reloading scales

[danob73]

Digital or balance beam scales? How reliable are powder throwers for consistency as opposed to weighing individual loads, am intending to reload my own soon just interested to see a few ideas cheers

[juzz338]

Accuracy of powder throwers is largely influenced by the operator. If practiced you can be consistent enough to not need to weigh but if starting out you will generally be all over the place, after a while you will generally know by feel if you need to check a charge

[Brad Y]

Also some powders meter better through throwers. BM2 and BM 8208 are a couple that are very good. Its hard to throw off charges with those powders and a decent thrower.

Ive had two now, the first a crappy Lee thrower, now a hornady benchrest thrower which is alot better. But next one Im buying a Harrels Benchrest thrower from Sinclairs.

My advice... Buy once, cry once... the Harrels would be the go for sure.

[Camel]

I guess Im stuck with my ways now, started years ago with RCBS scales and thrower, took Uncle Nicks advice, set the thrower up to drop loads a little lower than wanted, then top up with trickler into the scale pan and drop into the case. Might be a bit slow, but I dont mind spending a few hours in the reloading room avery now and then. Now 30 odd years later and still doing the same. Slow and steady means less chance of something going wrong. If you are in a rush, well, use factory ammo.

[frakka]

If you're a low volume shooter the beam scales are quite adequate, I just enjoy doing 10, 15 or 20 cases now and again to keep the supply up. The upside is the loads are always spot on, but I can see for a busier shooter it could be pretty tedious and faster methods are required.

[Plowboy]

Well I bought a "smart reloader" iscale last year and was using that until yesterday, then it started to go crazy! So back to the lee scales. Once you have them set up they are quite good IMO. But IMO not easy to set the weight. I have not used any other balance scales to compare but once you have it set they are very good. It actually moves for a single granule of BM2. The lee thrower is also very good after you have done a fair few batches to get consistency. Every so often you get a throw which much catch on a granule and there is a jerky motion and I usually check those loads but they are rarely more than .2 off the set charge. For me doing hunting loads and never hot loads(mid range usually gives me the best accuracy) I am not too worried about that. I check every 10 throws to make sure nothing has changed. I usually only load in batches of 50(or how many cases I have left in a batch) so I don't spend a lot of time loading. I did however load up a heap yesterday since it was too bloody cold and windy for fencing!

[danob73]

Sounds like the digital scales are good as long as you have a set of beam scales as a check or back up? Reminds me of tpw scales when they play up

[Plowboy]

Hmm. Reckon if you have quality scale sand maybe a set of calibration weights that go down in say 1gram I would say that would be fine. But if you are starting out mate, get a balance weight scale first. They are good and no electrics to stuff up. Oh but make sure you do your weighing and charging in a room where there are no drafts or fans going, not good for any type of powder scale.

[danob73]

Thanks for the advice I think I'll go for the balance beam scales upgrade down the track if need be

[Camel]

Good idea mate, especially if you are just getting into reloading, the time you spend doing things slowly will be well spent, think of reloading as an enjoyable pastime and not just another chore to be done. I find it very relaxing. Especially since I put a lock on the inside of the door so I only get interupted when I want to, just turn the stereo up and forget about whats going on outside.