The weight that a load indicator may show you can be subject to innumeral variations. There are two types, Those that show a second pilot or crewman what the actual weight is or the one you set and it tells you when you have gone over the figure. Neither are very accurate even though their actual weight indication is correct.
When you are in the initial stages it will indicate the increasing weight of the slinging gear as it comes off the ground. To pull the load off the ground requires the overcoming of inertia and in the hover the effect on the rotor wash on the load will falsify the figure. Transitioning to forward flight incorporates another batch of inertia and it also requires energy to pull it through the air. Aerodynamic effects dependant of the shape of the load may reduce or increase its apparant weight. The result is that you will be informed of an actual weight that may bear no relation to the planned weight.
One example. Lifting a bridge structure and positioning it. Actual weight 1725 kilos including plywood fins to ensure that it flies fore/aft in relation to the aircraft otherwise it was going nowhere. Continuous reading loadmeter indicates approx 1970 kilo in the hover then slowly down to 1800 at 45 knots. At 60 knots rapidly decreases down to 900 kilos as it starts flying. Continue at 50 knots/1650.
Another. Resupplying an island 125n.m. away in the Solomon Islands with a 332L. A heavy aircraft permantly fitted with internal overload and sponson tanks. Rations for a week for Australian police plus five drums of diesel in a net. The weight on the hook doesn't matter, it well within the limits but when you hook up you are at 20,000 lbs. Then you can lift the load and are at minimum fuel to get there and back. One slight inconvenience is that it is at +35C and ten miles south there is a mountain range over 5000ft. high that you have to cross to get to this island. There are valleys but there also permanent 8/8th cloud. No load guages on this but at 7,000ft/70knots it stops climbing. It is down to 18,500lbs in weight so it should still be soaring but the drag on the load is sufficient stop it. Once over the hill descending to 2,000ft at 15 degrees of pitch should give you 130knots. No chance, 90 at the best.
My only recommendation for a load guage would be to bin it. Ignorance is bliss.