Cartridge Gauge

[eddiememphis]

Do I need one?

I read a little about them and watched a couple videos. Seems like it may be handy to set up sizing dies for rifles. Not sure about the use for straight walled cases.

Amazon has a bunch of different brands in stock, all around $25. Is it worth having them or am I fine just using my calipers?

[Grant H.]

Yes.

Any reloads should be, at a minimum, sample checked through a case gauge.

Admittedly, it gets a little more important when you are running progressive presses, but even single stage loading can cause issues that you don't want.

I have the 100 at a time case gauges for my bulk pistol ammo, and I own individual case gauges for every round I reload.

[Hoser]

While I have a few for various rifle calibers, I just use barrels for 9/40/45 ect.

Your barrel is the best gauge of them all.

If you have a gauge that is at the max end of things and a chamber that is at the min, you can end up chasing your tail.

[Little Dutch]

I have a few of them. I never use them. Like Hoser, I use the barrel.

[Little Dutch]

I have a few of them. I never use them. Like Hoser, I use the barrel.

I want to retract this slightly.

Many years ago, before I had ever heard of factory crimp dies and primers were $15 per thousand, I was having crimping issues with straight-wall pistol cartridges. The RCBS Chamber/Cartridge gauges were really useful to test chambering. If it didn't drop right in the crimp was too heavy and it wasn't going to chamber right.

[izzy]

I use them for everything I load. Kind of useless for pistol but I still check them.

[whitewalrus]

Get them for all bottleneck cartridges to help set your dies faster. If you are worried about rust, some companies make them out of stainless steel.


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[eddiememphis]

Get them for all bottleneck cartridges to help set your dies faster.

Does this include .30-30?

I understand using one for a cartridge that headspaces off the shoulder.

[whitewalrus]

Does this include .30-30?

I understand using one for a cartridge that headspaces off the shoulder.

I don?t load any rimmed rifle cartridges, but I assume the sizing die would set the shoulder back. May not matter as much as others, but if you can find a gauge that uses the shoulder may be worth it.

The gauge is just a good overall check and worth it for multiple gun loading. Otherwise you can just get the die set based on your own chamber and feeding.


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[beast556]

I have gauges for every caliber I load. I don't gauge my blasting ammo but I check all the other rounds I load. It only takes a few minutes and gives me peace of mind. I have gauges from wilson, lyman, and dillon, dillon makes the nicest gauges.