Published: May 2026 | Last updated: May 2026
Disclaimer: Specifications and pricing in this article are drawn from manufacturer and retailer sources current at time of publication. Always verify current pricing before purchasing.
The Redding No. 2 Master is the balance beam scale that Redding has produced for decades, and it occupies a specific position in the reloading market that few other products share: it is a premium mechanical scale that serious handloaders buy once and use for the remainder of their loading career. At a street price around $100-130, it costs roughly twice as much as the RCBS M500 or the Hornady balance beam scale, and the premium buys measurable differences in damping system design, pivot quality, and long-term mechanical consistency. For a handloader who will use a balance beam scale thousands of times over many years, those differences matter.
The defining feature of the No. 2 Master is its magnetic damping system. Most balance beam scales settle through natural mechanical oscillation – the beam swings back and forth, gradually losing amplitude until it finds the balance point. This process takes 15-30 seconds per reading. The Redding No. 2 uses a pair of horseshoe magnets positioned at the beam ends to create electromagnetic braking on the aluminum beam. The magnets do not touch the beam; they create an eddy current field that damps the oscillation and brings the beam to rest 3-5 times faster than a non-damped scale. In a loading session where hundreds of charges are weighed, that time per reading computes to a significant difference in total session time.
The No. 2 Master is aimed at the handloader who takes balance beam scales seriously as precision instruments rather than as a budget alternative to a digital scale – the precision rifle shooter who loads for competition and wants a power-independent, temperature-stable reference that does not require re-zeroing when the shop temperature changes, and who appreciates that the magnetic damping system makes the scale practical to use at the pace their loading sessions demand.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Redding Reloading Equipment |
| Model | No. 2 Master Balance Beam Mechanical Powder Scale |
| SKU | Not available at time of publication |
| UPC | Not available at time of publication |
| Type | Mechanical balance beam with magnetic damping |
| Capacity | 505 grains |
| Resolution | 0.1 grains |
| Damping System | Magnetic (horseshoe magnets – non-contact eddy current braking) |
| Beam Material | Aluminum alloy |
| Pivot Type | Hardened steel knife edges |
| Counterpoise | Two-poise system: coarse 10-grain poise + fine 0.1-grain poise |
| Pan | Removable aluminum pan with anti-static interior coating (some production runs) |
| Leveling | Adjustable leveling feet with bubble level indicator |
| Power | None required |
| User Rating | Not available at time of publication |
| MSRP | Approximately $119.99-$129.99 |
| Approx. Street Price | $100-$130 depending on retailer |
Magnetic Damping: The Design Feature That Separates the No. 2
Balance beam scales without damping systems rely on the beam’s natural mechanical decay to find the balance point. Each reading requires waiting for the beam to lose its oscillation energy through air resistance and pivot friction – a process that takes 20-30 seconds in a still-air environment. In a draft-free room at normal temperature, this is the minimum wait between trickle increments when working toward a precise charge. Over a 100-round precision rifle loading session, that wait accumulates to roughly 30-50 minutes of beam-settling time.
The Redding No. 2’s magnetic damping system cuts that settlement time to 5-8 seconds per reading. The physics are well established: as the aluminum beam swings through the field created by the permanent horseshoe magnets, eddy currents are induced in the beam material. Those eddy currents create a magnetic field that opposes the beam’s motion – electromagnetic braking proportional to the beam’s velocity. The faster the beam swings, the stronger the braking force. This means the damping effect is strongest when the beam is in large oscillation and diminishes as the beam approaches rest, allowing it to settle to the true balance point without overshooting or underdamping. The result is a critically damped response that reaches the balance point quickly and stays there.
Non-contact damping is the key specification. The magnets do not touch the beam, so there is no friction contribution to the damping force, no wear at a contact point, and no mechanical interaction that could shift the balance point over time. The magnets damp the oscillation and then become invisible to the measurement – the beam rests at the true mechanical equilibrium, undistorted by any contact force from the damping system.
This matters in practice because some cheaper “damped” scales use oil-dashpot or friction-based damping that introduces a small but real directional bias – the beam rests slightly differently depending on whether it approached the balance point from above or below. The Redding No. 2’s non-contact magnetic damping has no such bias, provided the magnets are correctly positioned at both ends of the beam.
Build Quality and Design
The No. 2 Master is Redding’s top-of-line balance beam instrument, and the construction reflects that position. The beam is aluminum alloy, machined to consistent cross-section along its length. The hardened steel knife-edge pivots at the fulcrum are the most wear-critical components in any balance beam scale; Redding machines these to close tolerances and treats the steel to resist the gradual rounding that accumulates under repeated loading. A balance beam scale’s long-term accuracy depends more on pivot condition than on any other single factor.
The two-poise system uses a coarse 10-grain poise and a fine 0.1-grain poise on graduated tracks. The graduated scales are engraved rather than painted, which means the markings do not wear away with use. The poise tracks have detents or friction surfaces that hold the poise at set positions without allowing creep during operation. Poise creep – where a poise slides from its set position during a trickle cycle – produces false balance indications that are difficult to detect mid-session; the No. 2’s poise retention prevents this.
The leveling feet are adjustable over a range that accommodates minor bench surface variations. The bubble level indicator is centered in the base and visible from the operator’s normal working position. The pan hook system holds the pan in a stable, repeatable position – the pan hangs at consistent geometry rather than swinging freely in a way that introduces pan movement into the beam reading.
The horseshoe magnets are mounted in fixed positions at the beam ends. Their alignment is set at the factory and does not require user adjustment. The magnetic field strength is calibrated to provide adequate damping without over-damping – a beam that damps too strongly does not reach the true mechanical equilibrium because the residual eddy current braking holds it slightly off-balance even at near-rest. The Redding No. 2’s magnet positioning is correct for the beam mass and moment of inertia of this specific scale; do not add or reposition magnets.
Setup and Operation
Place the No. 2 Master on a stable bench surface away from drafts. Magnetic damping reduces but does not eliminate the scale’s sensitivity to air movement – gentle air currents that would cause an undamped scale to oscillate continuously still produce visible beam movement on the No. 2, though the beam settles rather than oscillating indefinitely. Draft shields remain useful for maximizing reading stability.
Level the scale using the adjustable feet until the bubble indicator is centered. Verify levelness from the operator’s normal viewing angle. With the pan in place and both poise weights at zero, the beam should balance with the indicator centered. If it does not, use the zero adjustment screw to bring the empty beam to balance. Verify zero with a known check weight at the start of every session.
Set the coarse poise to the nearest 10-grain increment below the target charge weight. Set the fine poise to the target’s decimal value. Add powder to the pan using a powder measure throwing a near-weight charge, then trickle the remainder with a Lyman Brass Smith Powder Trickler or equivalent. After each trickle increment, watch the beam settle – with magnetic damping, the beam reaches its rest position in 5-8 seconds. When the indicator centers, the charge is at the target weight.
The faster settlement time changes the practical rhythm of the trickle-and-weigh workflow. With a non-damped scale, the operator typically drops several kernels at once and waits 20-30 seconds. With the No. 2’s magnetic damping, a disciplined operator can drop one kernel at a time and read the scale in 5-8 seconds, which provides tighter final charge control in the last few tenths of a grain. Many experienced handloaders report that the No. 2’s damping system meaningfully reduces the frustration of overshooting the target charge during trickling, because the fast settlement makes it practical to approach the final 0.2 grains one kernel at a time.
Verify the scale with a traceable check weight at the start of each session. Temperature changes, bench surface variations, and the gradual pivot wear that accumulates over years of use can all shift scale accuracy. Two minutes of verification at the session start is appropriate for any scale at this level of use.
Where It Fits – Use Cases
Precision rifle load development is the primary application where the No. 2’s magnetic damping provides its clearest advantage over standard balance beam alternatives. A handloader developing loads for 6.5 Creedmoor, 6mm Dasher, 308 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, or 338 Lapua Magnum with extruded powder and a trickler-and-scale workflow who loads 100+ rounds per session will notice the time saving over a non-damped scale in every session they load.
Temperature-variable loading environments favor the balance beam’s temperature independence over any digital scale. The No. 2’s faster damping makes it more practical than a non-damped balance beam for the same load quantities, bridging the usability gap between mechanical and digital scales in variable-temperature shops.
Long-term primary precision scale for a handloader who intends to use the same scale for many years. The No. 2’s hardened pivot construction and non-contact damping system are designed for a service life measured in decades rather than the 5-10 year functional lifetime of most digital scales under regular use. A handloader who amortizes the purchase over 20 years of regular loading sessions is paying roughly $5-6 per year for a primary scale instrument.
High-resolution cross-check reference for a digital primary scale. Running both a digital dispenser – such as the RCBS ChargeMaster Supreme – and the No. 2 as a spot-check reference allows the operator to verify the dispenser’s output against a temperature-independent mechanical reference. When the digital dispenser and the No. 2 agree, confidence in charge weight is high.
Serious handloaders who prefer mechanical instruments on philosophical grounds – who appreciate the transparency of a purely mechanical measurement, who distrust electronic calibration drift, and who want a scale that can be understood, serviced, and maintained without proprietary parts or electronics – will find the No. 2 the most capable mechanical scale available at a reloading-accessible price.
Competitive Analysis
Redding No. 2 Master vs. RCBS M500 Balance Beam Scale: The RCBS M500 is the most direct competitor – a non-damped balance beam scale of identical capacity at roughly half the price. The M500 is a quality scale with hardened pivots and reliable 0.1-grain resolution. The No. 2 Master’s magnetic damping provides the measurable advantages described above: 3-5x faster beam settlement, reduced frustration in precise trickle-to-weight work, and the same temperature independence and mechanical longevity. Whether those advantages justify the $50-60 price premium depends entirely on loading volume and session length. A handloader who loads 30 rounds per month will not feel the damping advantage the way a handloader who loads 200 rounds per session will. Choose the Redding No. 2 if loading volume and session length make faster beam settlement a practical time saver. Choose the RCBS M500 if the price difference matters more than damping speed and your loading volume is moderate.
Redding No. 2 Master vs. Hornady Balance Beam Mechanical Powder Scale: The Hornady balance beam is a non-damped mid-tier scale at a price similar to the RCBS M500. The Hornady scale is adequate for the buyer in the Hornady equipment ecosystem who wants a matched accessory. It does not have the No. 2’s magnetic damping or Redding’s pivot construction quality. The comparison is essentially the same as with the RCBS M500 – the No. 2 costs more and delivers measurably faster readings in a precision trickle workflow. Choose the Redding No. 2 for the fastest available balance beam reading speed. Choose the Hornady Balance Beam Scale for budget balance beam performance with Hornady ecosystem integration.
Redding No. 2 Master vs. Lyman Accu-Touch 2000 Digital Scale: The Lyman Accu-Touch 2000 is a digital scale at a comparable price point that reads instantly rather than in 5-8 seconds and does not require draft shielding. For a handloader in a temperature-stable, draft-free loading space, the digital scale’s instant reading makes the trickle workflow faster than even the magnetically damped No. 2. The No. 2’s advantages reassert themselves in variable-temperature environments where the Accu-Touch requires re-zeroing as temperature changes. The choice between them is primarily an environment question. Choose the Redding No. 2 for temperature-variable environments, power-independent operation, and multi-decade service life. Choose the Lyman Accu-Touch 2000 for a temperature-stable controlled environment where instant digital readings are the priority.
Redding No. 2 Master vs. Lyman Pro-Touch Electronic Scale: The Lyman Pro-Touch is a higher-tier digital scale with 0.1-grain resolution and faster response than lower-tier digital scales. At a price similar to or slightly above the No. 2, the Pro-Touch offers digital convenience but electronic temperature sensitivity. The same environment-based comparison applies as with the Accu-Touch 2000, with the additional consideration that the Pro-Touch’s digital interface provides a clearer pass/fail reading signal during trickling than the No. 2’s indicator position judgment. Choose the Redding No. 2 if mechanical reliability and environmental robustness are the priorities. Choose the Lyman Pro-Touch if digital reading clarity and speed in a controlled environment are the priorities.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Redding No. 2 Master | RCBS M500 Balance Beam | Hornady Balance Beam | Lyman Accu-Touch 2000 Digital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Balance beam, magnetic damping | Balance beam, no damping | Balance beam, no damping | Digital load cell |
| Capacity | 505 grains | 500 grains | 505 grains | 1,500 grains |
| Resolution | 0.1 grains | 0.1 grains | 0.1 grains | 0.1 grains |
| Damping System | Magnetic (non-contact) | None | None | N/A – digital |
| Settlement Time | 5-8 seconds | 20-30 seconds | 20-30 seconds | Instant |
| Temperature Drift | Negligible | Negligible | Negligible | Moderate |
| Power Required | None | None | None | AC or battery |
| Draft Sensitivity | Low-moderate | High | High | Very low |
| Pivot Construction | Hardened steel | Steel | Steel | N/A |
| Long-term Service Life | Very long (decades) | Long | Moderate | 5-10 years typical |
| User Rating | ~4.7/5 | ~4.4/5 | ~4.2/5 | ~4.3/5 |
| Price Range | $100-$130 | $65-$85 | $55-$75 | $65-$85 |
Troubleshooting
Beam does not settle as quickly as expected – settling time approaching 20-30 seconds. The magnetic damping system has been compromised. Check that the horseshoe magnets are still in their correct positions at the beam ends and have not shifted. Also check for ferrous metal debris (steel tools, primers, bullets) placed on or near the scale – nearby ferrous materials can distort the magnetic field and reduce damping effectiveness. Keep ferrous objects away from the scale during use. If the magnets themselves have been removed or repositioned, the scale requires service – contact Redding for guidance.
Scale does not zero correctly after extended storage. The beam’s zero has drifted from dimensional changes during storage. Bring the scale to room temperature, level it carefully, and use the zero adjustment screw to re-establish balance with the empty pan. If the zero cannot be brought to indicator center with the adjustment screw, the pivot knife edges may need cleaning. Disassemble per Redding’s service instructions, clean the pivot contact surfaces with a lint-free cloth and a small amount of isopropyl alcohol, dry completely, and reassemble. Pivot contamination from powder residue or oxidation is the most common cause of zero drift on a well-maintained balance beam scale.
Beam reads consistently offset from a known check weight. The poise weights have accumulated surface deposits – handling oils, powder residue, or surface oxidation – that add measurable mass. Clean all three poise weights with a clean dry cloth or a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol, dry completely, and re-verify. Do not handle poise weights with bare fingers during use; oil transfer is cumulative. If cleaning does not resolve the offset, compare against two independent check weights from different sources to confirm which instrument has the error.
Poise creeps from set position during a loading session. The poise track has accumulated a fine powder film that reduces the friction holding the poise in position. Disassemble the poise from the beam track, clean the track surface and the poise contact face with a dry cloth, and reinstall. Powder dust is an effective lubricant and a common cause of poise movement on scales used in dusty shop environments.
Scale indicator oscillates continuously even in a still-air environment. The bench surface is transmitting vibration to the scale. Identify vibration sources – HVAC compressors, washing machines, vehicles idling nearby, foot traffic on a flexing floor. Place the scale on a solid surface, ideally a dedicated concrete block or heavy hardwood board that decouples it from floor vibration. An anti-vibration mat under the scale base helps with high-frequency vibration. If vibration cannot be controlled, the scale is in the wrong location.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Redding No. 2’s magnetic damping affect scale accuracy? The magnetic damping affects only how quickly the beam reaches the balance point – not where the balance point is. The non-contact design means the magnets impose no force on the beam at rest. A beam that has settled under magnetic damping is at the same mechanical equilibrium it would reach after 30 seconds of natural oscillation. Damping speed and measurement accuracy are independent; faster is simply more practical.
Can the No. 2 Master be used alongside an Auto Trickler or RCBS ChargeMaster system? The No. 2 can serve as a verification reference alongside any automated dispensing system. After the automated system drops a charge into its pan, transfer the charge to the No. 2’s pan and verify the weight independently. This cross-check is most useful during initial setup of an automated dispenser or when verifying after opening a new powder lot. For ongoing production loading, most handloaders trust the automated dispenser’s calibration and reserve the balance beam for periodic spot-checks rather than per-round verification.
How does the No. 2’s 505-grain capacity compare to what I actually need? 505 grains covers every standard centerfire reloading application, including magnum rifle charges. The heaviest common rifle charges – Hodgdon H50BMG for 50 BMG at 240+ grains – exceed the No. 2’s range, but 50 BMG is outside the scale’s intended application regardless. For all standard rifle and pistol calibers from 9mm Luger through 338 Lapua Magnum, 505 grains is more than sufficient.
Is the Redding No. 2 appropriate as a first powder scale for a beginner? It is appropriate but expensive for a first purchase. A beginner who does not yet know whether they prefer balance beam or digital workflow, or whether they will load at sufficient volume to appreciate magnetic damping, might better start with a less expensive balance beam like the RCBS M500 to establish their workflow preferences. The No. 2 is the right purchase for a handloader who knows they prefer balance beam operation and wants the best available mechanical scale at a reloading-accessible price.
How long do the permanent magnets in the damping system last? Neodymium or alnico permanent magnets – the types used in balance beam scale damping systems – do not demagnetize under normal conditions. They can lose strength gradually over decades from high-temperature exposure (above 176°F for some alloys) or from mechanical shock. Under normal reloading bench conditions, the magnets in a Redding No. 2 should maintain their damping effectiveness for the full service life of the scale without any maintenance or replacement.
What is the correct way to store the No. 2 between sessions? Remove the pan and store it separately to prevent the beam from resting under load. Cover the scale with a dust cover – a simple inverted bowl or a purpose-made cover – to keep powder residue and dust off the pivots. Store in a stable humidity environment. The horseshoe magnets require no special storage consideration. Avoid storing near other strong permanent magnets that could partially demagnetize the damping magnets over extended proximity, though this is an unlikely concern in a typical reloading room.
Conclusion
The Redding No. 2 Master Balance Beam Mechanical Powder Scale is the best-performing mechanical balance beam scale available at a price a serious hobby reloader can justify. Its magnetic damping system provides the single most practically meaningful difference from non-damped alternatives: reading speed that makes the balance beam a viable primary instrument for precision rifle loading sessions where hundreds of charges are weighed per session, rather than a slow-but-reliable tool reserved for spot-checking a digital primary scale.
The price premium over the RCBS M500 or Hornady balance beam is real – roughly $40-60 more depending on current pricing. For a handloader who loads 30 rounds per year, that premium is hard to justify on the basis of time saved per session. For a handloader who loads 100-200 rounds of precision rifle ammunition per session on a regular schedule, the faster reading time of the No. 2 is not a luxury – it is the difference between a practical balance beam workflow and an impractical one. At that loading volume, the No. 2’s cost per session over a 15-year service life is negligible.
Choose the Redding No. 2 Master Balance Beam Mechanical Powder Scale if you load precision rifle ammunition at meaningful volume per session, use a trickle-and-weigh workflow with extruded stick powder, prefer mechanical balance beam instruments for their temperature independence and long service life, and load in an environment where temperature variability makes digital scale re-zeroing a recurring inconvenience.
Choose the RCBS M500 Balance Beam Scale instead if the price difference is significant relative to your loading volume and session length – the M500 performs the same function without magnetic damping at roughly half the price.
Choose the Hornady Balance Beam Scale instead if you are in the Hornady equipment ecosystem and want matched accessories at a lower price point, with the understanding that neither Hornady nor RCBS non-damped scales provide the settlement speed of the No. 2.
Choose the Lyman Accu-Touch 2000 or Lyman Pro-Touch instead if instant digital readings in a temperature-stable environment are more important than mechanical reliability, power independence, and multi-decade service life.
Disclaimer: Specifications and pricing in this article are drawn from manufacturer and retailer sources current at time of publication. Always verify current pricing before purchasing.
Editorial note: Originally published May 2026. Initial publication. The article covers the Redding No. 2 Master’s magnetic non-contact damping system, settlement time advantages over non-damped balance beam scales, hardened steel pivot construction, long-term service life design, and competitive positioning against the RCBS M500, Hornady Balance Beam, and Lyman Accu-Touch 2000 digital scale.
