doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Scale(s) for Reloading

I plan to start doing some reloading. My motivation for reloading is to be able to make some low pressure and 2 1/2" loads. I will be using a MEC 600 and MEC 650. Can anyone suggest a decent scale(s) to use? I mention scales because some of the reading I have done mention using bot a beam and digital scale. Thanks in advance for any advice.

You should always use a scale, I happen to use both, a beam and a digital. My digital is a Cabela's 1500 and is I believe a Lyman 1500. The quick readings of the digital are nice and I compare it to the beam.
The only I see is that the digital will not always come back to 0.00 in grs. Sometimes it will be 0.01 or 0.02 and I have to tare it again. Don't know why that happens.

i have two different brand beam scales - a LEE and and an RCBS - both work fine for powder - the RCBS will handle a little over an ounce for shot (1.17 oz top limit)

a wider range digital might work better for bigger shot loads

i check the bushings to make sure they throw an accurate charge/load to start - checking several samples before actual loading

then a couple times now and then

Balance beam scales work very well. But they must be level and not in a strong breeze. They are sensitive. The electronic scales work well but I still use both. 50 years of watching a bouncing beam is a hard habit to break.

Double post. Sorry!

I use my RCBS chargemaster. Throws powder great. Never tried it for shot though.

Ballistic Products carries a digital scale that comes with weights to calibrate. I've only used it a time or two but was very pleased. Of course I've had an RCBS balance beam for 40 years. The digital is less expensive.

I have both balance beam and digital. The digital has ended up in a closet, not that it's not accurate but I just never could come to trust it completely. A balance beam, though old technology, is just about fail proof--gravity never changes. And it seems previous responders have similar hesitations, keeping both handy.

I've been using the same Ohaus 5-0-5 for 42 years (yes, it is actually labeled Ohaus). It's been dead nuts reliable year after year after year. I have no plans to ever go digital - I suspect that balance beams cost more because better usually does cost more.

Use a scale, MEC bushings and bars can NOT be trusted to throw the weight they say they will.

bill