M500 MECHANICAL SCALE

PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS

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WARNING!Before using this product, read and follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so could result in serious injury or death, or property damage.

If you have any questions while assembling or operating this product,call us at 1-800-379-1732 (U.S. or Canada)

Monday – Friday 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific TimeOr email us at rcbs.tech@vistaoutdoor.com

This manual contains important safety and operating information. Keep this as a permanent part of your reloading equipment. If lost, contact us for a replacement.

GUNPOWDER WARNINGS WARNING! Keep out of reach of children• Storepowdersintheiroriginalpackageinacool,dryenvironmentfreefromwidetemperaturevariations.

• Keepcanstightlysealedandlabelsintact.• Markdateofpurchaseoncan,forfuturereference.Useolderstockfirst.• Neveruseglassasastoragecontainer.Thismaycausea“greenhouseeffect”raisingtemperature

in container and degrade the powder.• Checkcansandpowderforsignsofdegradation.Manypowderswillexhibitafinered-browndust

on the granules and/ or inside the container when this happens. If it does, do not use propellant; dispose of it properly in compliance with local regulations.

• DONOThavemorethanonecanofpowderonthebenchatonetime.PowderCansshouldbestoredawayfromthebenchtoavoidpickingupthewrongone.

• DONOTuseanypowderunlessitsidentityispositivelyknown.Theonlypositiveidentificationisthemanufacturer’slabelontheoriginalcanister.Properlydiscardallmixedpowdersandthoseofuncertain identity in compliance with local regulations.

• Ifyouuseapowdermeasure,replacethelidsonboththePowderHopperandPowderCanafterthePowderHopperhasbeenfilled.

• WhenusingaPowderMeasure,settlethepowderinthePowderHopperbeforecharginganycases.Throwandchecktheweightofatleastten(10)charges.Thiswillassureyouthatthecorrectpowderchargeisbeingthrown.

• Whenyoufinishareloadingsession,pouranyremainingpowderbackintoitsoriginalfactorycontainer.Thiswillpreservetheidentityandshelflifeofthepowder.

• DONOTsmokewhilereloading.

RELOADING SAFETYNOTICE - This manual is not intended to provide comprehensive instructions or safety infor-mation on how to reload, or handle or use reloading components. Always read and thoroughly understand a reloading manual before attempting to reload ammunition. Reloadingisanenjoyableandrewardinghobbywhenconductedsafely.But,aswithmanyhobbies,carelessnessornegligencecanmakereloadinghazardous.When reloading,alwaysfollowthesesafetyguidelinestominimizetheriskofpersonalinjuryordeath.• Alwayswearsafetyglasses.• Understandwhatyouaredoingandwhy.Readhandbooksandmanualsonreloading.Talktoexperiencedreloaders.Writeorcallsuppliersofequipmentorcomponentsifyouhavequestionsorareindoubt.

• Readandunderstandallwarningsandinstructionsaccompanyingyourequipmentandcomponents.Ifyoudonothavewritteninstructions,requestacopyfromthemanufacturer.Keepinstructions for future reference.

• Don’trushortakeshortcuts.Establisharoutineandfollowitataleisurelypace.• Keepcompleterecordsofreloads.Labeleachboxshowingthedateproduced,andthetypeofprimer,powderandbulletused.

• Donotsmokewhilereloading,orreloadnearsourcesofheat,sparksorflame.• Observegoodhousekeepinginthereloadingarea.Keeptoolsandcomponentsneat,cleanand

orderly. Promptly and completely clean up any spills.• Keepyourhandsandfingersawayfrom“danger”spotsandpinch-pointswheretheymightbe

injured.• Keepallreloadingequipmentandcomponentsoutofreachofchildren.

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• Stayalert.Reloadonlywhenyoucangiveyourundividedattention.Donotreloadwhentired,ill,rushedorundertheinfluenceofdrugsoralcohol.

Because RCBS®hasnocontroloverthechoice,assemblyoruseofcomponentsorotherreloadingequipment,RCBSassumesnoliability,expressedorimplied,fortheuseofammunitionreloadedwith this product.

LOADING DATAUseonlylaboratorytestedreloadingdata.WehighlyrecommendthecurrentSpeer® Reloading Manual.

OBSERVEALLWARNINGSABOUTTHEUSEOFMAXIMUMLISTEDLOADS.

WORkING WITh CARTRIDGE CASES• Examineemptycasestobesuretheyareingoodconditionbeforereloading.Thin,split,deformed,orbadlycorrodedorpittedcasesmaybestructurallyweak,andresultinadangerouscondition.Payparticularattentiontosplitsinthemouth,separationbetweenthecaseandthehead, and dents in the shoulder.

• Donotstorecartridgecasesorammunitionnearharshchemicalssuchasgasoline,householdcleanersorcaturine.Thefumescanweakenthemetalandpresentadangerouscondition.

• Donotcleancaseswithchemicalsotherthanthosespecificallydesignedforthepurpose.• Donotattempttocleanloadedammunitionorprimedcases.Doingsocancausecorrosion,andweakenthecase,orcauseamisfire/hangfirecondition.

• Ensurecaseshaveproperprimerpocketsizes;removeprimerstaking/crimpifnecessary.Attemptingtoseataprimerintoanundersizedpocketorpocketwithstaking/crimpingcanresultin detonation.

• Donotreamoutorenlargeflashholesofcartridgecases.Thismaychangetheignitionrateandresult in dangerous pressures.

• Resizeandtrimfiredcasestoensurereliablechamberingandobtainproperbullettensionandcrimp.

• Neverattempttoguessattheidentityofyourammunition.

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MAIN FEATURES• Magneticdamping• Levelingfootforeasyzerobalancingofscale• Ruggeddie-castaluminumbase• Ambidextrousdesign• Ambidextrousscalepan

TheM500hasa505-graincapacity,andfeaturesatwo-poisesystem.Adjust-mentsmadeusingthemainpoise,ontheleftsideofthebeam,adjustfrom5to500grains,in5-grainincrements.Thesmallpoiseonrightsideofbeamadjustsfrom0to5grains,in0.1grainincrements.TheM500utilizesmagneticdampingtoeliminateunnecessarybeamoscillation.Itfeaturesaruggeddie-castbasewithalargeadjustablefootforextrastabilityonthebench.Self-aligningceramicbearingssupportthehardenedsteelbeampivotstoguaranteesensitivityto0.1grain.Ambi-dextrousdesignwithdualgraduationmarkingsallowstheusertoreadtheweightreadings from either side of the scale.

UNPACKINGYourM500scaleispackedinaspeciallydesignedcartontoprovidemaximumpro-tection.Unpackthescalecarefullytoavoiddamagingcomponents.Identifypartsasyoucarefullyunpack(Photo1).

TheM500scaleisahighlyprecisereloadinginstrument.WesuggestusingeitherOIMLClassF2standardcheckweightsorNISTclassFRCBS®CheckWeightsasstandardcheckweightsforcheckingtheaccuracyofyourscale.

ASSEMBLYToassembleyourM500scale,placethebeamassemblyontothebasebyfirstinsertingthedampingvaneinbetweenthezeroreferencepointers(Photo2). Nextrestthesharpedgesofthepivotportionofthebeamontotheceramicbearings(Photo3).Placepansupportontoshacklelocatedattheendofthebeam(Photo4).Tocompleteassemblyplacescalepanontopansupport(photo5).

Photo1:ScaleComponents

BEAM ASSEMBLY

BASE

SCALE PANSCALE PANSUPPORT

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Photo2:Beamplacement

Photo3:Placementofpivotsontoceramicbearings

Photo4:Placepansupportontoshackle

Photo5:Placepanontopansupport

AMBIDEXTROUS USETheM500scaleisdesignedforusebybothright-andleft-handedusers.Thescalepanconsistsoftwotabs,amainbeamwithgraduationmarkingsonbothsides,andasetofreferencepointersoneachside.Photos6and7showtheM500witha100-grainloadinbotharight-andleft-handedorientation.

hOW TO ZERO BALANCE ThE SCALE (directions below are for right-handed use)• Placethescaleonaflat,levelsurface• Setinalocationwhichallowsviewingofscaleasneartoeyelevelaspossible;

thiswilleliminateanypotentialparallaxerror• Placebothpoisesatzero• Placescalepanonpansupport• Scaleisbalancedwhenzerolineonmainbeamlinesupwithcenterreference

pointer(Photo8)• Ifzerolinedoesnotlineupwithcenterreferencepointer,rotatelevelingfoot

clockwisetomovereferencepointerupward,orrotatecounter-clockwisetomovereferencepointerdownward(Photo9)

• Thescaleshouldbezerobalancedbeforeuseandcheckedperiodicallyduringuseformaximumaccuracyandprotectionagainsterror.

NOTE:DONOTMOVESCALEONCEBALANCED.IFSCALEISMOVED,FOLLOWSTEPSABOVETORE-ZEROSCALE.

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Photo6:Right-handedoperationusing100-grainweight

Photo7:Left-handedoperationusing100-grainweight

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CALIBRATIONThepansupportontheM500scaleiscalibratedpriortopackagingandthereshouldbenodifficultyinzerobalancingyourscale.However,ifthereisnotenoughadjustmentinthelevelingfoottozerobalanceyourscale,itmaybenecessarytore-calibratethepansupport.Toaccomplishthis,removethepansupporttopfromtheweightholder,usingaPhillipsscrewdriver(Photo10).Theweightholdercontainsseveralnon-magneticweights;ifweightneedstobeaddedtopanmakesuretouseonlynon-magneticmaterial.Magneticweightsmightaffectthescale’saccuracy(Photo11).Placeallweightsandpansupportscrewintoscalepan(Photo12).Placepansupportbackontoweightholderandre-attachpansupporttoshackleonbeam.Placescalepancontainingcalibrationweightsandpansupportscrewontopansupport(Photo13).Adjustlevelingfoottoitsmidpointandaddorremoveweightstobringbeamintobalance(Photo14).Whenzerobalancedisachieved,asshowninPhoto8,placeallcalibrationweightmaterialintoweightholderandsecurepansupporttoweightholder(photos15and16).Thepansupportisnowre-calibratedand ready for use.

Photo8:Scalebalanced

Photo9:Rotatinglevelingfoottozerobalancescale

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Photo10:Removingpansupport

Photo11:Weightholdercontainingnon-magneticmaterial

Photo12:Placecalibrationweightsintoscalepan

Photo13:Placescalepanontopansupport

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hOW TO USE ThE MAIN POISE (500 GRAIN)Themainpoiseconsistsofanaccuratelyadjustedweightthatmovesparalleltotheaxisofthebeam.Itispositionedatweightvaluesbymeansofapawlthatengagesnotchesinthebeam.Thepoiserunisfrom0to500grains,withequally-spacednotchesthatdividethisdistanceinto100equalparts.Eachsubdivisionisequivalentto5grainsofweight.

Tozerothemainpoise,moveittothepositionwherethepawl,locatedontherightsideofthepoise,engagesthefirstnotchontherightendofthepoisetravel.Thepoiseindicatorwilllineupwiththe“0”graduation(Photo17).

Photo14:Addorremovecalibrationweights

Photo15:Placecalibrationmaterialbackintoweightholder

Photo16:Securepansupporttoweightholder

Toincreaseweightvalues,movethepoisetotheleftandlineuptheindicatorwiththe desired graduation. Always make sure the pawl is seated in the notch. Correctsettingfor160grains(Photo18).

Donotattempttosetthemainpoiseatanypositionexceptfirmlyseatedinanotch.Alwaysusethesmallpoiseforweightvaluesbetweenthe5-grainincrementsofthelarge poise.

hOW TO USE ThE SMALL POISE (5 GRAIN)Thesmallpoisefunctionsthesameasthelargepoise.Thispoiserunisfrom0to5grainsandtheequallyspacednotchesdividethisdistanceinto50equalparts;eachsubdivisionisequivalentto1/10(0.1)grainofweight.

Tozerothesmallpoise,moveittothepositionwherethepawl,whichisthetopedgeoftherectangularslotthroughthepoise,engagesthenotchdirectlyabovethe“0”graduation.Thelong,verticaledgeofthepoiseistheindicatorandwilllineupwiththe“0”graduation.

Toincreaseweightvalues,movethepoisetotheleftandlineitupwiththedesiredgraduation. Always make sure the pawl is seated in the notch. Correct setting for 3.7grains(Photo19).

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Photo17:Mainpoisesetonzero

Photo18:Mainpoisesetat160grains

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Do not attempt to set the poise at any position; only set in a position where it is firmlyseatedinanotch.

hOW TO USE ThE POINTERSThepointercontainsthreeseparatepointersforeasyreadingofoverandunderloads.ThecenterpointeriswhatisusedwhenbalancingthescaleandestablishesaZEROBalance.Thetopandbottompointersrepresentapproximately0.5to0.7grainaboveandbelowtargetload.Thetopandbottompointersallowtheusertoquicklyweighloadsknowingthatifthebeampointerisoscillatingbetweenthetopandbottompointerstheloadiswithin+/-0.5to0.7grains.Havingtopandbottompointersalsoeliminatestheneedtomovethesmallpoisetocheckpowderchargevariations.NOTE:WHENSCALEISZEROBALANCEDITISGOODPRACTICETOVERIFYTHEEXACTLOADREQUIREDFORTHEBEAMPOINTERTOREACHTHETOPANDBOTTOMPOINTERS.

Photo19:Smallpoisesetat3.7grains

Photo20:Centerpointerat0.1grainabovereferencetargetload

MAGNETIC DAMPINGTheM500scaleisequippedwithmagneticdampingwhichcausesthebeamtocometorestquicklywithoutaffectingsensitivityoraccuracy.Itoperatesontheprincipleofapermanentmagneticfieldresistingthemotionofanon-magneticcopperdampervaneattachedtothebeam.

Thedampingmagnetsarepositionedinsidethebaseonbothsidesoftheslotinwhichthedampervanetravels.

Theonlymaintenancerequiredistokeepthisslotfreeofmagneticparticleswhichcouldinterferewithfreemovementofthedampervane.Themagneticdampingiseffectiveatallloadsandwillspeedupweighing.

hOW TO WEIGhToweighanunknownload,placetheloadinthescalepan.Movethemainpoisetothefirstnotch,whichcausesthebeampointertodropbelowthecenterreferencepointer,andthenmoveitbackonenotch.Thenmovethesmallpoisetothenotchtobringthebeampointertothecenterreferencepointer.Theweightoftheunknownloadisthesumofthetwopoisereadings(Photo23).

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Photo21:Toppointerat0.5grainsabovereferencetargetload

Photo22:Bottompointerat0.5grainsbelowreferencetargetload

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Thescalecanalsobeusedtoweighoutpredeterminedpowdercharges;eitheraloneorincombinationwithapowdermeasuresettothrowalightcharge.

Ineithercase,thedesiredfinalweightofthechargeispresetonthepoises.Thiswillcausethebeampointertofallbelowthecenterreferencepointer.Addpowdertothepanuntilthebeambalances.Forefficientandeffectiveresults,werecommendusingan RCBS®PowderTrickler-2(soldseparately).

Whenmakingrepeatedweighingsinthismanner,avoiderrorsbymakingsurethepoisesremainintheircorrectpositionsandarenotaccidentallymoved.

hOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SCALEKeepthescalecleanatalltimesandbeparticularlycarefultopreventtheaccumulationofdirtonthepivotsandbearings.NOTE:NEVERAPPLYOILOR ANYLUBRICANTTOTHEPIVOTSORBEARINGS,ASTHISCANLOWERTHE ACCURACYANDREPEATABILITYOFTHESCALE.

Photo23:Scalereadingof163.7grains

ITEM DESCRIPTION QTY1 Base 1

2 Beam 1

3 Pointer 1

4 Leveling Foot 1

5 Ceramic Bearing 2

6 Bearing Retainer 2

7 Magnet Fixing 1

8 Magnets 2

9 Screws (M3x6) 4

10 Screws (ST2.9x8) 1

11 Conversion Label 1

12 Center Pivot 1

13 Front Pivot 1

14 Damping Vane 1 14

ITEM DESCRIPTION QTY15 Main Poise (Front) 1

16 Main Poise (Back) 1

17 Small Poise 1

18 Graduation Mark (Front) 1

19 Graduation Mark (Rear) 1

20 S/S Shackle 1

21 Scale Pan 1

22 Pan Support (Top) 1

23 S/S Hook 1

24 Weight Holder 1

25 Screws (M5x10) 1

26 Washer 1

27 Screws (M3x10) 2

28 Screws (M3x6) 1

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RCBS LIMITED WARRANTYYour RCBS®M500MechanicalScaleiswarrantedtobefreefromdefectsinmaterialorworkmanshipforaslongastheoriginalownerownsit.Thiswarrantyisextendedonlytotheoriginalconsumerpurchaser.AllRCBSprod-uctsareintendedfornon-commercialusebyhobbyists.Anyotheruseoftheseproductswillvoidthewarranty.Ifyoubelievethatyourproductiscoveredbythiswarranty,youmustreturntheproducttoRCBSattheaddressbelow,postagepaid,withproofofpurchaseforevaluation.Ifcovered,wewill(atoursoleoption)repair,replaceorrefundthepurchasepriceofanypartorproductfoundtobedefective.Thisremedywillbewithoutchargeexceptforreasonableshipping,handlingandinsurancecharges.

TO ENSURE ACCURACY OF YOUR WARRANTY INFORMATION, SEND YOUR DATED PROOF OFPURCHASE TO THE ADDRESS BELOW. This limited warranty does not cover defects or damage resulting from carelessness, misuse, commercial use, abuse, neglect, improper installation or assembly,watersubmersion,unauthorizedorimproperrepair,failuretofollowoperationinstructions,modificationor normal wear and tear.

ANYWARRANTIESIMPLIEDBYLAWSHALLINNOEVENTEXTENDBEYONDDURATIONOFTHISEXPRESSWAR-RANTY.Somestatesdonotallowlimitationsonhowlonganimpliedwarrantylasts,sotheabovelimitationmaynotapplytoyou.REPAIRORREPLACEMENTASPROVIDEDHEREINISYOUREXCLUSIVEREMEDYFORANYDEFEC-TIVEPRODUCT.INNOEVENTSHALLWEBELIABLEFORANYSPECIAL,INCIDENTIAL,ORCONSEQUENTIALDAMAGESOFANYKINDARISINGOUTOFTHEPURCHASEORUSEOFTHISPRODUCT,WHETHERBASEDUPONCONTRACT,TORT,STATUTEOROTHERWISE.Somestatesdonotallowtheexclusionorlimitationofincidentalor consequentialdamages,sotheabovelimitationorexclusionmaynotapplytoyou.Thiswarrantygivesyouspe-cificlegalrights,andyoumayalsohaveotherrightswhichvaryfromstatetostate.

CONTACT USRCBS•605OroDamBlvdEastOroville,CA,959651-800-379-1732(U.S.orCanada)E-mail:rcbs.tech@vistaoutdoor.comWebsite:rcbs.com

PRECISIONEERED RELOADING EQUIPMENT

Wethinkwemaketheworld’sbestreloadingequipment.If you agree, please tell your friends. If you disagree,

tellus—wewanttodosomethingaboutit!

CustomerService

1-800-379-1732(U.S.orCanada)

Hours:Monday-Friday,5:00a.m.–5:00p.m.PacificTime

(hoursmayvary)

E-mailrcbs.tech@vistaoutdoor.com,orvisitrcbs.com

RCBS•605OroDamBlvd.East•Oroville,CA95965

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