Thread: Beams scales vs automatic powder dispencers

About warm up time for electronic scale.
@veitnamcam said somewhere he gives it at least 30mins warm up. For those of us working in the shed, a short warm up of the scale is possibly less useful unless the temperature of the shed itself is constant by that time. In my garage it would not be as I go out there, switch the blower heater on and work on whatever I do. With electronic scales, it may be better to do the powder weighing / dispensing in the living room, like @Gibo's and @rewa's kind partners let them do (just also watch the draft from the heat pump).

I don't bother checking charges other than noting where the charge sits in the case visually once settled. I use a drop tube as well.

If there is an obvious difference then I will check weight.
Whenever I check zero or velocity I pick random rounds from the box and note the ES to confirm nothing is going on.

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Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Good beam scales have an efficient magnetic damping system which means they settle quickly. I use lee scoops that get me to within a few grains and trickle the rest

So does that mean a powder thrower isnt nessisary? Are the lee powder scoops quite good?

Originally Posted by Tim Dicko

that would be a fairly high bench oright or shelf. how slow are the beam scales?

If you sit at a normal height table, only need to raise them about 20cm.

If you pre-load with a scoop, the beam scales are pretty quick.

Originally Posted by Tim Dicko

So does that mean a powder thrower isnt nessisary? Are the lee powder scoops quite good?

You can get the charges quite consistent with the lee scoops. You are meant to have the power in a wide mouth bowl, you dunk the scoop and let the powder flow into it in a consistent manner and lift it straight up. You don't "scoop it up" as that may cause compression of the powder. Then the contents are levelled in a consistent way e.g. with a credit card edge, scooped at same angle the same way each time. Plenty youtube videos.

Scooping in this manner is as accurate as any powder thrower - just not adjustable in as fine increments.

Originally Posted by Tim Dicko

So does that mean a powder thrower isnt nessisary? Are the lee powder scoops quite good?

About thirty odd years ago my first reloading kit was a Lee and i had to use a mallet to resize, seat primer and projectile.

Powder handling was a little yellow scoop level the propellant with the edge of the scoop no scales or trickler job done, using Lee powder instructions.

I had some of the most accurate ammo I had for my Mod 700 Remington .243.

I think I used 85 gr GameKings, still use them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdCMx50HrgU

I use lee spoons and a lee balance bean scale...Ive got a flashasmichaeljackson powder thrower thingy but seldon bother to use it unless doing morethan 30 rounds at once. for years I just used a plastic teaspoon ,it amazing how close you can get /guess powder to put in pan on scales,still use it for trickling,hold spoon over pan in right hand and tap thumb knuckle with left hand,easy peasy.

I choose fine powders and throw, from a good quality thrower checking about 1 in 50 for accuracy and an eye ball in every case, yeah I go through a lot of eyeballs, but its pretty quick. Even reasonably coarse powders like 2213 , 2209 throw within about .2 of a grain.
I think the other variables in the reloading equation ( case neck tension, bullet seating depth. wind and atmosphere account for more accuracy issues than the variance of +/- .1 grain
Remember that in doing accuracy tests and building up to an accurate load there is usually a sweet spot covered by +/- .3 grains

As mentioned above, I find case-neck-tension can be a huge variable in the pressure-variable part of the equation. You need to get your brass as consistently-equal as possible if you are going for long-range kills or target-shooting.

Originally Posted by ebf

Beam scale, installed at eye height. Make sure it is level and balanced.

Combine it with powder scoops and an electronic trickler, and you will be smiling

A bit of OCD going on there ebf!

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Originally Posted by Cordite

About warm up time for electronic scale.
@veitnamcam said somewhere he gives it at least 30mins warm up. For those of us working in the shed, a short warm up of the scale is possibly less useful unless the temperature of the shed itself is constant by that time. In my garage it would not be as I go out there, switch the blower heater on and work on whatever I do. With electronic scales, it may be better to do the powder weighing / dispensing in the living room, like @Gibo's and @rewa's kind partners let them do (just also watch the draft from the heat pump).

Im in the shed too but dont heat or cool it at all.
I am postulating here but I think as long as the scale has come up to whatever its stable working temp is a bit of variance in air temp shouldn't matter too much.

Originally Posted by rewa

As mentioned above, I find case-neck-tension can be a huge variable in the pressure-variable part of the equation. You need to get your brass as consistently-equal as possible if you are going for long-range kills or target-shooting.

Can you uniform case neck tension by crimping, or is it more complicated than that?

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Can you uniform case neck tension by crimping, or is it more complicated than that?

Works for some calibers.

I am not keen on crimping my rifle calibers. Consistent neck thickness (however achieved) with good dies and sorting by cases by volume and not weight works for me.

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Waiting to get mine... Have the scale already and finally managed to persuade my brother that he should be contributing to my reloading gear so he is helping pay for this

https://youtu.be/c54nuMXU3Qo


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Originally Posted by The Claw

Waiting to get mine... Have the scale already and finally managed to persuade my brother that he should be contributing to my reloading gear so he is helping pay for this

https://youtu.be/c54nuMXU3Qo


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Bastard!!! Why did you have post this
Not too bad a price either.

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