case gage

H

hnusz

New member
Do you have to use a case gage when loading rifle. I load 223 and 3006 mine and once fired bought online. When I try to search the forum my phone takes me to google. Thanks guys.
 
Absolutely! The L.E.Wilson rifle case gauges will ensure you are trimming and sizing to spec. Also they can also be used to measure you rifles head space. sizing your cases to .002" shorter than your rifles head space will extend the life of your brass by reducing how far the brass case must stretch to fill the chamber each time it is fired.

this video by wilson explains the process. pretty slick, me thinks...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuJYpm-qplQ

link to wilson case gauges. they also have a tab for product video.
http://www.lewilson.com/casegage.html
 
NO you don't HAVE to use a case gauge.

You have a $300+ case gauge that you're firing your loaded rounds from, right?

Use you're rifle as your case gauge. That's what I use.

I use Redding Body dies and Lee Collet neck dies. When I'm using once fired brass I bought, I slowly bump the shoulders back to where they'll chamber. No more than that though. This ensures I'm not bumping the shoulders back too far.

The only thing I've ever used is my rifles, I normally get a good number of firings on the same cases because I'm not bumping the shoulders back too far.

Just my .02.
 
I have their case gauges for 223, 243 and 270. It does help in setting the shoulder correctly for the caliber.

As to trim length, I use other tools.


Stay safe.
Jim
 
I'm with jwrowland77. Case gauges are nice but my rifle is my case gauge. I would however consider a case gauge if I were reloading for multiple rifles of the same cartridge.
 
Do you have to use a case gage when loading rifle.
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If the ‘you’ in your question is me the answer is no. If your question has something to do with my opinion about the use of the case gage then the answer is yes; I recommend the Wilson case gage.

I am the fan of measuring before and again after. It is possible for a reloader to determine the effect the chamber had on the case when fired ‘IF!’ (BIG IF) the reloader/shooter measured the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head before firing.

Next step after firing; after measuring the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head the reloader can measure the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head after sizing.

And then? There is the ‘before that’. A reloader should understand the meaning of minimum length

Full length sized. A reloader should understand the meaning of a go-gage length chamber and a no-go gage length chamber; after that understanding what is meant by field reject length should be easier.

From the beginning the Wilson case gage was designed to be used with a straight edge; the problem? Using the straight edge was optional. Reminds me of a book written by Melville about a big whale; in the book there is a line that goes something like ‘ all Save one’. For me it was a simple progression when using the straight edge, I added the feeler gage to measure the gap between the gage and straight edge. I know that makes no sense to anyone but if the reloader understood the Wilson case gage has two steps/heights, one is minimum length and the other is go-gage length. When I use the feeler gage I add the thickness of the gage to the go-gage length of the gage.

The Wilson case gage is a datum based tool. The datum in the Wilson case gage has a radius. The radius makes the datum case friendly. I make datums, my datums are not case friendly because I can use them to scribe the case.

Back to “Do you have to use…”. No I use barrel stubs, take off barrels, worn out barrels and new barrels. Problem; It is not likely I am going to be able to check the length of a fired case in one of the options above. The advantage goes the Wilson case gage because it is cut to check fired and sized cases. Then there is the jump to the conclusion the Wilson case gage can not measure the diameter of the case. The Wilson case gage instructions were printed in about 1955; the instructions included the part about the straight edge. Point; in 60 years reloaders are still using their thumb nail to check case protrusion above the gage.

F. Guffey
 
jwrowland,

Rifle chambers work well as case gauges; however, from a safety point of view, using the smaller gauges eliminates the handling of a rifle, not to mention they are way more convenient.
 
Perhaps a better answer is this; it is more effective to use the case gauge then to do your conditioning work, run the case through your rifle and then come back and potentially bump the shoulder then go back to the rifle. Sitting at your bench, you can de-prime/resize, check the case with the gauge, bump the shoulder again if necessary and re-check with the gauge, check the length of the case for the possibility of trimming and then either clean or store or re-load. (depending on how you design your process).

When I first began in pistol I would manually cycle rounds to test for OAL - same theory. I found that using the barrel (which is effectively a case gauge) was much more efficient and less time consuming.

So, bottom line, it's up to you how you check your cases, but you should include the step in your process.

Be safe.
 
The Wilson case gage instructions were printed in about 1955; the instructions included the part about the straight edge. Point; in 60 years reloaders are still using their thumb nail to check case protrusion above the gage.
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There is a shortage of appreciation for the Wilson case gage. If reloaders understood the instructions they would not need the gage or they could make their own gage. Then there is the confusion caused when trimming the case to length. I am beginning to believe the Wilson case gage is too complicated for most reloaders.

F. Guffey
 
The case gauge and your rifle chamber are not the same. Close, perhaps, but not the same. I size for the rifle and not for the case gauge. You don't really need a case gauge, so there's no need to think that "oh, my goodness, I can't reload cause I don't have a case gauge".
 
The case gauge and your rifle chamber are not the same. Close, perhaps, but not the same.
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Click to expand...

I agree, if the reloader can get a good grasp on the meaning of datum they understand what is meant by measure before and again after. That would be before firing and after firing and measuring the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head before sizing and again after sizing.

A reloader that can verify the gage understands case minimum length/full length sized and go-gage length.

Then there is verifying the gage.

F. Guffey
 
Pogybait said:
jwrowland,



Rifle chambers work well as case gauges; however, from a safety point of view, using the smaller gauges eliminates the handling of a rifle, not to mention they are way more convenient.
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That's why you make a dummy round first, then you know everything is setup correctly!

I don't know about you, but that's the first thing I do when reloading for a new cartridge. As well as when I try a new bullet.
 
Are there differences between case gauges, ie: Wilson vs. Dillon? Or others? Setting up different brand dies, using RCBS dies with Dillon case gauge or is it preferable to use Dillon case gauge with Dillon dies?

Only been involved in metallic reloading for a few years, at this point my main goal is producing safe loads, with plans, as experience grows, to improve accuracy.
 
Are there differences between case gauges, i.e.: Wilson vs. Dillon; or others? Setting up different brand dies, using RCBS dies with Dillon case gauge or is it preferable to use Dillon case gauge with Dillon dies?
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Click to expand...
No, as you can see it depends on the skill level of the reloader. I have read and heard reloaders claim the brand of the shell holder had to match the brand of the die. There is no truth in that claim; only those that understand deck height know the brand of shell holder does not matter. The deck height of the shell holder should be .125". Any eloader can measure deck height with a height gage or dial caliper (or should be able to measure the deck height of a shell holder). Again, my favorite shell holder is a shell holder that only fits where it touches. I have shell holders that fit; they fit for a different reason.

F. Guffey
 
I happen to load .223 and .30-06 as well.
I use a Wilson Case Gauge.

IMG_0981.JPG


IMG_0982.jpg
 
Ok the 223 is easy to check as its an ar. The 06 is a Remington Woodsmaster 740 not as easy as an ar. In theory would not my brass fired in my rifles just need cleaned and loaded. Would they not be sized when fired?
 
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