Yesterday's Weapons Forums

For several years I weighed my powder charges from a powder drop with either a magnetic beam scale or some sort of electronic scale. But it was a slow, pain-staking job that made reloading more of a hassle than a pleasure.

Then one day I was browsing through some reloading equipment sites on the innerwebs when I ran across a sale on electronic powder measures that were being clearanced out for the new model. They were selling them cheap, so I jumped on one.



It's a Lyman Gen 6 electronic powder scale with built in trickler. All you have to do is set the desired charge weight and push a button.

I was loading some .38 Spls. with 700X and by the time I'd set the bullet and crimped it, the next charge was ready. It was sooooooo much easier. I don't know how I ever got along without it!

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“Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” ― Mark Twain
Okahoma State #1 - Ride 'em Cowboys!

I have the first gen RCBS, it is slower than molasses but accurate

I have a Redding and Forster powder measure, and using ball powders, once set both are very very accurate,
I usually check one out of 5 or 10, but they are always dead on,

I used the RCBS for 4064 when I shot Garand Matches,

I may need to upgrade if I get to shoot more matches in the future

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What's so funny about Peace Love and Understanding?

talked to a guy the other day, he was looking at a Gen6,
he has a Gen5 that developed some issue, and set it back for repair, the folks told him if it could be fixed it would, if not they would give him coupon for a new one,,, seemed odd, since you would think they would just mail him a new one,,

anyway, until it broke, he was very happy with the one he had

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What's so funny about Peace Love and Understanding?

I mostly use the Dillon RL550b, the powder meter is so accurate I only check weigh at first then maybe 1 in 50 every rounds.
I actually have fired but still primed case to use as a powder catcher using the fail/safe system. Because of that my old PACT model 1 is perfectly adequate!

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"Free-oh-free Bwitish": Putting round holes in square heads since 1895

i hand dip every load i shoot these days - my reloads are very consistant that way , but then i use an old lyman orange crusher single stage turret , i take my time in the winter hand priming as well , reload all the past years spent cases , inspect each as i go , discard the ones that have exceeded their useful life as i go ,

that reminds me i have a tumbler full to clean after the last match i need to take to the garage while im working in the lawn etc , this system works for me even tho ive sometimes thought to upgrade to a dillon progressive ive yet to have the real need - what would i do when its cold out n dead of winter ?

I just used my Hornady electronic measure to start working up a 25-06 load for late deer season.
It's too slow for loading bulk pistol rounds, but works good for lower count rifle rounds.

my first gen RCBS is that way,

I used to get the wife to help me reload when I was shooting Garand Matches as Service Rifle,

she would sit by the auto machine, and punch the button when needed, for the 4064 I used for 30-06 , while I was on the Co-Ax loading 223

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What's so funny about Peace Love and Understanding?

I've been using an inexpensive Frankford Arsenal DS-750 Digital Reloading Scale for several years for weighing pistol and rifle loads. I've not had any trouble with it; although I have a Lee balance beam scale to double check my loads every now and then. The Frankford scale is $22.10 on Amazon.

Yes, simple digital and beam scales are great for small-batch or precision loads. Can't beat 'em!

But for larger runs these electronic scales are the cat's ass! I was amazed how much faster, and with less mental stress and aggravation, I could load a 50-round box of .38 Spls. Even on a single-stage press.

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“Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” ― Mark Twain
Okahoma State #1 - Ride 'em Cowboys!

I never load all that much at a time anyhow - 50 rounds max normally. So my cheap digital scale and my Hornady trickler do the job quite adequately.

I don't have the love you all have for these scale /powder dispenser rigs. My RCBS Chargemaster drops charges plus or minus .2-.3 of a grain..worse if its IMR 4064 and plus or minus to .1 or .15 grain if its a ball powder. Been sent back numerous times to RCBS and they say its in "spec" so I have zero use for it , I have in on my reload bench to remind me I got skunked. Now for some of you variance in powder charges doesn't matter much due to distance you shoot and type of target you engage. Big score rings on NRA and CMP targets allow high scores if powder varies in charge weight. I want precision accuracy at 1000 yds. If I was shooting CMP "games" it would not matter much...a mere 200/300 yds and big score rings, and a large X ring to boot. I think precise charge weights of powder makes a world of difference and that is what I use. I have an expensive Sartorius scale and my ammo is precise. I weigh cases and bullets, cull and sort so all cases and bullets are same weights. I chase variables out of my hand loading process.

Damn in revolver loads .2- .3 makes a hell of a difference!

I went into Service Rifle \ High Power years ago with a Bench Rest type mentality on load and load development,
had a chat with a High Master one day that opened my eyes a bit,

basically if you load and gun will shoot a Minute, and if you are good enough to hold a Minute, then you are doing damn well,

most can't,, in all the positions, and I know I cannot,

his point was the X ring is bigger than a Minute , so good enough does not mean 1\4 minute loads,


took a bit for that to sink in

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What's so funny about Peace Love and Understanding?

Lyman , you failed to note how large the 9
and 10 rings are on Service Rifle targets...you
just need rounds landing ...not a tight shot group
in the 10 ring. For that kind of target, charge weight
variances won't matter too much per your High Masters
comments...he'd not be a High Master but a High Bullshitter
if he said that stuff about 1000 yd shooting !!!