Good Caliper?

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RobAK

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I was wondering if anyone had a source for a good, accurate caliper?
I've currently got the $20 Canadian Tire digital one but it has a bit of play to it.
I'd prefer it if it wouldn't "break the bank" but my priority is accuracy.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Rob
 
Good but Cheap?

If you're not adverse to the eBay "experience" you can score a perfectly serviceable Mitutoyo dial caliper for little money. I've done that and very much recommend a dial caliper for durability and ease of reading. Starrett are OK but I never really liked them. Brown and Sharpe calipers are Swiss-made and excellent.

You have to be patient but this really works.

Best regards,

FM
 
If your "priority is accuracy" you need a micrometer. Verniers will get you close but mics will get you right on. That being said, Verniers are good enough for reloadings. If you make a living with them the names Algonquin mentioned work well. You can check out KBC Tools online and pick whatever fits your budget.
 
as maynard said if you make your living with these tools then brown&sharpe mitutoyo and starret are the way to go. but if you looking for an accurate, well made caliper for reloading the 6" KBC house brand for 35 dollars is a good investment
 
I have a set of mitutoyo digital calipers at home.

The boys out in the plant use strictly mitutoyo stuff, we have digital calipers, digital micrometers and a few std. micrometers as well.

Try industrial supply stores... most of them will sell to the public.
 
I have a 12" Mitutoyo from my press-brake days. The one thing about the dial calipers, though - they need to be kept clean. Particularly the gear/rack.
 
I've had my Mitutoyo dial caliper for about 20 years and it is still going strong. But as looch says keep the gear track clean. For reloading the dirt shouldn't be as much of an issue due to the environment they are used in.
 
go with the mitutoyo digimatics. buy em once and forget about it. I use my ip-67 model every day, gets machine Coolant and old die lube on it, never affects it. just wash em in running water.
 
Ruger 260 Caliper

Course I can only get MOA at 100yds and it looks like you guys are getting down to 0.0001"?
Mitutoyo dial is what I use, but any "name brand" should be fine for the measurements that we use for reloading and such.
Had a storekeeper here that used a PLASTIC caliper of some type...measured down to the nearest 1/16"...not quite what we need!
 
I have several Mitutoyo and Starrett micrometers from about 20 years ago... not sure about now - but back then the Starrett were significantly better made. A good vernier micrometer and and dial caliper are a lifetime investment if you take care of them.. if you don't take care of them you probably can't trust the results anyway....
 
I have current Mit digitals. I also buy CTC digitals when on sale for about $15. I buy the CTC because we often drop things on them and glue then shut. The Mit is nice to use but I really can't say it is more accurate than the CTC any time I have compared them. The batteries that come with the CTC have to be replaced right away but otherwise they seen very good. If you compare KBC, RCBS, Sinclair etc etc they all look exactly the same as CTC and most likely they are from the same factory in China. I have several for dedicated tasks on the loading bench and they work great, don't let cost make you think they are better.
 
My $15 CTC caliper is checked against my 25 year old Mit all the time

and I really don't see any differences. I'm not saying that the CTC caliper

is as good long term etc but you can be comfortable using it accuracy wise
 
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