mcb Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 So its time to replace my little Lee scale. I would like to get a more reliable and accurate scale. I'm looking for a good digital scale that does not break the bank. Recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks mcb
AlamoShooter Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 (edited) I tryed a digital scale ...and I did not like it Edited March 20, 2006 by AlamoShooter
Chris Keen Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 RCBS digital scale ............. very accurate!
al503 Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 Here's another vote for a dillon. The only issue I've had with it is trying to use it in close to freezing weather. It won't keep a zero.
DJPoLo Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 I tried a digital scale ...and I did not like it Interesting. Why? What about it did not appeal to you? -Chet
AzShooter Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 Dillon again. My first one died after a few years and they replaced it for free. Can't beat that. This ones been working fine for two years now and I find it very accurate and much faster to use than a ballance scale.
Flexmoney Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 There was a poll on here a good while back. You can probably find it with a search. IIRC, the Dillon scales was the winner at the time, by far.
bagdrag Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 Here's what I use. Fast and Precise Old WIll Knot My Weigh Dura Scale
Genghis Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 I like my digital scale, except that you have to calibrate it whenever you turn it on. Takes half a minute or so. But I took it over to a friend's house and compared its readings with his balance beam scale, and mine varied by .1 to .2 grains.
Doggorloader Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 After two years I'm still very happy with my Dillon scale. I had to learn how to best use it however and at first I wasn't all that pleased. (Mine) works best on the AC adapter over using battery power and also doesn't shut down every 30 seconds that way as well. I leave it on for at least 15 minutes to stabalize before I calibrate it and I know that my pan weighs exactly 161.2 grains and I rezero on the pan any time the scale doesn't return to - 161.2 with out it. It does tend to drift .1 or .2 grains if not used for ten minutes or more so I do have to rezero on occasion. As long as I stick to the program it works great. I still use the beam balance to dribble rifle charges.
Merlin Orr Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 I had a scale go bad. Sent it back to Dillon and was told the reason for the failure was I had left batterys in while plugged into AC current. FYI to all. I was not given a new one but did get a replacement at a small discount.
straightshooter1 Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 AlamoShooter has not yet replied to the question as to why he didn't like the Digital Scale. I have the same feelings about them as he apparently does. My experience was with the PACT and I didn't like having to continuously zero it, having it "turn off" during reloading sessions and I felt particularly stupid as I was verifying its accuracy with my balance beam scale (B4 I read some of these posts I thought I was the only one doing it). Why on earth do I want something that costs more, is more difficult and time consuming to use and which I have to verify with the cheaper tool I already have? I sold it at a small loss and was happy to get back to my balance beam. In the interests of full disclosure, I am mechanically challenged and kinda old and, I suppose, set in my ways. I still like the balance beam-just verify zero when I start, set the weight and check the charge. Simple and easy. Bob
Derek45 Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 (edited) If I had to do it all over again, I would skip this one.... PACT BBK It's been back to the factory once, and still looses it's mind every other time I use it. I keep reaching for my old analog scale. Edited March 21, 2006 by Derek45
straightshooter1 Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Derek-maybe, just maybe mind you, that was my problem-the PACT just isn't up to the others' standards. Yours is exactly the same model I had. OTOH, seems some of these posters are talking about Dillons and others shutting off, etc. Bob
al503 Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Why on earth do I want something that costs more, is more difficult and time consuming to use and which I have to verify with the cheaper tool I already have? I find the opposite to be true. I've never really had to zero my Dillon out at all. The worst it's been (if it's off at all) is about .01 grams. It's nice to be able to dump a charge into the bowl and get a reading in a second. I have the analog Dillon also and it isn't as accurate. 9.0 could be 8.9 to 9.1 grains. If I were to go strictly with an analog, it would be one of those expensive ones that are absolutely accurate.
syme71 Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 I have a PACT that I wish I could return. Anyone ever try these scales? http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1251
AlamoShooter Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 (edited) I tried a digital scale ...and I did not like it Interesting. Why? What about it did not appeal to you? -Chet I had in my origional post, but it was long. = Ok I mesured out and seperated 100 long range 223 -75gr AMax bullets for shooting 700 to 1000 yards. = put them in lots of .25 gr over 75 and 74 gr 75.5 74.5 some went over 75.5 and some went under 74 In order to make a good test of the rifle / bullet and skill. I had the scale on a good desk and out of the AC vent. The Digital scale was slower than the balance beam scale and it had 25% to 35% error when I went back and checked each group of bullets with the "old Scale" It =the digital scale was off by up to .5 and .75 grain And the final groups had too much shooter error to tell any group size change. So I figure if it is slower and not as good as a good Beam Scale = why spend the extra $$ Cash.? Jamie ---? Edited March 21, 2006 by AlamoShooter
shred Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Digital scales rock all over balance beams due to the 'tare' button. They do usually drift 0.1 grain or so, but that's easily corrected for using the BE-powder-measurement plan.
AlamoShooter Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Digital scales rock all over balance beams due to the 'tare' button. They do usually drift 0.1 grain or so, but that's easily corrected for using the BE-powder-measurement plan. Are you making fun of me and I am too slow to pick up on it? 'tare' button? A tenth of a grain seamed like alot to me ? I just wish I could keep silent
shred Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 The Tare button zeros the scale at whatever's put on it. Normally you put the empty pan on it and hit 'Tare', then dump stuff into the pan to measure it and then dump it back out when you're done. But, you can also do things like Tare an empty, primed case, put powder in it and move it right from the press to the scale and get the powder weight. Repeat as needed. Thought you made a squib? Tare a known-good case and throw the others on the pan one at a time. Pull any that read significantly less than zero.
AlamoShooter Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 The Tare button zeros the scale at whatever's put on it. OH ... I forgot yep I knew that ...I knew that
BBoyd Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 I bought a dandy little Hornady GS-350 scale from Midway USA. For the light and occasional user it's just what I needed. Don't remember what I paid for it, but it was under 100 bucks I'm sure.
ong45 Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Another vote for the dillon, 4 years and going without any hangups. james
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