Cartridge Headspace Guages
- Thread starter m1aggie01
- Start date
The stoney point/ hornady headspace guages are to be used with a good caliper. They read the datumn line of the case to the base showing you how "deep" your chamber is. It is imposible to just use a caliber to do this. Some people have used other cases to touch the shoulder at some point (like a 44 mag to guage a 308, 30-06, 270...). I just got mine and I like it. But Honestly I'm not sure how necessary it is. I will be setting my shoulder bump using them - I think it is a must if you plan on bumping shoulders.
happy decision making :wink:
Mark
happy decision making :wink:
Mark
- Thread starter
- #4
rick smith
Handloader
- Apr 6, 2005
- 1,249
- 0
m1aggie01, you can neck size until the cases get tight in your chamber then you need to size the brass to fit your chamber. to do so you have to bump the shoulder of the case back 0.001-0.002" with your FL die, a body die or a shoulder bump die. You can use your rifle to help set the die, get the Hornady Stoney Point headspace set or a Wilson type headspace gauge. The Stoney Point set is less expensive than buying a dedicated gauge such as the Wilson. Setting your FL die as per the instructions that came with the die set is not the best method. Some loaders will use other cases that will fit on the shoulder of the case in question as their headspace gauge. Hope that helps.Rick.
m1aggie01":r5g20k3k said:Britz":r5g20k3k said:
I really appreciate your reply but it is Greek to me:shock: :grin:
You were asking if a caliper will do the job of a headspace guage, the answer is no becuase a heaspace guage fits on to a caliper. It is an acessory to the caliper. The headspace guage fits over the case neck touching the tapered shoulder uniformly allowing a person to see how long the cases stretch. A headspace guage consists of an attachment that fits on one of the jaws of a caliper which has a hole in it. This hole is bigger than the case neck, but smaller than the diameter of the case walls. What Rick and I were suggesting is that you could use another pistol case that will fit over the neck, but still touch the shoulder to give you a consistant referance point on all your cases. The headspace guages are designed to touch at the datumn line of the cases, but you can still measure the stretch of your cases as long as you are measureing the shoulder at any point -- as long as you are comparing apples to apples.
Hope this clears things up a bit.
- Thread starter
- #8
- Thread starter
- #9
If I understand correctly, and correct me if I am wrong, is that you use this tool AFTER you use the Full Length resizing die to RESET the shoulder of the case to its "factory" placement. After full length resizing, you measure the case with your caliper and guage to determine how much of the neck you need to trim off so that the shoulder fits into the chamber at the proper headspace. Is all of this correct or I am I totally missing the point???
TIA for putting up with someone that is trying to learn enough NOT to get blown up!!!
TIA for putting up with someone that is trying to learn enough NOT to get blown up!!!
m1aggie01,
That is not correct. You use the headspace gauge to measure the length (to the shoulder) of a case that's been fired in your gun.
You then set up your full length sizing die - but don't screw it in as far as recommended in the instructions. Take a measurement using the headspace gauge - compare it to the one you got from the fired case above. Keep screwing in the FL die in small increments - each time sizing the case again & taking a new measurement.
Once the sized case measures 0.001 to 0.002 less than the fired case you have 'bumped' the shoulder back so it will chamber fine - and have ensured you won't have an excessive headspace condition.
Just remember bottleneck cartridges headspace on the shoulder - not on the case mouth.
lrp3006
That is not correct. You use the headspace gauge to measure the length (to the shoulder) of a case that's been fired in your gun.
You then set up your full length sizing die - but don't screw it in as far as recommended in the instructions. Take a measurement using the headspace gauge - compare it to the one you got from the fired case above. Keep screwing in the FL die in small increments - each time sizing the case again & taking a new measurement.
Once the sized case measures 0.001 to 0.002 less than the fired case you have 'bumped' the shoulder back so it will chamber fine - and have ensured you won't have an excessive headspace condition.
Just remember bottleneck cartridges headspace on the shoulder - not on the case mouth.
lrp3006
rick smith
Handloader
- Apr 6, 2005
- 1,249
- 0
I don't set my FL dies to PFL until the case starts to get snug in the chamber. Don't set your FL dies until after you have fired cases to use. The instructions that come with most die sets tell you to screw the FL die down to the raised ram and then go 1/4 turn more. Not necessary in most cases especially the belted mags. The headspace gauges allow you to set the dies so that you are not getting excessive sizing. You can do that with your rifle's chamber but it is easier with the gauges. Has nothing to do with trim length.Rick.
- Thread starter
- #13
Once again, I really appreciate all the input. I am learning as I read along. I have been studying the 48th Edition of Lyman's reloading guide and thought I understood this pretty good. I read your responses and can tell that I have tons more to learn to even begin to understand. I will probably post more questions later on...thanks again.
M1Aggie01
M1Aggie01
