Armory Sponsor
Posted: 8/20/2013 3:07:02 PM EDT
| Alright I think I made a big mistake with reloading. I was going step by step with everything by the book, everything seemed normal, but then randomly somewhere I heard about "calibrating your scale" now I'm thinking "CRAP!" I never calibrated that scale when I did about 60 rounds already. I didn't zero it out but I set it to eye level when turning the wheel on the bottom of my RCBS 505 scale and thought it should be good. And it said when I poured powder into each I had exactly the right amount I needed at 20.7 grs each time. Is this surely a big mistake? |
|
Quoted:
Alright I think I made a big mistake with reloading. I was going step by step with everything by the book, everything seemed normal, but then randomly somewhere I heard about "calibrating your scale" now I'm thinking "CRAP!" I never calibrated that scale when I did about 60 rounds already. I didn't zero it out but I set it to eye level when turning the wheel on the bottom of my RCBS 505 scale and thought it should be good. And it said when I poured powder into each I had exactly the right amount I needed at 20.7 grs each time. Is this surely a big mistake? Did you have anything in the pan when you set it to zero with the adjustment wheel? As long as all three weights were on zero when you set it with the wheel you should be good to go. |
| Well it was empty but I only made the scale look level when I turned it I never checked to see if it was zeroed out. I just went by the numbers to exactly 20.7 and thought okay I'll start pouring some powder now. I just went out and pulled a bullet which was my first one that I messed up on for seating and measured the powder with my now zeroed out scale and it says I had 20.2 grains of powder in it...great. I'm probably gonna have to pull each one now just to be sure. Or maybe not I can have 19.8 all the way up to 21.8 of grains so maybe I'm fine. Anyone think I should just check them all before firing or do you think I'm fine? |
|
If you haven't done anything to the scale, simply set it at zero and see if it reads zero. The 505 is a simple balance beam scale. If its reading zero when set to zero then it is calibrated.
If you want to give it a quick test at higher weight you can weigh some bullets. Example: Put 6, 50gr bullets in the pan. Set the scale to 300gr then place the pan on the scale. If you are using good quality bullets the scale should be very close to being balanced. If you can get 6 or more bullets to come out within a couple grains of the target weight, (most of the time it is surprisingly close) I would say your scale is good to go. |
I think you should pull the bullets and redo your charges. To zero your scale, first place the pan on scale and all 3 adjustments to 0. Then adjust height adjustment until scale reads zero. Like in pic. Now you can measure your charges. You can also use check weights to verify your scales accuracy. For now, take one of your bullets (that you know the weight of) and weigh on scale after it's zero'd. It should be real close to the weight marked on the bullet box. I wouldn't expect the weight to be off more than .2 grs from marked. eta, fixed poor choice of words. |
|
I've never calibrated a scale, but is certainly important to zero the scale.
If it was "close" to level with the poises (what's the plural of poise  ) set to zero
then you are almost certain to be within 1/2 grain. If you got it dead nuts level with the mark with the poises set to zero I wouldn't worry about calibration as it was certainly calibrated at the factory. FWIW you need to make sure you zero the scale every time you set it up. Don't use it in a room with any breeze, or a fan running, or even the furnace/AC running. And don't move the scale once you zero it. You will find that these scales are very accurate as long as you treat them as the precision devices they are - and they are very sensitive to air currents and level. It can also be important to clean the balance points, and perhaps give them the very LIGHTEST coating of oil. I have found a spec of rust there from time to time and it is noticeable in throwing off the scale if you watch it closely. |
|
Quoted: I've never calibrated a scale, but is certainly important to zero the scale. If it was "close" to level with the poises (what's the plural of poise ) set to zerothen you are almost certain to be within 1/2 grain. If you got it dead nuts level with the mark with the poises set to zero I wouldn't worry about calibration as it was certainly calibrated at the factory. FWIW you need to make sure you zero the scale every time you set it up. Don't use it in a room with any breeze, or a fan running, or even the furnace/AC running. And don't move the scale once you zero it. You will find that these scales are very accurate as long as you treat them as the precision devices they are - and they are very sensitive to air currents and level. It can also be important to clean the balance points, and perhaps give them the very LIGHTEST coating of oil. I have found a spec of rust there from time to time and it is noticeable in throwing off the scale if you watch it closely. To calibrate a scale is when you adjust the weights in the pan holder. Which is different from simple zeroing.
|
|
I own the same scale.
I zero it, make sure it stays in the same place, and measure. With a beam scale, if you "calibrate" it with known weights and it doesn't weigh out, the scale is broken somehow. You only throw calibration weights on to check if it's still accurate. If you balanced everything to zero, weighed your charge, and loaded up... You pretty much did it right. The only reason I ever bothered with calibration weights on the beam was because we bought them for the electronic scale and figured we'd try them out. If you are worried, pull a few random loaded rounds. If all of them weigh correct, I would consider them to be ok. |
|
Quoted:
IMO, this is the great thing about a digital scale. Mine has been super-accurate and is a breeze to calibrate and zero. Digitals are way more finnicky... My pan weighs as much a .3 grains different on different days. I try to let it warm up and sit before calibrating... and the large charges I'm running can handle a little +/-, but digital has it's own mental issues that a beam doesn't. |
|
The only consideration I pay attention to with my Dillon Eliminator beam scale (just like the 505) is to NEVER move it after zeroing.
If it moves then the zero can shift due to the scale now being in a different place, for example the adjustment wheel moves into a divot on the bench, thereby 'dropping' down. Other than that I check it with 77smk bullets. Those things, from bullet to bullet, lot to lot, always seem to be right at 76.8 grains lol. |
|
Quoted:
The scale is very sensitive, and you have to adjust it for different temps. Unless yours is in a temp controlled area. Mine is in my shop. Just takes a second every reloading session. A lot less time that a digital scale. Yep. It sucks in my loading room in the summer because I have to turn off the fan every time I measure or zero the scale.
Temps and the slightest air movement will effect the scale. |
|
Quoted:
You'd think they would create some kind of scale that wouldn't lose it's zero or never have to zero it to begin with. Maybe they already have that who knows lol It only takes a couple seconds to zero, fear the scale that doesn't require zeroing. As stated already make sure you turn off the ceiling fan and AC or close the register so there is no air movement when you are using/zeroing the scale. |
|
Quoted:
You'd think they would create some kind of scale that wouldn't lose it's zero or never have to zero it to begin with. Maybe they already have that who knows lol Laboratory balances will hold their zero for weeks at a time in a temperature controlled room. Of course they cost thousands of dollars. The best $35.99 you can spend, ends all of the guess work and angest of using a balance. Buy them and don't look back. |
|
Quoted:
The scale is very sensitive, and you have to adjust it for different temps. Unless yours is in a temp controlled area. Mine is in my shop. Just takes a second every reloading session. A lot less time that a digital scale. Have you ever chronographed the rounds after re-setting your scale for the different temps? Were the performance numbers the same at a different temp after setting your scale for a different temp? I might could see where 20 degree temps versus 95 degree temp settings would matter. I also wonder if powder temp sensitivities might not be a major player in performance versus charge weight...... What have you found DF? |
|
All this negative talk about digital scales I just don't understand. Maybe it because I have a 15 to 20 year old RCBS Rangemaster made by Ohaus. I pull the scale off the shelf, set it on the bench, turn it on and go to town weighting powder charges. When I first got the thing I was always checking it with the RCBS check weight set and it was never wrong, now I check it every once in a while with the check weights. My attic room gets hot in the summer so I load with a window AC unit blowing and a fan helping to push the AC into the room, at the other end of my room is a vent for the house AC / heat. I don't have air blowing on my bench but there is air flow in the room and it doesn't cause a problem. This scale was hauled around in a camp trailer for the first 5 years of its life which I am sure shook the snot out of it. I just don't have a problem with my digital scale at all. When I first started reloading with my Dad I realized how big a pain it was to weight each powder charge on a 505 scale so when I started purchasing my own reloading gear there was no way I was going to purchase a balance beam scale, I think I payed less then $150 bucks for the scale.
|
|
Quoted: Have you ever chronographed the rounds after re-setting your scale for the different temps? Were the performance numbers the same at a different temp after setting your scale for a different temp? I might could see where 20 degree temps versus 95 degree temp settings would matter. I also wonder if powder temp sensitivities might not be a major player in performance versus charge weight...... What have you found DF? Quoted: Quoted: The scale is very sensitive, and you have to adjust it for different temps. Unless yours is in a temp controlled area. Mine is in my shop. Just takes a second every reloading session. A lot less time that a digital scale. Have you ever chronographed the rounds after re-setting your scale for the different temps? Were the performance numbers the same at a different temp after setting your scale for a different temp? I might could see where 20 degree temps versus 95 degree temp settings would matter. I also wonder if powder temp sensitivities might not be a major player in performance versus charge weight...... What have you found DF? |
Armory Sponsor