45acp case gauge

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bds said:
My M&P45 barrel chamber is my case gauge.

It's free too ... wait, dang I bought a $600 case gauge. :eek:
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bds, I also have a $550.00 case guage=CZ-75B(barrel) and guess what-loads that will fit just fine in my $13.00 case guage will not fit in my $550.00 case guage. Does MBC Small Ball(9MM) ring a bell?? They are great bullets, but they need seated deeper to work in my CZ..Bill..
 
I use a cartridge gauge on my competition rounds. It measures everything the case gauge measures plus the OAL. I think it's faster over 200 rounds than the barrel, although I agree the barrel is the ultimate arbiter.

I found a bad one just the other night. It spotted a loaded case that was spread about .004" larger at the base of the case. It's an extremely handy tool to have.
 
I use a cartridge gauge, but not on every round. Since they're tighter than the chamber I think they find trouble sooner. Only thing they can't do is check COAL.
When I really want to get fussy I run the gauge with cartridge under my dial indicator, checks case length and primer seating to .001"
 
I have the Dillon case gauge. Is there a difference between it and Wilson LE's? Same thing as a "cartridge" gauge? I thought on midways site they say use it to check OAL to???
 
To me it seems like a waste of time to run all of the loaded rounds through a gage or barrel. I use a FCD for loading pistol and the post sizing ring does the same thing and saves all that time.
 
I use a FCD for loading pistol and the post sizing ring does the same thing and saves all that time.
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That true for the pointy end of the cartridge, but not for the base and rim of the cartridge since they are inside the shell holder at the time the FCD descends to do its job. An FCD would have completely passed over the round I spotted the other night.
 
To me it seems like a waste of time to run all of the loaded rounds through a gage or barrel
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No Rusty. I didn't mean we run all the loaded rounds through the barrel. I only check the initial few rounds to verify die settings and double check that everything is OK as my QC for each reloading session.

Then I let 'er rip for high volume production of 45ACP on the progressive.

I am OCD, so I also check the powder drop weights (yeah, even though I know I am using the right Auto Disk hole) to make sure the powder has settled well in the hopper, check the seater plug for gunk buildup, check the OAL and check the glass of iced tea I am drinking to make sure it's still iced tea. :D
 
To me it seems like a waste of time to run all of the loaded rounds through a gage or barrel. I use a FCD for loading pistol and the post sizing ring does the same thing and saves all that time.
Click to expand...

On a single stage press, it's a lot faster doing a barrel check.

No Rusty. I didn't mean we run all the loaded rounds through the barrel. I only check the initial few rounds to verify die settings and double check that everything is OK as my QC for each reloading session.
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I sometimes chamber check every one of my "match" loads. Sometimes, during seating, the bullet can stretch the case mouth/neck asymmetrically. I assume this happens more with older brass. The result is that the "coke bottle" bulge occurs more on one side than the other, and bullet will be slightly crooked. This can cause a random cartridge to fail a chamber check.

*Beware of doing barrel checks with a non-fully supported barrel. I've noticed that a slightly asymmetrical cartridge can can pass a chamber check on one go, but fail when the cartridge is rotated to a different position relative to the ramp. And FTR, running these cartridges through the FCD did not fix them, in my case.
 
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I use a gauge to check each round. It's part of my overall inspection routine On a few thousand rounds of 40 SW for the Glocks, I have caught a few problems, primer not seated, or a slight bulge.

Mac
 
seems like a waste of time to run all of the loaded rounds through a gage
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I have a tight chambered EMP (Right at SAMMI minimum) and I gauge every 9MM case after being sized. Any that do not fit the gauge go in the scrap bin. (Around 10% with range brass) I do not bother to gauge the loaded rounds, but no troubles so far. I have no interest in trying to save any case that has been stressed enough that normal sizing won't remedy. 9MM brass is just too cheap. :)
 
I use a caliber specific EGW Chamber Checker Gauge for both 45 ACP and 40 S&W. It allows me to check them 7 at a time as I take them from the progressive reloader bin without having to break down my pistol every time I reload.

I do use the barrel of my pistol when I am setting the crimp and OAL for a new bullet to ensure that the new bullet style will chamber correctly.

Bill
 
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