15 Best Reloading Scales of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

A reloading scale is critical for precisely measuring gunpowder when reloading ammunition, ensuring safety and consistency in each round.

Its accuracy is critical in preventing firearm malfunctions and personal injury, making it mandatory for ammunition handloading.

I discovered how important a good reloading scale could be a few decades ago. The 1911 was in pieces. The gun basically blew up. My hand ached but didn’t require an ER visit. I had overcharged a .45ACP reload and had the bruises and shattered pistol to prove it.

Upon reflection, I realized I had weighed the powder charge wrong.

Since that moment, I’d never done that again – I learned my lesson and have had about a half-century of reloading, using various scales and equipment, to perfect safety measures. I’ve learned a lot, to put it simply.

I should have spent the money to add a scale like our top pick, the RCBS Matchmaster, to my reloading bench when I started reloading. My experiences would have been very different.

I think reloaders need to be a bit OCD. That’s OK – reloading is one activity where being OCD can help. Weighing powder charges is necessary, and accurate, repeatable measurement is necessary.

You need an accurate scale, whether you only weigh one charge at a time to set up your powder measure or weigh and trickle-charge each case. That old balance beam scale Uncle Ezra gave you 47 years ago may not be the best way to weigh your powder charge.

Recognizing this, we rigorously and objectively reviewed fifteen reloading scales from leading manufacturers in the industry.

Our hands-on testing includes models from Dillon Precision, Frankford Arsenal, Hornady, Lee Precision, Lyman, Redding, and RCBS. These brands are well-known for their quality and have provided various scales catering to novice and experienced reloaders.

Several key characteristics guided the choice of the top scales for precision shooting.

First, accuracy and precision were paramount, with scales offering exceptional grain-level precision highly favored.

Another crucial factor was the functionality tailored to specific needs, such as portability for on-the-go use or specialized features for different types of loads in precision applications.

Additionally, the quality of construction and materials played a significant role in ensuring durability and reliability. User-friendliness, in terms of ease of calibration and operation, was also a defining factor.

Finally, value for money was considered, with scales offering high performance at an affordable price receiving special attention.

These characteristics collectively shaped the selection of the top scales, each excelling in different aspects to cater to the varied needs of precision shooters.

Thoughts To Consider

There are two common traits among all the digital/precision scales. First, many of the electronic scales included AC/DC adapters for American, European, (or other) use, and second, all exhibited at least .1-grain accuracy.

The only two exceptions to this accuracy standard are the Hornady Precision Lab Scale and the RCBS Matchmaster, both of which can measure down to .04-grain.

Another point that needs to be made before you get into the specifications is that if you don’t need a precision scale that trickles powder, don’t buy one.

We had problems with all but one of the tricklers when we would accidentally bump the powder tube when placing weights in the pan. It caused a misread every time. (The one exception was the RCBS Matchmaster, whose tubes are higher and don’t interfere).

Time to get up close & personal with the scales. We will look at each one by category (mechanical/balance beam, digital weighing, and precision digital). Here are our findings after examining 15 scales…

Image	Product	Price
	Best Overall & Top Precision Powder Pick – RCBS Matchmaster	Check Price
	Top Balance Beam Pick & Best Mechanical Scale- Lyman Brass Smith	Check Price
	Best Value Runner Up – Hornady Lock ‘n Load Balance Beam Scale	Check Price
	Lee Safety Powder Scale	Check Price
	Redding No. 2 Scale	Check Price
	Best Mechanical Runner Up – RCBS M500 Mechanical Scale	Check Price
	Top Digital Scale Pick – Hornady Lock ‘n Load Bench M2 Scale	Check Price
	Best Digital Scale Runner-Up – Dillon Precision D-Terminator Digital Scale	Check Price
	Best Portable Scale Runner-Up – Frankford Arsenal Precision Digital Scale	Check Price
	Best Scale For Precision/Long Range Shooters – Hornady Precision Lab Scale	Check Price
	Lyman Accu-Touch 2000 Digital Scale	Check Price
	Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper	Check Price
	Best Precision Runner-Up – Hornady Auto Charge Pro	Check Price
	Lyman Gen 6 Compact Touchscreen Powder System	Check Price
	Best Value & Portable Scale – RCBS Pocket Scale	Check Price

Top Balance Beam Pick – Lyman Brass Smith

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Easy to use, solid, and accurate with a 505-grain capacity.

The Brass Smith balance beam scale is a bargain at under $50. The scale is made with typical Lyman quality, materials, and workmanship in mind. As with the RCBS, the beam has stickers on both sides which makes the scale ambidextrous.

The notches on the beam are solid and the scale is heavy-duty. A conversion chart is affixed, as well.

Hornady Lock ‘n Load Balance Beam Scale

Specifications

Pros & Cons

This beam scale works well and is a bargain in the process.

The Hornady beam scale is on par with the Lyman and RCBS – it is built to last and has deep-cut notches in the beam. A handy grams-to-grains conversion chart is centrally located for easy reference.

Now, let’s look at another balance beam scale, the one from Lee Precision…

Lee Safety Powder Scale

Specifications

Pros & Cons

You might want to give the Lee a pass – it’s confusing to use and only has a 110–grain capacity. The Lee Safety Scale requires a bit of head-scratching as you learn to use it. Here’s the drill…

After getting the “tens” ball in the right cut-out on the beam, you must then roll the round brass screw indicator to the correct “ones” number. (That’s it, just above and to the left of the Lee logo in the pic above).

After the tens and ones are set, you position the “tenth-grain” slider so the heavy white line is positioned until the mark you want is centered, then lock it in with the screw lock provided.

Typically, Lee has had a different idea when it comes to reloading equipment, and they have been generally good ideas with economical solutions – I own a lot of their equipment. But… this scale is just not the easiest to use.

For about the same money, you can buy the Lyman.

I cannot recommend the Lee Safety Scale for general reloading bench work. Its capacity is capped at only 110 grains, which would not allow you to weigh heavier bullets or other items.

Also, its convoluted balancing process is not conducive to obtaining weights quickly. There are simply better balance beam scales out there at a similar price.

Redding No. 2 Scale

Specifications

Pros & Cons

This is the only scale that Redding makes, and they include it with their reloading kits.

Redding is a top producer of very expensive reloading dies, so I trust what they make. One difference between this and the other mechanical scales… if an attached conversion chart from grains to grams is important to you, this scale does not have one.

Are you trying to stick with Redding in terms of a complete reloading setup? If so, this is the scale for you.

RCBS M500 Mechanical Scale

Specifications

Pros & Cons

This scale is an update of the old RCBS 5-0-5 scale, which I own. That thing has lasted for almost 50 years, along with the RCBS Junior press I bought.

This new version goes the old 5-0-5 one better by being ambidextrous, something this lefty appreciates! It’s a great alternative for those who like a balance-beam scale. The standard conversion chart is included, as well.

For those who want more on a mechanical scale, RCBS also sells a dual-beamed, 1000-grain-capacity model at a slightly higher price.

Top Digital Scale Pick – Hornady Lock ‘n Load Bench M2 Scale

Pros & Cons

We picked the M2 Bench Scale as the best digital scale because of its ease of use, accuracy, and repeatability. The price was a factor, as well.

There are many other scales on the market – we’ve looked at several of them here – but the Hornady M2 Bench scale wins the overall best digital scale honors.

The M2 Bench scale is one of the most accurate and repeatable, lesser-expensive scales.

Featuring a bubble level (always a good thing), this small scale gets with the program quickly and won’t set you back too much. It includes calibration weights.

It performed well in our tests… it should serve you well. I’ve owned its predecessor for years and have had zero problems with it.

Dillon Precision D-Terminator Digital Scale

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Its large display makes this scale easy to read, and its cover is well-designed and hinged.

It holds the calibrating weight securely when closed. However, it did not read our lightest, 0.01-grain weight by itself.

Frankford Arsenal Precision Digital Scale

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Frankford Arsenal makes all sorts of innovative reloading equipment – they even sent me some very nice cartridge boxes – so if you’re looking for an all-in-one portable unit easily transported in its rigid handgun-type box, check out the F.A. Precision.

Hornady Precision Lab Scale

Specifications

Pros & Cons

If you want the be-all in lab scale-type precision without powder trickling, the .04-grain-accurate Hornady Precision Lab Scale is for you.

This scale should prove its worth to the discriminating reloader, coming standard with statistical analysis built in (easy to compare cartridge cases and sort by plus-or-minus weight, for example).

Even though it says “Precision” in its name, for our purpose, it is digital, as it does not dispense powder.

Lyman Accu-Touch 2000 Digital Scale

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Lyman’s Accu-Touch 2000 scale has all the basics needed to weigh powder in a small package.

With weights up to 2000 grains, a universal AC motor, and a hidden back drawer for accessories, this scale is built for a small bench. It does include a small trickler, usable from either side if you want to add manual powder trickling.

Top Precision Powder Pick – RCBS Matchmaster

Pros & Cons

We selected the Matchmaster as the best precision scale due to its outstanding adjustability and its ability to read down to .04-grain in match mode. Adding features such as Bluetooth compatibility, statistical capabilities, and a dual-tube dispensing system, this one was the top dog in the precision category.

Even though it is fairly expensive, we feel that it should serve you well for decades with the feature set it includes.

This scale is simply on a different, higher level.

Its advanced capabilities, such as Bluetooth compatibility and outstanding sensitivity, underscore its professional-grade quality.

However, it was also the most expensive scale we tested.

TWO powder drop tubes? What were they thinking? I hear you ask. Well, one is a tube for standard loads, and the other is smaller, made to a .04-grain-precision-mark for match loads.

The features of this scale are amazing… you might check it out using the link above for a full features run-down. It would work well on a gun club’s reloading bench.

Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper

Specifications

Pros & Cons

F.A.’s Intellidropper is aptly named.

Able to throw 250 grains per load and to hold a pound of powder, the Intellidropper can manually- or auto-trickle powder and has a companion Bluetooth app available for your phone to help streamline things.

Hornady Auto Charge Pro

Specifications

Pros & Cons

The Auto Charge Pro puts the powder in the rear and the display up front.

The backlit touch screen is easy to use. You can store up to four custom loads in its memory, and the built-in bubble level helps ensure precise operation.

Lyman Gen 6 Compact Touchscreen Powder System

Specifications

Pros & Cons

The Lyman Gen 6 scale is a complete package – touch screen, power trickling up to 2 grains/second, auto charge drop repeat, fast powder dump.

Plus, it won’t crowd your bench. If you need to fill individual cases with an accurate, measured charge at a fast rate, this is the scale for you.

Here’s a decent video on setting up and using the Lyman Gen 6 scale –

Looking for a scale you can take to the range? How about a true digital scale for under forty bucks?

Does that get your attention? This little gem even includes a check weight to keep it calibrated. Not bad!

One of our sons is a manufacturing engineer for a local, national automotive factory. He deals with scales daily and was happy to be asked to help with this project, as he is also a shooter and reloader.

We came up with the following protocol for the electronic scales (we modified the weight set and weighing procedure a bit for the mechanical scales-see below).

1. Each electronic scale was tested using an RCBS Standard Certified weight set and other certified weights. Electronic scales were tested using the following gram weights: 0.1, 20, 40, 80, and 100.
2. A total of three repetitions of each weighing instance per weight per scale was done. So, each scale was checked eighteen times with those various weights, and notes were made on calibration, ease of use, repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity, quirks, etc.
3. Balance beams: each scale was tested with one weighing of 0.1-, 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-gram weights. We did only one due to the time required for the scales to “settle down” during the weighings. (One weighing per weight sufficed, as typically repeatability is not an issue with balance beam scales). The results were enough to get an idea of each scale’s performance

We tried to stick to approved testing methods, keeping in mind the following scale standardized test terms. I include these from Quality Scales Unlimited –

• Accuracy
• Calibration
• Capacity
• Readability
• Repeatability
• Sensitivity

One thing about sensitivity… we could easily obtain the accuracy level of each scale from their various websites. But, we were unable to find each one’s sensitivity reading.

You know, just how small a weight will each scale register? We had to improvise there. Sensitivity is not the same as accuracy, and reloading scale manufacturers do not provide this figure from our experience.

Even a phone call or two did not produce the figure.

Five of the scales tested would not pick up our 0.1-gram weight, for example, but did fine with slightly greater weights. Their sensitivity was weighted a bit more to the mid- and upper ranges.

This is not a deal for most reloaders, as we usually do not put tiny, under-two-grains charges into a case.

A reloading scale is a precision instrument used to accurately measure the weight of gunpowder for reloading ammunition.

This tool is crucial in handloading or reloading, where cartridges are assembled manually by combining a case, primer, powder, and bullet. The reloading scale ensures that each cartridge receives the correct powder charge, which is vital for both safety and the consistent performance of the ammunition.

An incorrect powder charge can lead to dangerous scenarios, such as a firearm malfunction or damage, and even personal injury, as I alluded to earlier.

Therefore, a high-quality, accurate reloading scale is an essential piece of equipment for anyone reloading ammunition, as it guarantees the precision and safety of the final product.

Mechanical/Balance Beam

The balance beam scale works mechanically. Its balance beam has pre-cut notches for a slider to move along, increasing the weight as the powder pan receives powder (or bullet, or whatever you’re weighing).

It’s a variation of the old balance beam where a known weight was placed on one side, and the article in question was in the other pan and measured against the known weight.

Simple but effective.

One advantage of balance beam scales is that they are less expensive than many digital scales.

Ease of use is another plus. A balance beam scale makes sense if you are simply getting a powder charge weight to set your powder measure. However, they are slower than digital scales since you must wait for the beam to quit oscillating to get a measurement.

Also, if you want the most repeatable, accurate scale that’s very easy to use, you might want to consider a digital model.

Digital Weighing Only (Non-Powder-Dispensing)

A digital scale simply weighs whatever you place in the pan and flashes the weight on an LED screen.

These scales can be very simple and inexpensive (RCBS Pocket Scale) or very complex, performing statistical analysis (Hornady Precision Lab scale).

Benefits include getting a quick readout of the weight in the pan – no waiting on a balance beam to settle down. Also, they tend to be accurate.

One downside is that these scales will not dispense powder. For that, you need to move to the precision category…

Precision Digital (Powder Weighing and Dispensing)

The precision digital scale combines exact weighing with the ability to dispense powder.

Rifle shooters tend to weigh every charge and not use a powder measure, at least when precision shooting is required. This type of scale excels at that. Not only are they accurate, but many of them have a feature that, once set, will dispense the same powder charge each time the pan is replaced on the scale’s table.

One disadvantage of such scales is cost… they tend to cost more than non-dispensing digital scales. But, if you want the absolute top-end scale for your 1000-yard competition loads, a precision digital scale should be on your bench.

After using several scales over years of reloading, I prefer the digital variety because of their speed and accuracy.

Still, you may decide that a balance beam model is just the ticket, especially if you’re on a budget.

When choosing a reloading scale for ammunition, consider your specific needs.

Key factors include the intended use of the scale, the type of shooting you’re reloading for, and the particular features you value in a scale.

These considerations will guide you in selecting the most suitable reloading scale for your requirements.

Let’s look at a few examples…

Casual Shooter

The casual shooter’s reloading needs are not as rigorous as those of a competition shooter or hunter, so really, any of these scales should suffice. If you are on a budget, check out the Lyman Brass Smith or the RCBS Pocket Scale.

Hunter

A hunter will probably want the most accuracy in the loads they devise, so a precision scale would be indicated.

Either the Hornady Precision Lab (non-powder dispensing) or the RCBS MatchMaster (powder dispensing) scale would work. Accuracy and repeatability are of top importance to the hunter.

Competitive Shooter

Here, we are looking for accuracy, although we’ll define it differently than our Hunter friend above would. We are looking for what might be termed “practical accuracy,” as opposed to gilt-edged groups at 500 yards.

Your goal is to stuff 500 empty, primed 9mm cases with powder and bullets and be ready for next week’s competition.

If your competition involves short-range pistol cartridges, your needs would be different.

Since a typical 9mm target/competition load might consist of 5-6 grains, many powder-dispensing scales will throw a load every two seconds.

Let’s just say that something has happened to your powder measure – what are you gonna do?

Let’s hope you bought a fast scale! I would think about getting the Lyman Gen 6 scale. It will throw two grains/second. Remember also that the RCBS Matchmaster, with its two tubes, is one of the fastest scales going.

Long-Range Competitors

Long-range competitors will most likely end up with one of the precision scales. If precision is truly the name of the game, the Hornady Precision Lab and the RCBS MatchMaster are the only two scales we looked at that were accurate to .04-grain.

If you can do without powder dispensing, look at the Hornady. We really liked the functions of the Hornady for precision shooting due to its .04-grain accuracy, repeatability, and statistical functions. 

Brand-New Reloader

Here is the final case that might help some of you. What does a brand-new reloader buy? If you buy a reloading set-up from one of the major manufacturers, you will most likely receive a scale in the mix.

But, sometimes, that may not be the best situation. I will go a bit upstream with this suggestion… you new reloaders out there might want to just skip the balance beam and go right to a decent digital scale.

Why?

Because you will spend more time weighing charges and getting powder into cases with a mechanical scale. Trust me, I’ve been there and done that. No T-shirt, though…

If you are a brand-new reloader looking for a middle-of-the-range scale (not a top-end one), I might look at the Frankford Arsenal Precision or Lyman Accu-Touch 2000. Both scales performed adequately and didn’t break the bank in terms of cost.

But let’s draw a line… will you be loading a rifle or handgun? For the most part, rifle loads are larger and could benefit from one of the trickler/scale combos. Pistol loads tend to be small, maybe twenty or fewer grains.

One thing is for sure… the longer you stick with your reloading hobby, the sooner you will end up with a decent digital scale. It just helps things go smoother (and faster).

Buy the best scale you can afford – it will be worth it!

Conclusion

We’ve looked at a big bundle of numbers, weights, scales, and features – it will either confuse you or help you decide which scale to buy.

We spent a long time checking each scale to find the best ones. We think we did just that. One main thing that impressed me about the scales we examined was that no matter their cost, they did a decent job of weighing our certified weights. That technology is impressive. It’s just that some did a better job than others.

Please remember that although our goal was to pick the best scales for each category, other scales we reviewed but didn’t make the cut would suffice for most reloading purposes.

Scales today are way better than they were even a few years ago, and you can’t go wrong with any of the ones we tested.

Sure, some are easier to use than others, and some may have a few more features or sensitivity, but for simply weighing a powder charge, any of these will suffice. As for the Lee scale, it did work; it was just cumbersome to use.

The overall digital scale winner was the RCBS Matchmaster scale. It represents the best balance of features, ease of use, accuracy, and cost of all the scales we’ve seen. It also made our list as the best precision/powder-trickling scale.

There are other top-rank scales out there that we did not have the chance to review… I contacted them but did not receive a reply. One such scale is the A&D FX-120i. This $600-plus scale has a resolution of .0001-gram.

That is way more than good enough for reloading! If you want a top-end scientific scale, check out this brand.

If you need a mechanical scale. I like the Lyman Brass Smith. The others did a good job, but with the Lyman (or the RCBS), you can place it on either end of your bench and still read the beam, front or back. I’m not sure why others haven’t done that before.

Looking for the absolute cheapest, recommended scale? The RCBS Pocket Scale is for you. It’s hard to believe that the thing costs under forty bucks, although the RCBS isn’t the only game in town where a small scale is concerned. It has a 1500-grain capacity, is accurate, and even comes with a calibration weight.

Also, there are other small scales for sale… we did not have the opportunity to look at the Hornady G-3 1500 digital scale, which is about $70, but I own its predecessor, and it works just fine.

There’s also the Lyman Digi-Touch portable for $40, as well. Heck, even Frankford Arsenal makes a $48 portable scale, their DS-750. We just didn’t have time to look at everything out there.

I do believe we looked at a pretty complete representation of what is available as of this writing.

I hope you have fun searching for a scale. Please feel free to comment below on your progress and experience as you look at options.

I’m hopeful that this article helps you – good luck in your search!