After weighing all my powder charges with a balance beam scale for all my reloading life, (35 years) I am now just starting to get use to my new RCBS 750 Range Master. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. I have my 505 scale set up right along side the new Range Master to double check it. I finally loaded some 357 Mag loads the other day with just the Range Master. I am a creature of habit and change is hard to come by. The loads shot just fine. I still think in the back of my mind that I need to use my 505 scale. I have even checked several times against the Range Master. Dead on every time. I love this new frontier. It is a great scale and I am happy. Am I the only one who went through this?

30-30 Man

You are not alone!
I have the RCBS scale and powder dispenser and it took me a long time to trust it.
My scale requires a good warm up prior to throwing repeatable charges but once properly warmed it does a very good job.
My scale is warming on the bench as I write this. In winter I let it warm up at least 30 min.

Have used the digital scale now exclusively since purchasing one of the first Lyman 1000's that came on the market years ago. Used to check against the RCBS 505, but found so little variance that I quit doing it.

Only con on the electronics is they are fairly sensitive to drafts and static electricity. When using it, I shut off the airconditioner, close the door and try to keep my body movements minimual.

Well, the old Redding is still handy and the first charge weighed on the PACT DPPS goes on the Redding too. I don't double check after that unless the PACT is getting twitchy. Always put the empty pan back on the electronic scale after each charge and let it auto tare. If you just keep going from powder measure to scale to cartridge case and back to powder measure the scale could drift without you realizing it.

One thing that will drive the PACT nuts is a change in temperature. If I'm reloading in mid-afternoon on a sunny day, the sun will get around until it's shining on the PACT, if I leave it in it's usual place. Then it gets erratic and needs constant re-taring.

The Redding arrived in 1968 and the PACT in 1995.

Bye
Jack

I have a digital scale and like it a lot as it will weigh more than my balance beam will. I STILL check them against each other anyways, although they have always agreed very closely or exactly. I just must be the anal type and double checking is not going to ever hurt.

I have the older (1st Gen ?) RCBS Electronic powder scale and powder measure set and I like it a lot. It is accurate within it's stated tolerances as far as I can tell. I use the set primarily for workup loads. I must confess I use the scale more for "random" weight measurement than for "routine" measurements.

I still use my beam scale (RCBS 505) for precision loads that I throw light from a measure and trickle up on the scale. Not because I don't trust the electronic scale, but because it is considerably faster this way. My electronic scale is really slow.

It may be easier to set the charge weight and let it run, but I can usually load 3 very precise rounds with the "manual" method in the time it takes the electronic set to throw a single charge.

I do believe that I can get far more consistent charge weights using the beam scale than I could get with the electronic scale. The electronic scales are only good to +/- .05gr. I am also absolutely certain that the difference means less than nothing :)

I have had the RCBS Chargemaster Combo for about a year and a half. No warm up time is needed but the air movement must be kept from the digital scale same as the beam. I will not go back to the beam!! Technocrity is good. ;)

Dave :cool:

I had the original RCBS scale until the big flood of '97 and when they moved stuff out something happened and it doesn't work anymore. Bought the 750 RCBS and it now is acting up--battery goes dead if left in even when its shut off and noticed its starting to drift on weights. Didn't notice the last until I bought a cheap digit scale for the range and thats when I noticed its off .4 grain between the two scales even when both are calibrated with there weight sets. Suspect it will be sent back to RCBS or Pact whoever makes theres now. Come to think of it believe the last time talked to Pact they indicated RCBS's scale was being made overseas (China?). Love the convience and speed of the digital scales but hate the headaches. Still use the manual scale occassionally in a pinch and to check the accuracy of the digital which needs to be done from my experiences.

I have the Pact system, with the newer dispenser. My loading area needed better lighting so I put a Halogen lamp close buy. It raises the devil with the scale, that and it needs to warm up 5min before using are the only obstacles I have noticed. I am happy with the set up and have been hand loading for over 35 yrs.
Jim

The two "biggest problems" that I have with electronic scales revolve around "who made them"? and why? The "why" part is easy. Too make money. The "who" part is harder. I think most are from China? Are they built by handloaders? I don't think so!
I am going to wait "a little longer before I invest in one".

Dippers and balance scales work fine for me!

Cheezywan