Scale Reloading
Test reloading powder scale?
I just bought a reloading press and it came with a scale but i don’t think it is accurate but don’t know how to test it. It’s a balance beam powder scale. I have a digital scale for cooking and stuff but it only does grams to the accuracy of .1. Is there anyway to test the accuracy. Also i have a .5 cc scoop that came with the dies i have but i don’t know the conversion for cc’s or grams to grains.
I am a reloading instructor.
You need to use the scale that came in the kit – or another reloading scale.
All you need to do to check your scale is to simply zero the scale with the powder tray on as is normal – you do this every time you start reloading – that is what the adjustable foot does. This levels the scale. To verify the scale is good and has not been damaged – just measure the weight of a jacketed bullet! Most jacketed bullets – especially the really expensive Nosler and Barns lead free – are accurate to .1 grains.
So long as you are not leaving your scale on a bench where your kids will bang it, or, your dogs tail will send it flying – the thing will always be accurate. I am ex military – after my house hold goods were unpacked I would test the scale againt a 55gr fmj bullet. Smaller bullets from 30gr to 55gr are better for testing.
Do not get hung up on scale accuracy. As Reloaders, we only care about repeatibility. When you set the scale for 27.1 grains of powder and weigh out a load – you should be able to put it back on the scale and have it read the same every single time.
You work loads up from ‘start’ to ‘max’. Somewhere before Max you should find a good accurate powder amount that does not give any pressure sign. Nobody really cares if the scale is actually reading +.2 or -.4 grains – so long as you can put that scale to the same place and get that accurate load – you are golden.
This is why putting a bit more money into a decent scale it worth it. The better scales are more accurate at measuring the same load time and time again. And if you scale is broken, lost, or stolen – don’t expect your pet loads to work on a new scale. This is why all your top reloaders have two scales – on very nice one on the bench – and another that has been calibrated to the nice one. My calibrated one is +.3 of my nice one and that scale lives in a protected box. Should my nice one get ruined, when I buy a replacement I will use the calibrated one to set the new one so it throws exactly like my old nice one.
The gun shops all over America are decorated with blown up rifles, shotguns and pistols from people who used a different scale or those stupid powder scoops.
Reloading .223/5.56x45mm Part III
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