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Trim lengths and bullet seating
- Thread starter Wendyj
- Start date
Yea me to , I was just pointing out the LE. Wilson gage and the like are not just paper weights to me any more . I don't intend to use those gages in that way only because I have the Hornady case head space gage . How ever thanks to that video I now see that the L.E. Wilson case gage can be used to do the exact same thing . If I'd seen that video a few years ago . I'd likely never would have bought the Hornady gage .
My point is that most guys in forums I'm a member of say those gages are pretty much worthless . I bought into that thinking but after seeing how to actually use them . They clearly can be used to correctly size your cases to your chamber . I confirmed this by measuring cases I had just fired last week to cases I sized in that same time . I've known what the fire formed cases measured as well as what I was FL sizing them back to because I use the Hornady gage . I then measured those same cases using the method in the video and got the exact same measurements . That to me seems to say each method validated the other as a reliable way to measure case head space .
My point is that most guys in forums I'm a member of say those gages are pretty much worthless . I bought into that thinking but after seeing how to actually use them . They clearly can be used to correctly size your cases to your chamber . I confirmed this by measuring cases I had just fired last week to cases I sized in that same time . I've known what the fire formed cases measured as well as what I was FL sizing them back to because I use the Hornady gage . I then measured those same cases using the method in the video and got the exact same measurements . That to me seems to say each method validated the other as a reliable way to measure case head space .
Wendy,
You can measure both cases and bullet ogives with your Hornady tool. You just need the appropriate insert for each. If you don't own the bullet ogive insert made by Hornady, I recommend you buy the stainless steel ones sold by Sinclair (they fit both the Hornady and Sinclair caliper adapter heads). The Sinclair inserts (scroll down this page) catch the bullet a little further down, much closer to where the rifling will actually meet the ogive. This had a little bit less standard deviation for me than the Hornady inserts gave me, though, to be frank, it was not enough to matter. I just like as much consistency as I can get.
Regarding the RCBS Precision Mic (PM), I own three, but you need to own a separate one for every chambering, so if I wanted one for every chambering I have it would become a cost burden. The Hornady and Sinclair types just require owning the right inserts, and those are much less expensive than the PM. It is also a little slower to operate, as you have to screw the thimble of and on for every measurement. One thing the PM does that the Hornady tool does not do is try to get you close to an absolute measurement. My PM's are all within about 0.002" of absolute, but none are exact. You still need to use a good quality headspace GO gauge to double check and calibrate these tools. You still need to measure relatively to get shoulder setback correctly established.
You can measure both cases and bullet ogives with your Hornady tool. You just need the appropriate insert for each. If you don't own the bullet ogive insert made by Hornady, I recommend you buy the stainless steel ones sold by Sinclair (they fit both the Hornady and Sinclair caliper adapter heads). The Sinclair inserts (scroll down this page) catch the bullet a little further down, much closer to where the rifling will actually meet the ogive. This had a little bit less standard deviation for me than the Hornady inserts gave me, though, to be frank, it was not enough to matter. I just like as much consistency as I can get.
Regarding the RCBS Precision Mic (PM), I own three, but you need to own a separate one for every chambering, so if I wanted one for every chambering I have it would become a cost burden. The Hornady and Sinclair types just require owning the right inserts, and those are much less expensive than the PM. It is also a little slower to operate, as you have to screw the thimble of and on for every measurement. One thing the PM does that the Hornady tool does not do is try to get you close to an absolute measurement. My PM's are all within about 0.002" of absolute, but none are exact. You still need to use a good quality headspace GO gauge to double check and calibrate these tools. You still need to measure relatively to get shoulder setback correctly established.