what say you? I have the RCBS 5-0-5 and it seems to retail for $80. Kind of funny, since the little disk on the bottom looks awfully flimsy as far as zeroing is concerned. Any opinions? Is there a big heavy duty one from redding available?
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Best Balance Beam Scale
- Thread starter Dsparil
- Start date
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
My RCBS is so old they don't even offer it any more. But for help with zero and balance, I made a 1/4" steel plate with 1 leg on the front and 2 on the back. It's ball park of 4" wide and 14" long. The bolt holes are tapped 1/4 X 20. For long adjustments I made the bolts up out of all thread rod and welded nuts on the tops. I used another nut as a "jammer" on the top side of the plate.
My RCBS is so old they don't even offer it any more. But for help with zero and balance, I made a 1/4" steel plate with 1 leg on the front and 2 on the back. It's ball park of 4" wide and 14" long. The bolt holes are tapped 1/4 X 20. For long adjustments I made the bolts up out of all thread rod and welded nuts on the tops. I used another nut as a "jammer" on the top side of the plate.
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
I picked up a used rcbs balance beam scale on ebay. Its older probably back in the 80's when quality was higher. I notice on the newer 505's the "V" that the beam sits in is plastic where mine is all steel. And i just feel that the over all quality of the new 505's is poor. Im sure they are accuarate, but they just feel cheap compared to mine. Look aound ebay before you buy new. The older ones from ohaus, lyman, or rcbs are great. I picked up a ohaus check weight set from ebay as well, and my scale is right on the money. The check weight set is in grams so I had to convert grams to grains. Incase you didnt' know Ohuas actually makes the scales for rcbs, or atleast they did, you can find identicle 505 scales with ohaus name on it, and they are tan color, rcbs is ofcourse green. I hope this helps some.
I picked up a used rcbs balance beam scale on ebay. Its older probably back in the 80's when quality was higher. I notice on the newer 505's the "V" that the beam sits in is plastic where mine is all steel. And i just feel that the over all quality of the new 505's is poor. Im sure they are accuarate, but they just feel cheap compared to mine. Look aound ebay before you buy new. The older ones from ohaus, lyman, or rcbs are great. I picked up a ohaus check weight set from ebay as well, and my scale is right on the money. The check weight set is in grams so I had to convert grams to grains. Incase you didnt' know Ohuas actually makes the scales for rcbs, or atleast they did, you can find identicle 505 scales with ohaus name on it, and they are tan color, rcbs is ofcourse green. I hope this helps some.
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
Best Prometheus, Period!
But I understand there not for everyone, my first scale was a Lyman M5, its an old style RCBS 10-10 made by Ohaus, look on Egay for one, mine was 18 bucks delivered, I had to do a little work to it like releveling the pivot points, and sharpening the knife edges, but it works, and its repeatable. Old Redding oil dampened scales work really good, but there hard to find in good condition.
Best Prometheus, Period!
But I understand there not for everyone, my first scale was a Lyman M5, its an old style RCBS 10-10 made by Ohaus, look on Egay for one, mine was 18 bucks delivered, I had to do a little work to it like releveling the pivot points, and sharpening the knife edges, but it works, and its repeatable. Old Redding oil dampened scales work really good, but there hard to find in good condition.
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
"Best Balance Beam Scale?"
Let's put it this way; Modern magnetically damped scales (that means all those made in the last fourty years) are equal in both sensitivity and accuracy. What varies is the total range, 100 gr for the Lee up to 1,010 for the RCBS (Ohaus made) 1010. And a few user conviences, not a lot there either.
Your 505 is fine. Redding's scale is also excellant. And (of course!) it's a bit heavier than others but the value of that depends a whole lot in how clumsy we may be.
The Promethus' greatest value seems to be feeding the needs of the hopeful nit-pickers amoung us. Greater powder charge accuracy/sensitivity than .1 gr. gets lost in trivial variations in cases, primers, bullet differences, how fouled a barrel is, which direction the ducks are flying, etc.
"Best Balance Beam Scale?"
Let's put it this way; Modern magnetically damped scales (that means all those made in the last fourty years) are equal in both sensitivity and accuracy. What varies is the total range, 100 gr for the Lee up to 1,010 for the RCBS (Ohaus made) 1010. And a few user conviences, not a lot there either.
Your 505 is fine. Redding's scale is also excellant. And (of course!) it's a bit heavier than others but the value of that depends a whole lot in how clumsy we may be.
The Promethus' greatest value seems to be feeding the needs of the hopeful nit-pickers amoung us. Greater powder charge accuracy/sensitivity than .1 gr. gets lost in trivial variations in cases, primers, bullet differences, how fouled a barrel is, which direction the ducks are flying, etc.
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
Beam scales have been in use for thousands of years because they're simple and they work. If you doubt yours, buy a set of calibration weights. If the test weights say it's right, it's right. Period. Full stop.
Beam scales have been in use for thousands of years because they're simple and they work. If you doubt yours, buy a set of calibration weights. If the test weights say it's right, it's right. Period. Full stop.
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Promethus' greatest value seems to be feeding the needs of the hopeful nit-pickers amoung us. Greater powder charge accuracy/sensitivity than .1 gr. gets lost in trivial variations in cases, primers, bullet differences, how fouled a barrel is, which direction the ducks are flying, etc. </div></div>
Haven't used one I take it?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Promethus' greatest value seems to be feeding the needs of the hopeful nit-pickers amoung us. Greater powder charge accuracy/sensitivity than .1 gr. gets lost in trivial variations in cases, primers, bullet differences, how fouled a barrel is, which direction the ducks are flying, etc. </div></div>
Haven't used one I take it?
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
You did not mention barrel temperature variations. According to one person studying that issue, a 3 degree difference in barrel temperature is about the same magnitude as a .1 grain difference in powder charge.
http://www.snipershide.com/UserFiles/Image/articles/Pressure_Factors.pdf
http://www.snipershide.com/UserFiles/Image/articles/powder_primer_temp_experiment_2.pdf
I like Brand Cole, though, who invented it, and I think everyone should buy one.
You did not mention barrel temperature variations. According to one person studying that issue, a 3 degree difference in barrel temperature is about the same magnitude as a .1 grain difference in powder charge.
http://www.snipershide.com/UserFiles/Image/articles/Pressure_Factors.pdf
http://www.snipershide.com/UserFiles/Image/articles/powder_primer_temp_experiment_2.pdf
I like Brand Cole, though, who invented it, and I think everyone should buy one.
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
Success in this game requires eleminating as many variables as possible, ammo is one of those variables...
Success in this game requires eleminating as many variables as possible, ammo is one of those variables...
Re: Best Balance Beam Scale
In that case, I think you should buy two, and use one of them to check the other.
Seriously, if you play a game where you have sighters, like F-Class or Highpower, it's a great gadget.
If you are trying to hit a distant target on the first shot, it's less valuable. If you don't know the muzzle velocity variation of your load as a function of temperature, it's a waste of money. But it's your money.
And the economy needs stimulating.
In that case, I think you should buy two, and use one of them to check the other.
Seriously, if you play a game where you have sighters, like F-Class or Highpower, it's a great gadget.
If you are trying to hit a distant target on the first shot, it's less valuable. If you don't know the muzzle velocity variation of your load as a function of temperature, it's a waste of money. But it's your money.
And the economy needs stimulating.
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