Head space Gages

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cw308

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I 'm using a Lyman headspace Case Gage. Most reloaders are using a Wilson gage, are they more accurate.
 
I 'm using a Lyman headspace Case Gage. Most reloaders are using a Wilson gage, are they more accurate.
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My cases do not have head space, my cases have length, I measure the length of a case from the shoulder to the case head and from the end of the case neck to the case head. I also make other measurements with tools that no one would recognize as a tool, not for everyone.

The case gage by L.E. Wilson has been around since the early '50s. It is a datum based tool, some reloaders used their thumb nail, others read the directions, they used a pocket rule and then used light. I used a straight edge and a feeler gage, from the beginning I knew the Wilson case gage was a very precision gage.

Accurate, a reloader that understands 'datums' can verify the accuracy of a case gage. They can also compare the accuracy of one gage with another case gage. I have a Forester, I do not make excuses for it, I compensate for the difference. And I make chamber gages, I know, I have been told barrels make good tomato stakes but with all of the cut off tools and band saws etc. there is no reason not to have chamber gages.

If I decide not to cut the barrel I can simply use the barrel, the chamber in the barrel also has a datum.

F. Guffey
 
I 'm using a Lyman headspace Case Gage.
Most reloaders are using a Wilson gage.
[A]re they more accurate [?]
Click to expand...
For all practical purposes, they are the same.

One of these days I've got to get some datums,
but Midway doesn't seem to have any on hand. :D
 
I went to a gun show at Market Hall, I walked up to a table and said "DATUMS!", The dealer said he did not have any datums, the shopper ahead of me asked "Where?". The shopper on the other side of me ask "What does a datum look like?"

F. Guffey
 
They don't produce Datums anymore, they went out of style with the introduction of the Horseless Carriage and use descended to nuttin'...;)

OP; be careful of what "most users" use, or what "They" say...
 
Which gauge are you using?
A "head space gauge" is for checking the firearm's headspace. GO, NO GO & FIELD.

A case gauge is for checking your ammunition dimensions.
:confused:
 
That's because datums are holes, Guffey.
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Not in the beginning, in the beginning the datum was a line that was located with an arrow pointing at it. Back then reloaders/smiths nodded their head approvingly pretending they understood. The old drawing is still used today.

The hole is not the datum, the hole is used to locate the datum.

F. Guffey
 
...in the beginning the datum was a line that
was located with an arrow pointing at it....
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But soon everyone realized that arrows made holes, and so just cut to the chase after that. :D
 
OP; be careful of what "most users" use, or what "They" say...
Click to expand...

Which gauge are you using?
A "head space gauge" is for checking the firearm's headspace. GO, NO GO & FIELD.

A case gauge is for checking your ammunition dimensions.
Click to expand...

mikld, I have no trouble understanding wogpotter, if a reloader wants to determine the difference in accuracy between two gages it helps to understand the 'datum'. I make datums, I collect datums and on occasions I sneak up on owners of datums that do not understand 'the datum', when that happens I purchase them.

I purchased 40 pounds of reloading dies for $20.00, I did not need the Lee dies so I made the dealer a generous offer, to prevent me from carrying all that weight to the parking lot I offered to sort the Lee dies out and leave them. He made it very clear I did not pay for the Lee dies, he claimed he gave me the Lee dies. Some of the dies were home made type dies, everyone of them had a datum. One of the dies in the two boxes was a bullet puller with a 30 cal. collet. No one wanted it because it appeared to be stuck.

F. Guffey
 
For all practical purposes, they are the same.
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The question had to do with difference between two brands. I said I have a Forester, it does not agree with the other two, for me? No problem. I do not use my thumb nail or wild guestimates, I use a straight edge and feeler gage. I also use a flat surface with a feeler gage.

I have head space gages, when I want to check the accuracy I can use a head space gage with a straight edge and a feeler gage or I can use a flat surface with a feeler gage.

F. Guffey
 
And I make chamber gages, I know, I have been told barrels make good tomato stakes...
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More importantly, is it pronounced dat-um, dah-tum or day-tum? That's important when talking about tomayto or tomahto stakes.
 
... and if you have two or more case headspace gauges [the headspace of which does
not exist so the OP is paying good money for nothing :p], you have data, not datums
 
... and if you have two or more case headspace gauges [the headspace of which does
not exist so the OP is paying good money for nothing ], you have data, not datums
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mehavey, you got nothing? What is so difficult about saying "I got nothing".

F. Guffey
 
"OP", Guffey.... "OP" got nothing. :D






in any case..... [no pun intended]

Both chamber and cases have headspace dimensions.
The Wilson and Lyman gauges both use these dimensions to tell [the OP] the match-up between
the different case & chamber headspace [SAAMI-related] standards.

If the case dimensions fall within the SAAMI tolerances [the groove in the gauge], well and good.
If not [ case falls below or pokes outside] the groove, not good.

Best, of course is using true case Headspace Comparators to establish and size the case headspace
dimension best fit against actual/individual chamber headspace dimensions.
 
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"Datum" is the singular for data. Isn't a line.
A gage is "something, as a glove, thrown down by a medieval knight in token of challenge to combat."
"...is it pronounced..." Depends on where you're from. Or is it 'at'. snicker.
Ya'll are making this too easy. snicker.
No case has headspace. Headspace is a rifle manufacturing tolerance only. Chambers technically don't either. Headspace is the tolerance that allows ammunition from different makers to be used in all like chambered firearms.
The Wilson and Lyman gauges are both ways of separating you from your money.
The best case/cartridge gauge is the chamber of your firearm. Just the barrel with a pistol. Chambering and closing the action with a rifle. Fingers off the trigger and the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
 
If not [ case falls below or pokes outside] the groove, not good.
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Not necessarily - It just means the base to shoulder datum is outside SAAMI spec. There is a good Youtube video teaching you how to use a Wilson gauge to adjust your particular reloading dies for a chamber that is longer than spec while allowing for a minimal shoulder bumping.
 
Mr Wilson has datums:
"Case Gage
One piece gage that will check overall length to indicate the need for trimming, datum to head length to assure correct headspace and to prevent over sizing."

The big dealer says he has headspace;
"L.E. Wilson Case Length Headspace Gage 30-06 Springfield"

I use them and have had no casehead separations and no cartridges I could not get in the chamber. Close enough.

To the OP, I don't have both brands of rifle gauge. I have a Lyman 9mm gauge and a Wilson .45 gauge, that is what was in stock the day I ordered. The Wilson is better finished. Does that mean its interior is closer to spec and its datum located better? I don't know, they both work for the intended purpose.
 
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