The 5 Best Digital Powder Scales for Reloading [2021]

If you intend on reloading a good scale or a scale with a powder dispenser is a must. 

Note that an electronic scale will just weigh powder and you will also need to have a powder dispenser. 

Scales are much cheaper than an electronic scale/dispenser and are more portable.  You can use the scale to weigh powder, brass or in some cases bullets.  Although I don’t weigh my bullets I do sort my bullets by measuring the distance from the base of the bullet to the ogive. 

An electronic powder dispenser/scale will accurately dispense the selected powder to + – 0.1 grain.  They are relatively fast and efficient.  They are pricier than just a scale but have far more capabilities.  Some units will store your favorite loads and have scale capacities of up to 7000 grains. 

As with most electronics a 10 to 15 minute warmup time is recommended.  Be sure to empty your powder when you finish loading as the smokeless powders my be reactive with the plastic surfaces of the dispenser.  You may have to play with the unit you purchase to get consistent results but ultimately they should work fine.

This is the best product on our list currently in stock:

Our Picks for the Top 6 Reloading Scales

Rank	Name	Shop
1	RCBS 98923 Chargemaster Combo Scale/Dispenser	Check Price
2	Hornady 050108 Electronic Scale	Check Price
3	Hornady Auto Charge	Check Price
4	Lyman Gen6 Digital Powder Measure 115V	Check Price
5	Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper Electronic Powder Measure	Check Price
6	RCBS Scales Chargemaster Lite 120/240	Check Price

1. RCBS 98923 Chargemaster Combo Scale/Dispenser

Pros:

• Combination of speed and accuracy
• Alphanumeric keypad
• Features memory buttons to remember your favorite load recipes
• Accuracy: +/- 1/10 grain
• Capacity: 1 pound

Cons:

• A little slow
• May be temperature sensitive

2. Hornady 50108 Electronic Reloading Scale

Pros:

• Nice size, 1,500 grain capacity
• Large easy to read, backlit LCD display
• Weighs powder precisely to a tenth of a grain
• Small footprint, doesn’t take up a lot of space
• Cover helps contain loose powder

Cons:

• May be temperature sensitive
• May require multiple weighings to maintain accuracy

3. Hornady Auto Charge

Pros:

• High-precision powder measure designed for speed and efficiency
• Extreme precision to within 0.1 grains
• Scale capacity of 1000 grains
• Automatic and manual dispense options
• Trickle function
• Three speed settings

Cons:

• Reactive with smokeless powder drain reservoir after loading
• Recommend 10 to 15 minute warmup prior to use
• Note:  adjusting trickle rate and speed will minimize overcharges

4. Lyman Gen6 Digital Powder Measure 115V

Pros:

• Compact size
• Electronic interference shield resists interference from cell phones
• Fast operation
• Dispenses 2 grains per second

Cons:

• Emptying and cleaning the scale to change powders
• Volume of the beep 

5. Frankford Arsenal DS-750 Reloading Scale

Pros:

• Huge capacity – holds more than 7,000gr (1lb) of powder
• Features state of the art memory retention
• Bluetooth connectivity

Cons:

• Power supply may be sensitive to room electrical noise

6. RCBS Scales Chargemaster Lite

Pros:

• Good combination of speed and accuracy
• Alphanumeric keypad
• Memory buttons to remember your favorite load recipes
• Accuracy of +/- 1/10 grain
• Capacity of 1 pound

Cons:

• A little slow, may be temperature sensitive

Considerations when buying a reloading scale

We recommend thinking about how you will be using it the most. Some models are larger and less portable. Is there a wide range of options/prices? Is there any you want to specifically avoid? Where do most people reload? Is size an issue if people do at the range? What are calibration weights?

Below are the criteria we used to make our recommendation.

Criteria used for evaluation:

• Capacity – are you planning on reloading a lot or a little?
• Accuracy / precision – how OCD are you?
• Features – like a removable bowl? How about a cover?
• Performance – speed of measurement sounds silly but can get old quickly if you’re reloading often
• Ease of use – are you willing to read a manual or want 1 button to click?
• Price/Budget – one of the biggest factors for us

Bottom Line:

Don’t necessarily need the Cadillac, A&D Weighing FX-1200I Toploading Balance, which will run you over $700.

FAQs:

What is a reloading scale and what do you use it for? 

Digital reloading scales are incredibly precise and used to measure the amout of powder that goes into each round. Some digital scales measure to the 1/1000. Precisely measuring the powder of each load will ensure each round is consistent. Without using a scale your rounds would fly differently and affect accuracy.

Why reload your own ammo?

• Accuracy: experimenting with different loads can greatly improve accuracy and consistency
• Safety: ensure all of your ammo was made perfectly
• Cost: ammo is expensive
• Standard manufactured ammo doesn’t exist! I shoot a custom competition rile and need to make my own ammo.