I'm sorry to bore you with redundant questions, couldn't find answers in previous threads and I can't find archives. I'm new and am leaning towards Dillon 550---- have thought long & hard about single stage vs progressive. Anyway, crucial step in my opinion is powder charge. Any comment on scale choice, many have offered their thoughts on balance beam vs electronic. I'm thinking of PACT electronic scale---- I realize I'll need to randomly check charges every 5-10 cases. Thanks, Dave

Welcome dlistello,
Glad you're here. These guys will give you many opinions but more importantly the correct answers that you are seeking. Sorry I don't know the answers. I just use a Lee single stage press. The anniversary kit.
Greg

I would think the Dillion is as good as a progresive press as you will find. I would also think the PACT scale would be very nice as well. Sounds like you will have a very nice set up. Like Rhino57 I use Lee Precision single stage (Also bought kit) and their turret press and I charge with powder dippers so I guess I very "primative" but you should be very happy with your set up. We need more reloaders and, not speaking for myself, reloaders are about as distinguished a group as you will find - 1%-ers but in a good way.

I have a RCBS 505 beam scale , Lee Safety magnetic beam scale and a Frankfort Arsenal digital scale and they all measure the same. I do not hesitate to use any of them.

I'm sorry to bore you with redundant questions, couldn't find answers in previous threads and I can't find archives. I'm new and am leaning towards Dillon 550---- have thought long & hard about single stage vs progressive. Anyway, crucial step in my opinion is powder charge. Any comment on scale choice, many have offered their thoughts on balance beam vs electronic. I'm thinking of PACT electronic scale---- I realize I'll need to randomly check charges every 5-10 cases. Thanks, Dave
Dillon 550 should do a great job. If you plan on reloading multiple calibers then add in the cost of the conversion kits for each if you want the quick change option. I have a Pact electronic scale. I got it a few years ago when it was all the rage. I honestly don't use it much. I like my RCBS balance beam better. the Pact seems to be affected by air currents from my AC and by electrical interference from a nearby fluorescent light. It will not stay zeroed while I am using it. I got the dispenser too but I end up throwing most of my loads from a RCBS powder dispenser rather than weighing each load. The Pact dispenser/scale seems much slower to use. One of these days I may get energetic enough to move the light fixture and see if the scale will stay zeroed then but the old balance beam still works well.
If you search this sight you will find a thread that gives a link to an article comparing electronic dispenser/scales. I believe the RCBS was rated higher. It used to be made by Pact but I think that it is made by another company now.
Look at this thread for different views on various scales:

http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=57091&highlight=pact+dispenser

I have used a Dillon 550 for many years and am very pleased with it! If you plan on loading several calibers and shooting regular, they are great machines. For only one or two calibers and twice a year shooting, they are too expensive! Buying the caliber conversions makes changing calibers very easy, even from rifle to pistol. I have conversions for all calibers I shoot regular. The no BS warranty is truly no BS! Any problems you have give Dillon a call and they will help you solve it. It will cost you more to use this machine because you will load and shoot more. It`s addictive! As for a scale, I use a RCBS powder pro digital (my beam scale got crushed) with a scale check weight kit and has done fine for several years. I`m not into precision loads or competitive shooting and know there is better more precise equipment to be had. For my playing around the house these tools have been great fun!

My RCBS digiscale looks so much like the PACT, I think PACT just makes them & sticks on an RCBS label. They come with 2 calibration weights, but I have a set of check weights I got from a lab supply place that I use, too.

These scales are sensitive to air drafts, so I put mine on a shelf where it's surrounded on 5 sides so air won't blow on the pan. They're also susceptible to temperature drift, so keep it out of sunlight, and let it warm up for 15 min before using it.

The plastic pans they come with are easily charged with static which makes pouring powder tricky - the grains can fly in random directions. I use the aluminum pan that came with my ancient beam scale.

I've never found that my RCBS or Lyman powder measures ever drift. You check every 5-10 cases to make sure you haven't loaded too many before discovering the drift. I'm confident enough in my measures that I only re-weigh after doing a refill, and at the end of loading a box.

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