Is this a decent deal on a caliper?

[yhtomit]

Lots of recommendations for calipers from Harbor Freight; I'm wondering if anyone has thoughts on this digital set currently on sale:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257

Anything that leaps out which would make this *not* a decent enough choice for a beginning reloader? I'm trying to be nicely paranoid

timothy

 

[trueblue1776]

A LOT of guys use that exact model, it's a good buy!

 

[Walkalong]

I just bought the same one at my local store a couple of months ago. It is easier for my old eyes to read. I like it. I reads right along side my Mitutoyo and my Brown and Sharp. If I need to be more precise I break out a micrometer.

 

[Eagle103]

IMO they're a great deal. $16 is an amazing price for a precision instrument that actually works. I bought a 4" model which works OK but I also bought that 6" model which is a little easier to use for rifle cartridges. Expect to replace the battery (for which they even give you a spare) in about 6 months.

 

[Clark]

Expect to pay $20 for some Chinese calipers or $100 for American.

The quality of the dial calipers is not as important as the skill in using them.

With practice, you may be able to measure any pin gauge and determine it's size to the nearest .001"

If you get really tricky with a dial caliper, you may be able to tell if it is a "+" or "-" gauge, that is +.0001" or a - .0001". That trick requires everything to be done right:
1) Calibrate [screw on the dial face ] the calipers with a pin gauge very near the size to be measured.
2) Wipe off the jaws
3) Get the jaws square on the gauge to be tested.
4) Get the test object at the same location on the jaws.
5) Use the same force as during the calibration.
6) Find the spot and the force of greatest repeatability
7) Not every $20 Chinese dial caliper is capable of this, but some are.
8) Don't drop the calipers.
9) Get good by using your dial calipers for competing with machinists with their micrometers.

Get two sets of pin gauges, .0600" to .2500" and .2510" to .5000"
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=232&PARTPG=INLMK3&PMITEM=240-0142

Practice measuring the reference pin gauges with the DIAL calipers until your eye can interpolate to get .0002" accuracy on outside measurements.

Dial calipers are never very accurate on inside measurements. Use the pin gauges for that.

With the pin gauges you can measure:
1) the donut inside the case neck at the base of the neck.
2) the neck diameter of sizing dies
3) the neck diameter of chambers
4) the diameter of primer pockets
5) the bore diameter of barrels

 

[Walkalong]

5) Use the same force as during the calibration.

This is the one that takes practice. Clarks suggestion to use the pin sets to practice on is an excellent one.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I find it funny that you ask. I just replaced my cheapy ones (both calipers and micrometers) with Starrett ones from Midway. I finally got fed up with the lack of precision.

Yes you can make the cheapy ones work, but it takes a fair amount of care to do so. I would rather just buy better quality and not have to fuss with it.

The thing that irks me is the buying a tool twice though. I basically can kiss off the money I spent on the cheap set. I guess they might make a decent "c-clamp".

 

[Walkalong]

If I need to be more precise I break out a micrometer.

Brown and Sharp or Mitutoyo micrometer that is.

 

[CZ57]

Last time I bought a dial caliper was 1993. It came from Midway, $26, then I believe. Make no mistake: Starrett, B&S, and Mitutoyo are precision instruments. I've tested the Chinese for accuracy with a 1" precision gauge block, and they read exactly 1.000". I don't know who the vendor was then and they may have changed since, but it was $26 very well spent. I've seen enough error with digitals that I'll probably never buy one.

The recommendation for a micrometer should be headed. A must for precision rifle reloading and with handgun cartridges, you can measure casehead expansion of near, or max loads between thousandths if you buy a good mic with .0001", or "tenths" accuracy.

 

[ranger335v]

For reloaders, I think that's great deal. I have Midway and H.F. 6" dial calipers, both Chinese, but the HF was MUCH less expensive, and I got the Midway on a super sale a few years ago! Last year I added that HF digital 6" caliper for about $14.

All three read the same on my .33" precision calibration block and within a thousant on my 1" block. (But, I have learned to keep a spare battery on hand!) Of course, the dial calipers are my back up now. For real precision, .0001", I fall back on my old B&S micrometer but that's rare and usually unneeded even then.

Any pro mechinest chosing the China tools for his primary use would be foolish. But, even for a pro machine shop, sometimes they are a good option. I met a man at the Asheville HF store last year who was buying a half dozen of the 6" calipers for his shop. He said his employees would likely destroy them within a few months anyway so why spend ten times as much for higher grade tools that will soon be getting dropped on concrete or into dirty oil buckets anyway? Sounds right to me!

 

[yhtomit]

Many thanks! I now know where the local Harbor Freight is, too Ended up getting a drill, a 1/4" bit (to drill holes, through which to bolt on the reloading press), and a few other bits. Sadly, they didn't have any scales that looked trustworthy, though I was tempted to get their tiny pocket digital scale to see how it compares with a "real" reloading scale, but I hadn't at that point even bought such a thing; half an hour later, at Bass Pro, I did buy a Lyman reloading scale (about $45).

Considering that people have been reloading for a long time using no tools other than dried chips of buffalo dung and using bits of dried shell and willow branches to judge weight, I know I'm ludicrously over-equipped, but of the people who were reloading ammo 100 years ago, I don't think a single one is still alive today, which makes me distrust 'em.

timothy

 

[Quack Shot]

Looks like a great deal to me. I'd buy two and give one out as a stocking stuffer for Christmas! I paid almost twice as much for the beater I use the most and it looks very similar.

Quack

 

[ranger335v]

"I was tempted to get their tiny pocket digital scale to see how it compares with a "real" reloading scale,.."

Don't, it ain't any good for reloading purposes.

 

[TEDDY]

calipers

get the harbour digital vernier at$16?
midsouthshooters.com has a pocket scale for $24 I got one seems all right I want it to weight bullets.I can check with the weights.

 

[Tomcat47]

You get what you pay for!

They are fair (IMHO) and the price is attractive. I have a few pairs of the one in the picture. A couple are still working ok and one is broken. (electronic problem)

I have been a machinists by trade for over 23 years and I reccomend a pair of name brand which will of course cost more, however you get what you pay for. When measurements are important and not just for reference you need to invest in some quality tools (MO) and when reloading etc. my measurements are important.

I Reccomend Mitutoyo 500-672, these will run around $135.00 sometimes can catch a sale on them for around $109.00 These are the best I have seen in the last decade. ( Also check ebay - Sometimes very good price there and might even end up with a few extra measuring devices with what you want)

Starrett makes good calipers, however my experience with them shows they eat batteries pretty bad. I will put batteries in my starretts 4 -1 against the Mitutoyo. The model above is also water resistant. And I promise you, if you spill something on the cheap ones in question, they will go blank for several days. It does not take much moisture to fowl them up either, an if you are not paying attention you could end up with bad measurements easy.

They will work for what you want and are decent imported calipers, but remember there are Baretta 9mm's and there are Jennings 9mm's no comparison besides the bullet!

The $135 for Mitutoyo is an investment.. the $20.00 for the centech is a cheap way out. (IMO)

Good Luck

 

[yhtomit]

Tomcat47:

One day, I hope to get a higher-quality pair; I did buy the Harbor Freight sale item, and I think it's already given me more than $16 worth of interesting fun measuring things around the house.

As for cartridges, I've measured several factory-loaded cartridges (in .223, .45 ACP, 9mm) and gotten measurements that match the official lengths I've found for each, so I think that for now at least it's doing something right

timothy

 

[Otto]

I Reccomend Mitutoyo 500-672, these will run around $135.00 sometimes can catch a sale on them for around $109.00 These are the best I have seen in the last decade.

Yeah, I have this Mitutoyo caliper and it's fantastic. Most refer to them as Coolant Proof calipers. They're $119 at ENCO and well worth it if you prefer industrial tools.
I've bought the Horrible Freight caliper also. It wouldn't hold zero and the readings would constantly drift. I took it back to the store and the replacement wasn't any better so I opted for the refund.
However, it sounds like the quality has improved. Just the same, I'll stick to the Mitutoyo's Digimatics.

 

[Clark]

Tomcat47,
The coolant proof calipers came out a few years back.
I got a pair when they came out, because my cousin, a gun nut from Sweden, designed the electronics and wrote the software.

My wife challenged me to come up with a cheap fat meter in 1996. I completely screwed it up, as I could not produce a phase detector with good amplitude immunity.

Later, my cousin's caliper circuit came out with some fancy 3 phase magnetic position detector, with a phase detector with good amplitude immunity.

Owi, do I feel dumb talking to him

 

[joneb]

The one I got at harbor freight has served me well, even after a can of Right Guard fell on it. You might be wondering why I have a can of pit spray in my reloading cabinet it's fuel for the spud gun

I keep my good instruments out of harms way, but the HF calipers are handy and expendable .

 

[BAT1]

SPI

I use a SPI dial caliper. Made in Japan. [Remember their high quality?] I just attach it [Velcro] on the edge of the bench and check each one as I make ammo. Hardened stainless. Good will. 3.99. It has a favorite setting. 1.250. or 1.255.