No more electronic scales for me

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No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 05 Apr 2022, 5:05 pm

G'day Gents

So I have just deposited my second electronic scale item into the bin. A few months ago I chucked a powder dispenser and today a set of electronic scales, so circa $600 worth of kit, both green in colour and made in Fu#$ing China. Lesson learned. Admittedly they are 4 years old however I'd have thought I'd get a bit more longevity out of them than that. I had previously given these items a good wrap on this forum as they did actually perform really well up until recently.

I am now thinking I am going to get a set of balance scales and utilise my powder thrower. After all it does throw really accurately, that is until you get up into the slower burning powders like 2209 where there can sometimes be a slight variation.

I was thinking the RCBS 1000 balance scales.

Anyone have any recommendations?
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 05 Apr 2022, 5:14 pm

Lee Perfect powder measure.
&
Redding 505 scales here.
No problemo.

I think any of the big name manufacturers will be fine.
RCBS are very popular.

Not Lee though, OK, but not great.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 05 Apr 2022, 5:31 pm

Thanks oldbloke.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 05 Apr 2022, 6:06 pm

Just to add. If I'm only loading say,,,20 and Lee measure isn't set up I just use a scoop and trickle up.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Bill » 05 Apr 2022, 6:35 pm

Redding scales and Redding powder thrower for me :drinks:
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 05 Apr 2022, 7:21 pm

Yep I have a Redding powder thrower and. It’s pretty good, what type of Redding scale do you have mate?
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by GQshayne » 05 Apr 2022, 7:39 pm

I have an RCBS thrower and Lyman beam scale. I find a powder trickler is good for me, as I like to measure every charge on the scale. I just set the thrower to be a whisker under weight, and then put it in the scale and trickle it up. The thrower is quite accurate, but without any time constraints I measure each charge on the scale because I can.

For an electronic component, 4 years is ok I guess. I would not be happy either though. My gear is about 40 years old and still works perfectly.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by wanneroo » 06 Apr 2022, 12:52 am

The Redding factory isn't all that far away from me. They seem to have the best quality for everything and have been impressed with their dies so far. Will gradually update to their gear over time, scales, powder scale and powder measure.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by in2anity » 06 Apr 2022, 7:56 am

JimTom wrote:G'day Gents
So I have just deposited my second electronic scale item into the bin. A few months ago I chucked a powder dispenser and today a set of electronic scales, so circa $600 worth of kit, both green in colour and made in Fu#$ing China. Lesson learned. Admittedly they are 4 years old however I'd have thought I'd get a bit more longevity out of them than that. I had previously given these items a good wrap on this forum as they did actually perform really well up until recently.


This scares me because I craft TR ammo that's "supposed" to be highly accurate, using a Lyman Gen6. By all accounts it is - it can clean the target at 800m, if you're doing your bit. If it started to be "crap" it might take me a lot of bad scores to realize it's the dispenser that's come off the rails...

JimTom how did you come to the conclusion they were not performing properly? Simply a matter of it not throwing accurately?
Last edited by in2anity on 06 Apr 2022, 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 06 Apr 2022, 8:07 am

Mate I had the RCBS chargemaster. The scale started to become somewhat erratic, calibration hit and miss, ie, it would take several attempts to calibrate. It was still throwing the charges as per what the scale said however once the charge was thrown the scale would change its reading. Once the charge was dispensed I would leave it on the scale and it would vary by a couple of grains, not just 0.1 or 0.2. Same if I removed the pan and replaced, I would get a different weight. I also had a set of RCBS range master scales which were really accurate and I used them in parallel to check weigh the dispenser. Now my chargemaster scales have died too.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 06 Apr 2022, 8:10 am

I have heard good things about the Lyman hen 6 though mate. Wished I had gone that way instead of the RCBS. I purchased the RCBS on reputation only to find it was of flimsy construction and of course made in China. I try whenever possible not to purchase anything made there for couple of reasons, firstly it is sh1t quality, secondly I refuse to support their economy. Anyway I digress.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by in2anity » 06 Apr 2022, 8:37 am

That's no good at all JT. I know I have to warm my Gen6 up for a few hours before I use it, to stop the post-dispense zero from "jumping about". But if she's been on for some time, AFAIK she's consistent. I have Queens gongs to back it up. Worth noting (with the flow restrictor permanently installed) my Gen6 throws 0.1gr under approx 50% of all throws, with the occasional 0.1gr over (which I just tip back in), making my extreme spread <0.2gr.

These days I don't split hairs over such variance. It seems absolutely fine for TR and even SH (SH is basically light F-class but with TR scoring). However F-class, with their 1moa bulleye 6 and 1/2moa 'X' decimal, is a different story.... those boyz go to great lengths to craft the most precise ammo... glad I don't have that pressure to make such anal ammo.

TBH JimTom replacing the Gen6 with the RCBS CM, if the need ever arose, was a serious consideration for me... i was under the impression the RCBS CM was the "creme-de-le-creme" in the digi realm. Sounds like this mightn't be such a bright idea....
Last edited by in2anity on 06 Apr 2022, 11:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Bill » 06 Apr 2022, 11:29 am

JimTom wrote:Yep I have a Redding powder thrower and. It’s pretty good, what type of Redding scale do you have mate?


Just the Redding #2 Powder scales along with the Redding Mod 3 Powder thrower.

They just work, nuthin fancy, I always record the throw charge for a quick set up and I then trickle with the Redding trickler.

This combo got me 0.261 MOA group at 500m a few weeks back, and I use a Lee Hand press :lol: :thumbsup:
When a guy is digging his own grave, you don’t fight him for the shovel.

Success leaves clues, Fools follow failure !

20 Hornet, 218 Bee, 222 Rem, 256 WM, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5x55 Scan, 270 Win, 357 Mag, 358 Win, 9.3x62, 500 A Square
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Larry » 06 Apr 2022, 11:44 am

Go for a set of A&D scales I have the 300 series and they measure good to 0.001 gram. Best of all they dont drift and are consistent from one measurement to the next. They can be paired with a Autotrickler to make a fully auto dispenser like the CM or Lyman
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by in2anity » 06 Apr 2022, 11:46 am

Bill wrote:.
This combo got me 0.261 MOA group at 500m a few weeks back, and I use a Lee Hand press :lol: :thumbsup:

Good shootin :thumbsup: nuthin wrong with that hand press - I still use it sometimes, if it suits.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Apr 2022, 12:08 pm

Last edited by Oldbloke on 06 Apr 2022, 1:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Apr 2022, 12:43 pm

Sort of sounds like your not keen on RCBS?

Sooo,,,,Redding or Lyman then?
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Apr 2022, 1:11 pm

Delivers to AU

I'm guessing that's US $ 93 + $13 postage.

https://www.amazon.com/Lyman-Scales-Bra ... 411&sr=8-5
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Apr 2022, 1:29 pm

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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 06 Apr 2022, 3:15 pm

I have been having a look (n the net) at the RCBS and the Redding model 2 scales mate. I like them both. Would be handy to see them in the flesh though. I picked up a set of Lyman scales at the shop today expecting to feel a similar weight to my universal case trimmer but nope, it was extremely light.

I am probably leaning more towards the Redding model 2 at this stage mate.
Thanks for the links Oldbloke, just in the process of checking them out now mate.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 06 Apr 2022, 3:17 pm

in2anity wrote:That's no good at all JT. I know I have to warm my Gen6 up for a few hours before I use it, to stop the post-dispense zero from "jumping about". But if she's been on for some time, AFAIK she's consistent. I have Queens gongs to back it up. Worth noting (with the flow restrictor permanently installed) my Gen6 throws 0.1gr under approx 50% of all throws, with the occasional 0.1gr over (which I just tip back in), making my extreme spread <0.2gr.

These days I don't split hairs over such variance. It seems absolutely fine for TR and even SH (SH is basically light F-class but with TR scoring). However F-class, with their 1moa bulleye 6 and 1/2moa 'X' decimal, is a different story.... those boyz go to great lengths to craft the most precise ammo... glad I don't have that pressure to make such anal ammo.

TBH JimTom replacing the Gen6 with the RCBS CM, if the need ever arose, was a serious consideration for me... i was under the impression the RCBS CM was the "creme-de-le-creme" in the digi realm. Sounds like this mightn't be such a bright idea....



Just to clarify mate, I had the charge master lite so maybe the higher end models are much better.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 06 Apr 2022, 3:23 pm

Oldbloke wrote:Sort of sounds like your not keen on RCBS?

Sooo,,,,Redding or Lyman then?



Only the RCBS electronic stuff I am not so keen on mate.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Apr 2022, 3:39 pm

Sooo,, my Redding #2 is ally/die cast. I think they all are. (Could get corrected)
I just expect that they will be light weight being alloy cast. But they are heavier than the Lee.

I found just bumping they moved. So, I glued a piece of lead roofing sheet under them. Much better.

Also added magnets to speed up weighing by improving the dampening. I also lube the V with graphite powder.


viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16190

Hope this helps.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Apr 2022, 3:55 pm

Oldbloke wrote:Delivers to AU

I'm guessing that's US $ 93 + $13 postage.

https://www.amazon.com/Lyman-Scales-Bra ... 411&sr=8-5


This works out to about $140 au delivered
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Apr 2022, 3:59 pm

Works out to about $185 au delivered



https://www.amazon.com/Redding-Reloadin ... 369&sr=8-3
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Apr 2022, 4:04 pm

OK, bad news the Lyman are plastic.

https://guidepie.com/best-beam-reloading-scale/
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Bugman » 06 Apr 2022, 4:24 pm

No electronic stuff for me. I still have my original RCBS 10/10 scales and they are still very accurate.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 06 Apr 2022, 4:26 pm

Thanks everyone for your input, and a special thanks to Oldbloke for doing a fair bit of leg work for me. I have ordered a set of RCBS m500. Was a close contest between between those and the Redding Mod 2.
Looking forward to their arrival.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by Bugman » 06 Apr 2022, 4:31 pm

You are most welcome. Let us know how you get on.
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Re: No more electronic scales for me

Post by JimTom » 06 Apr 2022, 4:53 pm

Will do mate. My dad has a set of Ohaus / RCBS 1010 that he has had since I was a boy. Still going strong. Pity they didn’t make ‘em like that nowadays eh. :drinks: :drinks: :drinks:
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