Electronic Scales, How Accurate is Accurate Enough

RCrosby

I've followed the recent thread addressing the merits of digital vs. mechanical scales. This is a variation on the theme:
I sold my old RCBS digital which was accurate to .1 grain, but powered by AC cord only. Since I want a battery operated unit I've been looking at the MTM and Hornady low end scales and note that they both advertise accuracy to .2 grain.
I load for everything from the Hornet to .257, .308, .270 and '06 in rifles, and .38/357 and .44's in handguns. None of my load are maximum as I go for best accuracy within general factory loaded perameters.
As a rule I use the scale to set my powder measures and then just check every 10th charge or so to make sure I'm still on track.
So, I'm interested in any experience/opinions that folks would like to offer. How do you feel about trying a ".2 scale"? Would you try it, or pass and go for the more expensive and accurate scale? Perfection would be nice, but is .2 nice enough?

Tailgunner1954

I personaly wouldn't want a .2gr scale, and IMHO any scale reading finer than .1 is overkill.
Repeatability is more critical than absolute accuracy, IE it's better to by off by a consistant amount (either in gr or percentage) than to have the same weight read different every time.

mrbruce

Seems like a consistent volume is more important than 1/10th of a grain difference would be..
I would still rather have a scale with + or - of 1/10th than 2/10th....

Rocky Raab

How would you measure powder volume, mrbruce?

The larger the desired charge, the less vital weighing accuracy becomes. A scale that is consistent within 1% of the desired weight is more than good enough.

JustC

only problem is that you will start getting false readings as the battery gets down, and may not know it right away. I stick with AC power and my PACT is right down to .1gr

m113103

I too weigh every 10th charge. I also have a set of scale weights. I select one that is near the weight that I am using and check the scale against it. Some scales are temperature sensitive (give different readings with different temperatures). That is why I use a standard (scale weight).

perry shooter

I am old school "also old" however I use a powder measure on all my reloads this is by volume. some measures work better then others and all depend on how they are operated. My star progressive press has IMHO the best measure going . I also measure 10 cycles of the measure and use this as 10x the charge then adjust from there. I feel it is a waste of time to weigh every load. on most measures and most scales you can chase yourself all day trying to adjust buy measuring/ weighing one load at a time. I also agree the smaller the charge the more important the scale / measure. If you have.1 grain error on a 38 special target load of 2.5 grains of Bulls-Eye powder it is 20 times the error of .1 grains in a 59 grain load of 4831 in a 25/06

RCrosby

Thanks for all the advice.
This one has a rather strange ending, at least for the time being.
Saw an ad for some reloading equipment in the local paper, including a scale. For $80.00 I came home with a set of RCBS dies, a like new RCII press, a Forster trimmer, fresh can of 4831, 200 bullets, 300+ rounds of '06 brass, 200 primers, a Lee loader, set of lee powder scoops, some shotgun ammo, a few other dodads AND a Lee scale. Wouldn't have thought to buy one, but it seems to work well, and since I'm basically using it to set volume measures, it's getting the job done. The digital will come in to play I'm sure, but for now I'm set.
Thanks again,
Rob [;)]

Rocky Raab

Hold these numbers under your chin and look at the camera ...


You stole that stuff, my friend. I'm betting it was a "widow sale". We used to get about one a month in the gun store where I worked. We clerks got to pick from the powder, primers and other stuff that can't be re-sold (by law). I still have a grundle of old powders and primers from those deals, and I haven't worked there in nine years.

Good on ya.

RCrosby

Not a widow sale, but almost as bad. Guy was out of work. Said he hadn't used the stuff in years and knew it was worth more but just wanted it out of the house. I did give him more than he was asking and am quieting my conscience a little bit by giving some of it to friends, keeping what I can use, and posting the rest on the auction side.
[:D]

Rocky Raab

I am greatly impressed that you gave him more than he asked. It is rare to find a person today who isn't of the "me and only me" mentality, and who would have dickered the guy down just to take advantage of him.

I repeat: Good on ya.

m113103

What goes around comes around.