Beam scales.

[Bugman]

My nephew has shown a real interest in reloading. With regard to powder weighing, for myself, I have a set of RCBS 10/10
beam scales which have never failed me in 20 odd years of use.
The new beam scales that are available appear to be a bit "tinny" so not real sure. Of course there are electronic powder measure scales but the kid has a budget that he must stick to, I guess.
What are the rest of you using?

[Oldbloke]

Avoid the Lee.
Avoid cheap digital. (Under $300)
I have an old set of Redding. Been good.

I have modified them

Stronger magnets to slow the swing.
Glued a lump of lead on the underside to help stability if bumped.

If there is no rush, wait & buy used and save a few $. Big brands last for donkey years.

[deye243]

RCBS 505 are good I use them around twice a week for more than 25 years and they sit under cover .

[No1Mk3]

Most of my reloading is on progressive presses these days, so I use an RCBS 5-0-5 beam scale to set up the powder throwers and to check weights during loading. As Oldbloke said, if you're not in a rush watch ebay etc and visit gunshows etc. My rifle club has Trash 'n Treasure Nights 3 times a year which always has something I didn't know I needed! It's not worth buying one from the US anymore as postage is ridiculously high these days, often exceeding $100, have seen one 2nd hand RCBS scale on US Ebay with AU$170 p+h for a US$25 item.

[Oldbloke]

Most of my reloading is on progressive presses these days, so I use an RCBS 5-0-5 beam scale to set up the powder throwers and to check weights during loading. As Oldbloke said, if you're not in a rush watch ebay etc and visit gunshows etc. My rifle club has Trash 'n Treasure Nights 3 times a year which always has something I didn't know I needed! It's not worth buying one from the US anymore as postage is ridiculously high these days, often exceeding $100, have seen one 2nd hand RCBS scale on US Ebay with AU$170 p+h for a US$25 item.

Spot on. Postage is murder.

Mate was lucky and a few weeks ago picked up a set for $25 in fair working order.

Someone here might have a surplus set.

[Oldbloke]

SSAAGUNSALES.COM

https://ssaagunsales.com/listing/52958

Hornady scales $100

Don't know what model??

o_1i1c5qqi81pjhe2m1ohh10mq5dqh.jpeg (230.65 KiB) Viewed 3197 times

[GQshayne]

Beam scales are a good investment in my opinion.

And if you have a look at an old set like mine, and compare them to new modesl they are almost identical. So the design is good, and a second hand item will serve him well.

[MrMickyD]

I have the Redding #2 scale its been very good for me for a long time.

[Bugman]

Many thanks for the info. It is appeciated

[Jorlcrin]

Ohaus used to make some of the really durable beam-scales when I was a young lad about 40-odd years back.

Pretty sure the original Lyman scales we had here were Ohaus brand.
I know that later Ohaus scales looked a bit less heavy-built, but seemed to still work okay.
I know I saw a few different big-brand reloading companies were simply re-badging the Ohaus products..

[Oldbloke]

The ones my mate got for $25 are Ohaus with the agate V.
But they look rough. Need a tidy up. All parts are there. Good score.

[GQshayne]

Mine are RCBS.

Dairy farmer friend of my family bought a .222 and got a box of "stuff" he didn't want. He didn't think it was of much value as it looked pretty old. Said I could have it if I wanted it. I was about 17 or 18 and had no loading gear of my own so I said yes please. He dropped it off at our place when I was at work.

It was in excellent condition. Got the beam scales, O frame press, powder thrower, set of .222 dies, case lube, powder funnel, loading block etc. I am still using all of it today whenever I reload anything. He would not take any money for it so I gave him a carton of XXXX Gold.

[Oldbloke]

Mine are RCBS.

Dairy farmer friend of my family bought a .222 and got a box of "stuff" he didn't want. He didn't think it was of much value as it looked pretty old. Said I could have it if I wanted it. I was about 17 or 18 and had no loading gear of my own so I said yes please. He dropped it off at our place when I was at work.

It was in excellent condition. Got the beam scales, O frame press, powder thrower, set of .222 dies, case lube, powder funnel, loading block etc. I am still using all of it today whenever I reload anything. He would not take any money for it so I gave him a carton of XXXX Gold.

That's just lovely, poison the poor bugger.

[GQshayne]

Well he liked XXXX, what else could I do????

As it happens, Wally passed away a couple of months ago. No doubt I will think of him in the years to come, whenever I use the equipment he generously gave me for free all those years ago.

[Oldbloke]

That's sad.

[GQshayne]

That's sad.

He was in his 90's, so he had a good knock. He had a bad tractor accident a couple of years ago, and that knocked him around pretty bad. He fell off the tractor, but had the steering on full lock when he fell off. He was hurt and could not get up, and the tractor was doing circles and coming back to him. He crawled out the way a couple of times but eventually it got him. So for an older man, he never really recovered from that.

[Oldbloke]

Many thanks for the info. It is appeciated

Did you get some scales?

[Bugman]

Yes. I managed and was lucky to acquire a set of RCBS 1000 scales from a friend. ($150) Mint condition, as he has gone to a set of RCBS Chargemaster. But I will admit that comparing them
to my old RCBS 10:10 scales, the quality appears to have diminished. Just my opinion, though.

[Oldbloke]

WOO, that's cheap. Over $400 retail

[Bugman]

plus a bottle of his favourite bourbon.

[Oldbloke]

Looks a rip off to me.
Low tech, likely made in China.