load cell bridge, that drifts with age and heat. That is why you need to zero and span calibrate it each time you turn it on. Technically there is a warm up time to stabilize the temperature on the load bridge each time, but for our use is not that picky. Electronics do fail, I only have two electronic items that are over 25 years old that still work.

The RCBS and many others that are OHAUS design/production with the agate pivot blocks for low stiction will outlast any of us, and are pretty cheap.

From someone that has actually been in a gen 2 standards clean room calibration lab, they certify electronic scales for critical accuracy by comparing them to balance type scales.
Click to expand...
My RCBS says to warm up for 20 minutes before calibration. I also have test weights from RCBS to verify my scales. Some people don't read the instructions before using new equipment.
 
P
#14 ·
Some people still fondly remember the old three-on-the-tree manual transmission. Most people now prefer automatic transmissions. Like others I really like the tare feature. Zero a hull, drop charges, weigh and average five or more charges. In the second photo are the test weights for this scale. I lost them somehow and called Lyman to buy more. They sent them for free. I have an RCBS beam scale. It is in the closet with my manually cranked roll crimper.

Image
Image
 
J
#16 ·
I use two rcbs 1010 scales, one tuned by Scott Parker. It will weigh to +or minus 1/10 of a grain. Set up an old cell phone to make seeing the balance point easier. I have a rcbs charge master. It's bad out of the box as far as consistent charge until I got on youtub and read how to modify and reprogram. Getting ready to order a f&d fx120i. Pricey but everyone who has one swears by them. You really want a heart attack Google a promethus scale!
 
#17 ·
I think the main issue with the balance bean is that it would be hard to get a hull on there. I think you have to use the little pan and I really had problems dropping into a pan. Especially powder like WST. If you drop into a hull and pour that into the pan, not quite all of it transfers. Some of it sticks in the hull. I gave up on digital scales in my bathroom and have had a balance scale for myself for years but my little Lyman seems to work really well.
 
S
#20 ·
I have used the RCBS 505 since I started loading nearly 50 years ago, and found it to be the best for reloading shotgun. I marked a spot on the bench where I set it up, and that made it easier to calibrate, as I was sure that spot was clear of my working area and would stay calibrated so long as I stayed away from bumping it. The one drawback about the 505 that I've found is that if any dust gets in the saddle for the beam arms, it will throw a false reading because the dust impedes the free movement of the beam arms. I discovered this when a buddy overcharged his 7mmRemington Magnum and had a nearly catastrophic failure, with a bulged chamber, broken bolt face, and the case stuck in the bulged chamber. When I went through his reloading procedures with him and compared his powder charges with my electronic scale, they were as much as 2.1 grains low and 3.5 grains high, with none right bang on. Close inspection of the scale revealed dust in the saddles blocking free swing of the beam arms, so a word of warning to all: If you load in a dusty area using a balance beam scale, either put it away in a dust free environment, or lift the beam out and clean the saddles and beam arms before you start loading.
I have also used the Hornady beam scale (not bad, but not as user friendly as the RCBs) and an electronic scale. The electronic scale was okay, but after comparing powder drops on both scales, I found that the longer the electronic scale stayed on, it seemed to wander in accuracy. When I moved into my new gun room, I found that the fluorescent overhead light affected the accuracy, as did having the window open for fresh air when a light breeze blew across the bench. If I hadn't been watching the empty pan when the breeze blew in, I never would have known that. As soon as the battery started losing charge the accuracy suffered, as well.
 
#37 ·
Shooting Sailor said:
I have used the RCBS 505 since I started loading nearly 50 years ago, and found it to be the best for reloading shotgun. I marked a spot on the bench where I set it up, and that made it easier to calibrate, as I was sure that spot was clear of my working area and would stay calibrated so long as I stayed away from bumping it. The one drawback about the 505 that I've found is that if any dust gets in the saddle for the beam arms, it will throw a false reading because the dust impedes the free movement of the beam arms. I discovered this when a buddy overcharged his 7mmRemington Magnum and had a nearly catastrophic failure, with a bulged chamber, broken bolt face, and the case stuck in the bulged chamber. When I went through his reloading procedures with him and compared his powder charges with my electronic scale, they were as much as 2.1 grains low and 3.5 grains high, with none right bang on. Close inspection of the scale revealed dust in the saddles blocking free swing of the beam arms, so a word of warning to all: If you load in a dusty area using a balance beam scale, either put it away in a dust free environment, or lift the beam out and clean the saddles and beam arms before you start loading.
I have also used the Hornady beam scale (not bad, but not as user friendly as the RCBs) and an electronic scale. The electronic scale was okay, but after comparing powder drops on both scales, I found that the longer the electronic scale stayed on, it seemed to wander in accuracy. When I moved into my new gun room, I found that the fluorescent overhead light affected the accuracy, as did having the window open for fresh air when a light breeze blew across the bench. If I hadn't been watching the empty pan when the breeze blew in, I never would have known that. As soon as the battery started losing charge the accuracy suffered, as well.
Click to expand...
YIKES! Thanks for the heads up - I'll be sure to check that.

I have a couple of the small electronic scales, including the Frankford Arsenal. If I pick up the shell or the pan and put it back down, I'll often see a different reading. I only load for 12GA, so I'm not worried about the small variation. But if I'm adjusting a new powder load I'll pull out the balance beam and save the electronic for quick verification.
 
#21 ·
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#22 ·
#24 ·
This is a subject near and dear to my heart. I have worked on scales most of my adult life, a little over 35 yrs. now. Beam scales are almost indestructible. I am currently looking at a double beam butchers scale from 1879 that I found to be within 1/10 of an ounce at 30 lbs. They are also a pain to use if you are switching between different units of measure or different components. If your just verifying a fixed load, they are good.
The digital scales are pretty forgiving, but they must never be overloaded, dropped, and don't like vibration. I built my own out of spare parts that spins a brass cleaning brush as a powder feeder. I can drop to within 0.1 grains.
 
#27 ·
I have a spare RCBS digital battery powered I might sell if you can’t find one. They’re the best scales for reloading and easy to use. Lmk if you’re interested. I’ve tried newer versions but they’re not as good. I bought both of mine new & I still keep them in the original fitted padded boxes.
 
#29 ·
The beam scale is faster for my shotgun loading. I leave the expected weight set on the beam, pour the powder on the pan, and will know in an instant if it matches, or approximately how light or heavy it is just by looking. Static guard on the plastic hulls eliminates the powder cling on the inside of the hull. Since I don't move the beam scale around, it stays calibrated. I guess I just trust Newton more than Edison, I suppose.
 
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