Powder scale

[Guest Longshot1]

I came across a Mettler electronic digital scale that is accurate to .1 gram. That converts to 1.5 grains. Is that close enough for a powder charge that will total 47 grains? This is for 420gr bullet in a .50 Beowulf.

[Krull]

Deleted

Edited January 26, 2011 by Krull
Misunderstood question

[dlm37015]

i would want one that measures .10 of a grain

[Krull]

.1 grains or grams? You want a scale that gets close to .1 grains. Especially with a .50.

[Guest fdx28]

Mine reads to .01 of a grain.

Hogentogler & Co., Inc. - Veritas® - S Series Precision Balances

Call these guys - the owner is a reloader and tested it against a some other really expensive scales and tested it's repeatability. It's a good one.

[Guest Longshot1]

Yep. Looks like the standard is .001 gram or .02 grains. Thanks.

Edited January 26, 2011 by Longshot1

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Am assuming that koz's model must be one of the three milligram scales on that list. 0.001 gram resolution would be in the ballpark of 0.01 grain resolution, and would likely display thataway on the read-out.

My old relatively inexpensive lyman digital scale reads to 0.1 grain and appears in the ballpark of accurate/repeatable within about +/- 0.1 grain (checking it against some calibration weights I bought).

I think the max of that old lyman is only 20 grams and it was supplied with a 20 gram calibration weight, which is a max of about 309 grains.

Those Hogentogler prices look pretty good if the gadgets are in the ballpark of milligram resolution with reasonable repeatability. You have to pay the big bucks to get a relatively large max weight and also get precise small resolution.

I only load pistol and only use a progressive loader. Setting up the powder measure, I try to improve resolution somewhat by dropping 10 charges and weighing the total. Every time I drop a new charge on the scale, I watch the display increase to see if each charge appears somewhat consistent. I'll usually repeat that procedure two or more times to make sure the scale and powder measure seem to be behaving.

Maybe that trick would not work so well with big rifle loads.

Edited January 26, 2011 by Lester Weevils

[Krull]

Big rifle loads I weigh every single charge. Just me but it's not worth a squib or worse. I might be a little over cautious but my .300 wm and 7 mm ultra I take extra care on for safety.

[LngRngShtr]

I have always been of the opinion to have 2 scales as accurate as possible and to double check the work, chances of you setting 2 scales wrong are almost negated...

when I was younger I mis-weighed and loaded some .45ACP for a family friend,.. 2 things I avoid now, loading for someone else and only 1 scale.. and yes a Detonics Combat Master is a strong pistol and I only owed him a set of Pachmayr grips..

in my case the scales are an RCBS 5-0-5 and an older Ohaus beam scale both calibrated with a set of check weights,.. cheap insurance...RCBS Standard Scale Check Weights 60.5 Grains - MidwayUSA

you don't want a 1.5 gr. variance if you load anywhere near your cartridges max... 1.5 could take it to a place you don't want to go.. Kboom Land

John

[Grunt67]

I have an old Ohaus scale I've had since the late 60's. My next scale will be a RCBS 5-0-5.

Get a set of scale weights to keep check on accuracy...piece of mind.

[gregintenn]

Midway has the Frankford Arsenal mini digital scale on sale for $19.95. I bought one a while back, and mine is dead on accurate.

Frankford Arsenal DS-750 Electronic Powder Scale 750 Grain Capacity - MidwayUSA

[I_Like_Pie]

This isn't someone being old fashioned, but the digital scales are in no way better than the balance beams. From an actual engineering perspective a balance will beat a loaded spring over the long run every time.

RCBS 505 is one of the best