I want to get a set of digital calipers for reloading but haven't come across any yet. I was wanting to do some reloading tomorrow (.223) so how do I get the cartridge length size right? I read that you can make a kind of unprimed dummy round and use that to find the best length for your chamber. I pulled the bullets out of 265 5.56 shells so I have this primed brass here and a box of 53gr Hornady Match HP bullets. I will be using Benchmark powder and start at 10% less than the suggested 25.7gr of powder (for 52gr jacketed HPBT) in the Lyman's 48th reloading handbook. I have a Lee hand press and Lee dies.
No calipers for reloading
- Thread starter KDX
- Start date
if you dont have any calipers at all... dont bother loading any shells.
That is the same thing to me as not having a scale and wanting to guess the amount of powder....
too long, or too short can cause an increase in pressure that will result in your gun blowing up in your face.
Are you by any chance from Ontario?
the "dummy round" is made by using a set of calipers.. its for switching between one tye of bullet and another... its not something you just make up on the fly.
you scare me dude.
That is the same thing to me as not having a scale and wanting to guess the amount of powder....
too long, or too short can cause an increase in pressure that will result in your gun blowing up in your face.
Are you by any chance from Ontario?
the "dummy round" is made by using a set of calipers.. its for switching between one tye of bullet and another... its not something you just make up on the fly.
you scare me dude.
Last edited:
I'd just hold out for a good set of calipers. I use ones with a dial, as I don't care for the digital ones. (one less thing that needs batteries
)
Home Depot, Sears, Canadian Tire, or a decent automotive parts store should have a half decent set.
)Home Depot, Sears, Canadian Tire, or a decent automotive parts store should have a half decent set.
Measurement with a caliper is not required to safely handload.
So saying, it is nice to have a digital one. Lee Valley will mail order you one (hardware prices, even from Lee Valley, are generally less than from reloading equipment manufacturers) Check your local reloading supplier for a max length tool from Hornady (if I remember corectly). If you just want the exact same OAL for some reason, buy a cheap plastic vernier at the dollar store and crazy glue it at the length of one of your factory rounds. Now you can use it as a try guage.
Max OAL is governed by two general considerations, feeding through the magazine and avoiding jamming bullets into the lands. Jamming into the lands is only a major nuisance if you then reopen the breech without firing; you can leave the bullet behind and spill powder all over the place.
Jamming the bullet into the lands DOES NOT cause any great pressure spikes. A definitive test was done where pressure was measured with increasing cartridge OAL in a pressure gun. "Just touching" gave the highest average presssures, with a drop once the bullet was into the lands. The chamber pressure did not vary greater than the usual variation seen between factory rounds.
If you are interested in setting up your ammo to the same length with diffferent bullets, OAL is not the factor, ogive length is. Sinclair sells a couple of nice little tools that can be used with a caliper to get the same ogive length.
So saying, it is nice to have a digital one. Lee Valley will mail order you one (hardware prices, even from Lee Valley, are generally less than from reloading equipment manufacturers) Check your local reloading supplier for a max length tool from Hornady (if I remember corectly). If you just want the exact same OAL for some reason, buy a cheap plastic vernier at the dollar store and crazy glue it at the length of one of your factory rounds. Now you can use it as a try guage.
Max OAL is governed by two general considerations, feeding through the magazine and avoiding jamming bullets into the lands. Jamming into the lands is only a major nuisance if you then reopen the breech without firing; you can leave the bullet behind and spill powder all over the place.
Jamming the bullet into the lands DOES NOT cause any great pressure spikes. A definitive test was done where pressure was measured with increasing cartridge OAL in a pressure gun. "Just touching" gave the highest average presssures, with a drop once the bullet was into the lands. The chamber pressure did not vary greater than the usual variation seen between factory rounds.
If you are interested in setting up your ammo to the same length with diffferent bullets, OAL is not the factor, ogive length is. Sinclair sells a couple of nice little tools that can be used with a caliper to get the same ogive length.
Last edited:
Boer seun said:
Wait for CT to put them on sale again. I got them for $10 I think. I also had a friend compare them to the calibration block they have in his shop and they were bang on. He also compared them with his Mitutoyo's and they were also bang on.
So they seem like a good bargain at the moment, we will see how long they last. I aslo have a dial set as backup
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Bought a good dial caliper 35 years ago ... still works just great.
Glad I ponied-up the extra - easier to read than the vernier.
Gets a lot of use around the home workshop, besides reloading.
Glad I ponied-up the extra - easier to read than the vernier.
Gets a lot of use around the home workshop, besides reloading.
