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Posted: 2/5/2013 12:13:05 PM EDT
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Old gal bit the dust. What say you?
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Are you looking for "the best", or for one that is adequate to the task at hand? "the best" is going to cost you a mint. There are several that are relatively inexpensive and quite good for reloading, however. I'm quite fond of the RCBS dial calipers, as I don't like being dependent on a battery. It's solidly built and plenty accurate for most reloading needs. ETA: Oops, you said micrometer. I thought calipers. I dunno nothin'.  |
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I would not hesitate to pick up a used Mitutoyo or Starrett digital micrometer. (Or new for that matter.)
Some models have more features like data output or are dust or fluid sealed, but you can decide for yourself if you would ever want that much performance. The ones with the fifth decimal point tend to help with getting a lower total uncertainty so that the fourth decimal has a chance of being meaningful. We have thousands of calibrated instruments at the company I work for and the calibration statistics for these two brands is very good, but I will add that for some of the others it isn't what it should be. |
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By the way, did you really want a micrometer or did you mean caliper? What do you use it for that you want a micrometer?
Either way, you have to first define what the word "best" means to you. Are you looking for reliability? How about the highest accuracy? How about the highest precision? Is cost important, what's your budget? What size do you want, 4", 6" or 8"? Would it be better to have two or three rather than one, so you don't have to swap attachments? I offer this ony as "push back" to those who immediately say Starret, Mitutoyo or B&S are best. The very expensive calipers offer little or no benefit to the reloader. There are much less expensive options available which afford the reloader the option to buy several. In the first place, you can attach various gizmos to each one and not have to change them out. Also, if you drop your caliper and it is no longer functioning, you can use one of your others and keep going. If you put all your money into one caliper, when it hits the floor, you may be out of luck. Until the OP defines "best", we don't know what he wants. There are so many aspects to your request which need to be addressed before anyone can say which is "best". |
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