Cartridge case gauge

Kevin Stenberg

Well-Known Member
I am going to order a couple case gauges. An i was wondering if there is an advantage of one brand over another.
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
For which calibers Kevin? Some chamberings are pretty specialized, so some suppliers can provide a better product. $58 SOCOM comes to mind here...
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Are you trying to measure overall case length? Loaded length? Would a good vernier/dial/digital caliper do what you need?
 

Kevin Stenberg

Well-Known Member
Yes Keith one of the reason for getting the case gauge is to monitor case and shoulder length. Now i use a caliper for measuring case length. But with the case gauge i can do both case and shoulder measurements and do it faster.
The second reason i think i need the length gauges. I have three 30/30's and one of them has a chamber has a shoulder that is close to or at factory length. An if i get a couple of cases shot from the other rifles mixed in with the proper length cases. I get cases jammed in the chamber that need to be pushed out by a cleaning rod from the muzzle. I use a magic marker and color the base of the case to show which rifle they go to. But when i clean my brass in the wet tumbler the ink is removed. So i have to chamber each round to see which rifle it belongs to.
I may have to make all of my cases the same shoulder length (close to factory) So i don't have to check each case after cleaning. Even though i will over work a few cases. it would be faster in the long run.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I have several Wilson cartridge gauges, they work fine for me. I also have a Sheridan slot gauge for .458 Socom and it can only be described as magnificent. The advantage of the Sheridan is you can see how the shoulder and neck is fitting in a SAAMI-spec chamber. The Wilson gauges have a step at the back to indicate minimum and maximum allowable headspace length and also a step at the front end for minimum and maximum case trim length.
 

Gary

SE Kansas
I have 4 Wilson's and 1 Sheridan and like them all. The Sheridan is for the 458 Socom.
 

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
I have been using L.E.Wilson case guages for well over 50 years and have one for every caliber I reload. That should tell you how useful they are and how highly I regard them.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
I have the wilson for 30/30, just one rifle but the chamber is longer than spec. I use feeler gauge on the case gauge to measure the case head protrusion to set the sizing die. Necks never seem to get long. If the shoulder isn't too different, just set for the shortest and check for case web wear. I got a bucket of fired and 6-7 boxes of factory ammo for cases. I case check for 308 as they are autoloaders and it get bad if they aren't correct. None will really check case/neck diameter.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I use nickel plated primers in my one rifle with the longer chamber to tell it from the other two just in case their cases get mixed up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ian

Wasalmonslayer

Well-Known Member
I drove by L.E Wilson shop the other day in Cashmere while heading to customers house to pick up a boat.
It is a tiny little machine shop that if you blink you miss it when driving by!
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
The Hornady headspace gauge is handy. You can measure case head to datum line on shoulder. Let’s you adjust die to just touch shoulder.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
When I had multiple 06's they were kind enough to prefer different brass brands . RP for the 03' , WW for the Rem , and LC for the Savage . Each had a different long or fat shape that wouldn't take the others brass even close enough to force the bolt .

Don't know a thing about case gauges except the one that I had made for a custom 45 S&W to check case length and that's one off duplicate of my chambers so that's not much help .
 

popper

Well-Known Member
The other difference is the Wilson provides a datum point on the shoulder - Sheridan is a SAAMI chamber.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
I just ordered a 0.332" size die insert from Al. Loaded about 200 BO and need to check neck dia as brass is 223 converted. Don't want to spend the time with a caliper. Chamber neck is 0.333" max, the die should let me check the neck fast. I'll probably get one in 0.331" to check fired brass to see if neck turning is needed. I find some factory brass is still too thick for my chambers.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Got the NOE sizer, checked all the BO stuff in 15 min. Works great but use the back side as I guess the die is tapered. Right at 0.332 on back side. Culled about 30 rnds that I will use in the pistol as it is looser in the neck. Saved a bunch of time for 17$. Reamed fender washer would work if I had tools to ream accurately.