Reloading Scale
Also: Beam Scale · Powder Scale
The balance, either beam or electronic, that weighs each powder charge to a tenth of a grain during precision reloading.
A reloading scale is the instrument that measures powder by weight rather than by volume, reporting the result in grains so the handloader can match a target charge precisely. The two common types are the mechanical beam scale, which balances the powder against sliding poises on a calibrated beam, and the electronic scale, which reads weight on a digital display. Either can resolve down to a tenth of a grain, the practical floor for most precision loads.
Accuracy and repeatability are what separate scales, since velocity consistency depends on charges that weigh the same from round to round. Beam scales are prized for being immune to electronic drift, while digital units add speed and pair naturally with a powder trickler or an automated dispenser. Whatever the design, the scale should be checked against known calibration weights before a reloading session begins.