Digital Scale Controversy

[rugersol]

I have a cheap scale because my goal for reloading is just to get more trigger time. I don't feel the need to trickle charge all of my loads.

When I talk about a reloading scale, I do so in the context of reloading rifle, as well as pistol!

Of course, I don't trickle my pistol loads!

Again, my original post was not that a digital scale wasn't accurate ... most are not! ... it was that it cost $140 ... when it shoulda cost $30!

You did it right!

... 'til ya wanna trickle!

[Erud]

What you need in a scale really depends on what you are planning to do with your ammo. For hunting, plinking, MOST types of target shooting and general range fun, almost any scale will work fine. I load/shoot a LOT of ammo every year and I've used everything from cheap balance beam, cheap digital, good digital, GREAT digital, auto powder measures on my progressive presses and the RCBS Chargemaster 1500. For the type of shooting that I do, I have found that charges weighed or thrown by any of the above mentioned methods is perfectly capable of shooting clean targets in 200-300 yard competitions. I trust the Chargemaster for all 200-300yd match loads and all non-match loads to be used at any distance. It's fast, easy and for all intents and purposes, accurate to 0.1gr(of the specified charge) when checked against my much more accurate scale. So that's 0.2gr total variance, though I have never actually seen that large of a spread. Regardless, that is not enough variance to take you out of the 10 ring. For 500-1000yd match loads, it does start to make more of a difference. At 500-600 yards, I have shot lots of good scores with Chargemaster-thrown loads, but uniformity really starts getting important. I have gone to loading all of my 500-1000yd match ammo with a digital scale that is accurate to 0.005 grains. Dispense charges .1 grain short on the Chargemaster, then trickle up on the digital scale. This way, charges are all within a single kernel of each other. Takes a little more time(though not a lot more), but if scores count, it's worth it to me.

I am not a serious pistol shooter, so all of my pistol ammo is loaded on full-progressive with auto powder measure. Unless you just shoot pistols from a rest, I think you'd need to be an extremely good shooter to see variances of a couple or few tenths grain show up on target. I am in no danger of having that problem anytime soon so I don't spend any additional time weighing those charges.

Just my humble opinions,

Erik

[rugersol]

a digital scale that is accurate to 0.005 grains. Dispense charges .1 grain short on the Chargemaster, then trickle up on the digital scale.

Whaddya use to trickle? ... tweezers?!

Jest outta curiosity ... what's a 5 thousandths scale run?!

[Erud]

a digital scale that is accurate to 0.005 grains. Dispense charges .1 grain short on the Chargemaster, then trickle up on the digital scale.

Whaddya use to trickle? ... tweezers?!

Jest outta curiosity ... what's a 5 thousandths scale run?!

I use one of these to trickle:

http://shop.omegapowdertrickler.com/Ome ... MG2010.htm

It's about the best $70 you can spend if you want easy, accurate, controllable trickling ability. You'll wonder why you didn't think of it years ago.

As far as the .005 scale goes, it wasn't cheap.

[ijosef]

You guys actually weigh your powder charges?

[sgruenhagen44]

Before I bought my auto disk, I use to just fill the case and scrape it even with a playing card. Titegroup seemed to work the best.

[OldmanFCSA]

In 1000 yard FCSA competitions, some reloaders weigh the primers, powder, bullets, and cases. I haven't been anal enough yet to weigh the primers.
I try to weight sort my bullets to 0.1 grains variance, but also sort by length and profile as AMAX's vary considerably. For BoreRiders machined from solid brass, I buy lots that are certified within 0.5 grains variance and still weight sort to 0.1 grain for loadings.
I weigh the powder charges to 0.1 grain variance and then verify on a good scale I purchased from ERUD, a Denver Instruments MX-123. Powder trickling brings it up to final spec after using RCBS ChargeMaster to drop short of desired weight.
I weigh cases, but due to variance I sort from lightest to heavyest and then shoot in that order always.

But all this is in vain due to shot out barrels in my target rifles. New barrels with tigher chambers are in the works, which means all new load development again.
Its FUN when done SAFELY, and rewarding.
Much more fun than punching 1-hole groups at 300 yards or less. Learning to read the wind applies, not just pulling the trigger.

[Scratch]

Tag for future.