GS-1500 bit the dust

[Guest kj4gxu]

My Hornady GS-1500 scale bit the dust yesterday giving an error Out2 on the screen.  It will not allow me to recalibrate.  googling the issue it appears the load cell is toast.  I've never been overly fond or really trusted the scale anyway so instead of messing with trying to get it fixed I think I'm going to switch to a beam scale.  The budget is pretty tight right now so can anyone recommend a good, accurate beam scale at a reasonable price.  I don't have a specific budget, I just need to spend as little as possible to get a reasonably good scale.

 

Thanks

Eric

[TNMTBik3r]

I bought that same scale, it is a piece of shit...turn it on and calibrate, weigh one powder charge and loses calibration. I bought it to use instead of my beam scale for a bit faster pace and have never been satisfied so it sits in a drawer now.

The RCBS 505 is what I use, great scale but at $80 or so it isn't exactly budget (depends on your budget I guess).

I have read good reviews of the Lee safety scale but it is only a 100 grain scale.
Hornady also has a balance beam scale, a bit cheaper than the RCBS one.

[Dolomite_supafly]

The Lee Safety scale works and is cheap. I used one for the first couple of years I reloaded. Be warned though that any balance beam scale is going to be a lot slower than an electronic. When I went from balance beam to electronic I couldn't believe the difference in time it saved.

[Troutburger]

I have a Pact digital scale. It's not very repeatable, and very sensitive to drafts.  I had to put mine in an enclosure (cardboard box)... 

[jphillips63]

Find a used MX 123 scale for about 200.00 they work well and from testing it against my Denver instruments tr603d scale its plenty repeatable for accuracy for bench rest shooters.

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[Hozzie]

I also would recommend the RCBS 505.  Not the cheapest, but works consistently.  I use it to verify my initial loads on my RCBS Chargemaster and have never had an issue.

[jphillips63]

I also would recommend the RCBS 505. Not the cheapest, but works consistently. I use it to verify my initial loads on my RCBS Chargemaster and have never had an issue.

Until you have your balance beam scale calibrated and tuned you will be amazed at how inconsistent they really are. If you're OK with +/- .2 grn then you're ok but for serious consistency in accuracy that's not good enough especially in calibers that use 40 grns and under.

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[Hozzie]

Until you have your balance beam scale calibrated and tuned you will be amazed at how inconsistent they really are. If you're OK with +/- .2 grn then you're ok but for serious consistency in accuracy that's not good enough especially in calibers that use 40 grns and under.

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I agree, but with his statement of the budget being tight, I still think it's a decent deal.  I suspect if he is shooting benchrest he would already know what scales are better than others.  I think for the average Joe, a 505 or 1010 will do just fine.  Granted, it may still be off by up to .2, it's probably more in the .1-.15 range.  I think that is fine for general shooting.

Edited September 23, 2013 by Hozzie

[Wiljo05]

I have a spare lee scale that came in a reloading kit I bought years ago. Pm me and I could send it to you to get you by if your interested. I come to Clarksville about once a month for work if you can wait for about 2 weeks?

[Guest kj4gxu]

Wiljo; Message Sent

 

To everyone else;

Thanks for the info to everyone who posted.  I realize now it might have been helpful to post a little further info.

At this point I reload only for 9mm and 40 S&W primarily using Berrys Plated Bullets but I'm going to be experimenting with hard cast in the future.
 

I'm fairly new to reloading with between 1000 and 1500 rounds loaded.  

I use a Lee Precision Powder measure and I've had very good luck with the accuracy on it.  The scale is just used to help ensure the charge is set at the proper level and to weigh every 10th or 20th bullet to ensure continued accuracy.  

The problem I had with the gs-1500 is it would always turn off in between weighings, when I turned it back on I'd have to weigh 3 or 4 charges before it started reading consistently, probably because it was warming back up.  I figure on a beam scale that's going to weigh consistently without having to warm up every time I'd actually save time compared to what I was having to do with the gs-1500.

My powder charges weight between 4.0 and 5.2 grains.

 

I do plan on getting into Rifle reloading in the future, but need to buy a rifle first.

 

Thanks to all who posted.