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Posted: 7/18/2014 6:56:43 PM EDT
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I am new to reloading and a few videos I have watched recommended these. So, as a newble my question is whether something like this is necessary, a nice luxury, or simply overkill? Thanks in advance for the feedback. |
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Quoted: I am new to reloading and a few videos I have watched recommended these. So, as a newble my question is whether something like this is necessary, a nice luxury, or simply overkill? Thanks in advance for the feedback. One of these? Used to set your sizing die so your bottle neck rounds will chamber. I use the Hornady gauge. That attaches to your caliper. |
| I have a RCBS Precision Mic for .223 Rem and one for 30-06 which also measures my 25-06 cases. I consider a headspace gauge essential for reloading especially for semi-autos but also needed for bolt rifles. A headspace gauge helps adjust your sizing die to push the shoulders of a case back a measured amount which will help prevent case stretching and possible case separations. Extends the useful safe life of your brass. They also insure that your sized cases will feed and function in your rifle. Wouldn't reload rifle rounds without a headspace gauge. The RCBS Precision Mic is a very nice tool for measuring headspace but the overall length or distance from bullet to lands part of the tool is difficult to use but with some trial and error they will give close readings. The RCBS Precison Mic is an expensive tool and you'd need one for most every caliber you load. I also have Hornady's Headspace Gauge Set which works well with your calipers and will measure most all caliber cases. Not too expensive and does the job. The old instructions to " turn the sizing die down to touch the shellholder, then 1/8 turn more" may oversize the shoulders or even possibly not size the shoulders back enough. The headspace gauges will tell you precisely what your sizing die is doing in your press quickly. I recommend them highly and wouldn't load rifles without a headspace gauge. I prefer a tool that measures rather than a drop in gauge but lot's use drop in gauges for rifle and pistol. |
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I've got both the RCBS Precision-Mic and the Hornady gages. I greatly prefer the Hornady. Since I got the Hornady gages, my RCBS Mics have sat unused for over 20 years.
The RCBS gives somewhat ambiguous readings due to the leverage of the screw threads and the flexibility of the thin shoulders on the case. The reading you get is dependant upon how much torque you apply to the gage and can vary by more than the amount you are trying to push back the shoulder. <-- that's bad. The Hornady gives rock solid readings without any hint of ambiguity caused by the tool. I believe a gage of this type is really mandatory for almost everyone. A case gage is such a poor substitute, as to not really qualify. The number of problems posted on this board would drop dramatically (by 50%) if reloaders would buy and use this gage. |
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The Hornady gages are just as accurate and much cheaper than RCBS's micrometer gage. Put simply, the Hornady gage will work on almost any caliber, whereas you need a new gage for every caliber you own if you go the RCBS route.
Every reloader I know already owns calipers, so you're already half way there. My rule of thumb when using case headspace gages. -.001" under fired dimension minimum when resizing for a bolt action. -.003" under fired case dimension is my minimum when resizing for a semi-auto. I set my dies up to resize to -.004" for semi-autos. Some will be on the money, none will be more than .001" either way of my goal. |
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