Balance Beam Scale

[gregintenn]

I'm thinking of purchasing a balance beam scale, and I'd like some recommendations. What do you have? What do you like or not like about it? What do you consider the best balance beam scale? I was reading reviews on Midway about them, and several people had bad things to say about every one Midway offered.

[lowery100]

It's hard to beat an RCBS 10-10. I have an older version no longer made the 5-10. Great scales easy to set up and use.

[Trekbike]

I've also got the RCBS 5-10. It still works great and suits my needs.

[R1100R]

It's hard to beat the RCBS. They are made by OHAUS. A well known scale manufacturer.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Hi Greg

In case you would find it useful, I've bought scales from this company, which has a large inventory, good documentation, and prompt shipping--

American Weigh Scales - Digital Scales Wholesale

An curious why you would want a balance beam scale, but am not trying to talk you out of one. Suffered thru college courses with balance beam scales, and the last science course I took in 1974 they had a new-fangled milligram-accurate digital scale. Bet that thing was fabulously expensive back then, surprising they would let students anywhere near it. Just sayin-- digital scales have their advantages.

I'm using a little cheap 10 year old Lyman digital scale for reloading. Seems to work ok for that.

At price points, there is a tradeoff between resolution and max weight. If you need fine resolution, the max weight is pretty small, and vice-versa.

I needed something that would weigh up to about 20 pounds 'as accurate as I could afford' and got a made in usa Acculab Vicon that is accurate to 1 gram, with a 10 KG max weight. I like it a whole lot but it isn't high-resolution enough for reloading. You need at least 0.01 gram resolution for reloading.

They make a nearly identical Acculab Vicon which measures up to 120 grams at milligram resolution. That would be a max load of about 1848 grains of powder, with a measurement resolution of 0.0154 grains. Pretty neat. Maybe Santa will bring me one for Christmas.

Acculab VICON VIC-123 Precision Balance 120x0.001g - American Weigh Scales - Digital Scales Wholesale

"The new VICON Series are ideal balances for industrial, laboratory, research, educational, postal and speciality applications. Whether you need to weigh multiple samples with totaled results, formulate a color, counting, percent weighing, specific gravity, or under pan weighing, Acculab has the answer in VICON. The new models feature a flip-down protective cover, integrated cal-weights, stainless steel pan and back-lit display."

[gregintenn]

An curious why you would want a balance beam scale,

I just can't make my simple brain trust anything electronic. I currently have both, but I'd like to upgrade my balance beam scale.

[Johnny_Utah]

This link looks like a good deal for an older scale. JMTC

RCBS Powder Scale - eBay (item 270630675077 end time Sep-10-10 13:58:38 PDT)

[gregintenn]

This link looks like a good deal for an older scale. JMTC

RCBS Powder Scale - eBay (item 270630675077 end time Sep-10-10 13:58:38 PDT)

There's what I'm talking about! Thanks. I don't know why Ebay didn't cross my mind.

[gregintenn]

:devil:The bid price just went up.

[herr.baer]

I have a Lyman that I have been using since the 80's and it is still going.

[leroy]

It's hard to beat the RCBS. They are made by OHAUS. A well known scale manufacturer.

+1 Great scales. God one over 30 years old. Still weighing charges like always.

Kind regards,

Leroy

[gregintenn]

+1 Great scales. God one over 30 years old. Still weighing charges like always.

Kind regards,

Leroy

My father has an old 5-0-5 RCBS scale. It has served hime well. That might be what I get. I currently have a Lee scale, and it works well and is accurate. I just want something a little easier to adjust and something with a heavier base.

[gregintenn]

I didn't get the RCBS, but I did buy a Lyman M5 from Ebay. I love it! Thanks for the advice everyone.

[tnhawk]

My father has an old 5-0-5 RCBS scale. It has served hime well. That might be what I get. I currently have a Lee scale, and it works well and is accurate. I just want something a little easier to adjust and something with a heavier base.

I used this model for over 20 years before using an electronic scale.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I still use my Lyman balance scale that came with

the T-Mag 2000 kit. May be slower than a digital,

but it still does the job and I'm never in much of

a hurry.

[gregintenn]

I'm never in much of

a hurry.

Any time I get in a hurry, I screw up. I don't want to screw up with gunpowder.

[rstandley]

The two things that cause problems with balance beams are, they need to center the beam at -0- before you start and any air movement will cause it to move. After set up in a closed room, I have never had a problem.

[Guest FroggyOne2]

I don't get in a hurry.. I used to use a Redding balance scale.. I had used it so much that it would not zero anymore.. well I bought a Acculab VIC-123 scale.. I have used it now for one year.. and I am already wanting to step to a better scale.. balance beam scales are great.. but at the volume of ammo that I load in a session.. the only way for me to go is with a electronic scale.. the VIC-123 is a strain-gauge scale and this type of scale is very accurate.. but they are prone to drifting and to static.. I need to step up to a non strain-gauge scale to limit the drifting. I have shot approx 3000 rounds of rifle ammo this year.. with two more matches to go.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Do they make non-strain-gauge electronic scales? Am ignorant of it. What brands/models have you been looking at? AmericanWeigh.com had Vic 123 on a pretty low sale price a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't jump because they have sold Vic 123 for years now. But I looked later and that model is out of stock now. The "equivalent" new model Acculab scales are very expensive.

[Guest boatme99]

I use both balance beams and electronic balances. I can honestly say that if you're going to do any volume, stick to an inexpensive electronic.

If you're set on a balance beam, go for a "Gram-o-matic" (Ohaus name) with a dial gram instead of trying to slide a weight all day. Tedious and time consuming.

As far as trusting electronics, they've been in use for a l-o-n-g time. They are absolutly reliable and accurate, and require no maintenance other than keeping clean. Beams are a lot more trouble, and pretty much have to be recalibrated every time you use them. That's why the weights are included.