Improved results with calipers? Tricks?

[Varminterror]

Most measuring tasks can be made easier if you measure the appropriate dimension with the appropriate tool!

Fixed it

 

[entropy]

Do any of you have an specific techniques that you found or use to improve your ability to measure carts and bullets?

That is besides practice, repetitive motions and care...

I never found a caliper I could easily measure a cart with.

 

[LiveLife]

I never found a caliper I could easily measure a cart with.

I did use cut and chamfered .223 case (move dial to zero) to measure rim thickness of 22LR and it was pretty easy with my dial calipers - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...weight-and-rim-thickness-for-accuracy.850634/

BTW, sorting 22LR by rim thickness was bust. Comparison testing which ammo my 10/22 liked was a better approach - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lector-3-break-in.859106/page-2#post-11351163

 

[entropy]

So was that a two-wheeled or four wheeled cart?

 

[LiveLife]

So was that a two-wheeled or four wheeled cart?

Yeah, it would be hard to measure carts unless they were really really small.

I assumed "cart" meant "cartridges" ...

 

[murf]

most here use the "plunk test", not the oal listed in the reloading manual, as a start to setting straight-walled pistol loaded length.

murf

 

[Rule3]

Yet all the reloading manuals and powder websites measure COL and give dimensions along with SAAM! (it is hardly "irrelevant)

Perhaps for those super high precision bench rest shooters BTO is the way to go, but for the average Joe handgun shooter, COL seems to be just fine.

Carry on

 

[12Bravo20]

Here is what I do concerning OAL with pistol ammo. I set up my dies to get the length in the reloading manual. Then as long as it fits the magazine and passes drop test, I go with it. I only use my calipers to check that nothing has changed as far as seating depth. +.005" in OAL is quite common and nothing to worry about.

 

[entropy]

I do the same. I only load two pistol calibers, .45 ACP and .38 SPl. I have an old RIA 1911 barrel I use for plunk testing .45, and just use the cylinder itself on the .38.