Case Headspace Gagues

SteveW · March 31, 2007, 08:36

Folks, who's case headspace gauges are you using ?

I was over on midwayUSA.com looking at the Wilson headspace gauges and a reviewer mentioned that the things are made of unfinished steel and rust like a cheap nail.

That rang a bell with me, as I have to keep most of my tooling in sealed containers with desiccant to stop rust in my humid environment.

Dillon make stainless ones, so I was going to head in that direction, but thought I would ask.. The only other vendor seems to be Lyman..

S.

**MAINER** · March 31, 2007, 09:32

Mine are all Wilson. Yes, they will rust if not PROPERLY cared for. I keep mine oiled and in origional boxes and have little trouble with them.
Haven't seen Dillons, but sounds like a good bet depending on price.

Don't think you'll go wrong with either. Picked up most of mine at gun shows and Wilsons are most commonly available.

In case you haven't run into this yet, I have sized cases that will gage correctly but won't chamber, so be sure to try your resized case in the rifle before loading up a bunch.

SteveW · March 31, 2007, 11:17

MAINER said : "I have sized cases that will gage correctly but won't chamber, so be sure to try your resized case in the rifle before loading up a bunch."

Huh ?

The whole point of buying the gauge is that I am going to be getting into progressive reloading of 223 soon and was going to use the gauge to set up the body sizing die. What was the root cause of your rounds not going into the chamber ? Bullet seating depth ?

S.

gunsmith_tony · March 31, 2007, 17:19

Yeah...that is curious.

**MAINER** · March 31, 2007, 19:53

Apparently, my RCBS FL die did not set the sholder back quite far enough. Die was screwed down to touch the shell holder. Another 1/4 turn did the trick. Maybe just a combination of tolerances in my dies and shellholder. I've talked to other reloaders who have experienced same situation.

I had loaded 100 rds before running into the problem. I had only tried the cases in the case gage. they gaged fine then and still do. But won't chamber in the rifle, FAL. OK for a Bolt gun, you can mash almost anything into them. Case lenght is 2.010" and base of cartridge fits between the two steps of the Wilson gage. Correctly sized, the base of the case is level with the lower step.

Also, my FALs are set up on the tight side. I' sure that adds to the problem. Not a big deal, just something to be aware of and maybe save from having to pull down loads later on.

SteveW · April 01, 2007, 07:47

Thanks for the clarification.

**W.E.G.** · April 01, 2007, 08:43

If you reload, you really should get an RCBS Precision Mic.

Othewise you are just guessing at your specs on base-to-datum-line on the shoulder.

Different lots of brass have differing degrees of elasticity. So, even if you keep your sizing die permanently locked-down in the press, your base-to-datum-line specs can differ.

http://www.rcbs.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=4&s2=3&s3=28

Throw away that steel bullet thing that comes with the tool. The steel bullet thing is worthless. The micrometer tool is the good part.

shootist87122 · April 01, 2007, 19:53

I like the Dillon's over the Wilson's. Stainless rocks.

SteveW · April 01, 2007, 21:17

WEG said : "Different lots of brass have differing degrees of elasticity. So, even if you keep your sizing die permanently locked-down in the press, your base-to-datum-line specs can differ."

Well, that statement right there kinda puts the kybosh on the whole plan !

I was planning on buying once fired (mixed headstamp) brass and setting up the sizing die (on a progressive loader) to put the brass back to the minimum spec, and using the headspace gauge to set that sizing die up.

Is there enough spring in the brass to put a case out of spec, once it's been sized down to minimum SAAMI spec ?

S.

steveo539 · April 01, 2007, 22:46

Reloading really isn't rocket science (or is it.....little lead rockets...hmmm). Don't let all this scare you off. Not sure you need the headspace gauge to set up your sizer. I've never used one for that. Usually just set the sizing die to just touch the shell holder and call it good. Some say not to resize the case any more than absolutely necessary because it will wear out the cases more rapidly. I'm not too concerned about that. More concerned with the loads chambering. If I get 3 or 4 reloads out of a case I'm happy.

Steve

USSR · April 06, 2007, 18:38

Quote:

If you reload, you really should get an RCBS Precision Mic.

+1.

Don

March 31, 2007, 08:36	#1
SteveW Registered FALaholic #: 9378 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,183	Case Headspace Gagues Folks, who's case headspace gauges are you using ? I was over on midwayUSA.com looking at the Wilson headspace gauges and a reviewer mentioned that the things are made of unfinished steel and rust like a cheap nail. That rang a bell with me, as I have to keep most of my tooling in sealed containers with desiccant to stop rust in my humid environment. Dillon make stainless ones, so I was going to head in that direction, but thought I would ask.. The only other vendor seems to be Lyman.. S.

March 31, 2007, 09:32	#2
MAINER Old Fart Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 18465 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 6,293	Mine are all Wilson. Yes, they will rust if not PROPERLY cared for. I keep mine oiled and in origional boxes and have little trouble with them. Haven't seen Dillons, but sounds like a good bet depending on price. Don't think you'll go wrong with either. Picked up most of mine at gun shows and Wilsons are most commonly available. In case you haven't run into this yet, I have sized cases that will gage correctly but won't chamber, so be sure to try your resized case in the rifle before loading up a bunch. __________________ Joe Biden for President.

March 31, 2007, 19:53	#5
MAINER Old Fart Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 18465 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 6,293	Apparently, my RCBS FL die did not set the sholder back quite far enough. Die was screwed down to touch the shell holder. Another 1/4 turn did the trick. Maybe just a combination of tolerances in my dies and shellholder. I've talked to other reloaders who have experienced same situation. I had loaded 100 rds before running into the problem. I had only tried the cases in the case gage. they gaged fine then and still do. But won't chamber in the rifle, FAL. OK for a Bolt gun, you can mash almost anything into them. Case lenght is 2.010" and base of cartridge fits between the two steps of the Wilson gage. Correctly sized, the base of the case is level with the lower step. Also, my FALs are set up on the tight side. I' sure that adds to the problem. Not a big deal, just something to be aware of and maybe save from having to pull down loads later on. __________________ Joe Biden for President.

April 01, 2007, 08:43	#7
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,056	If you reload, you really should get an RCBS Precision Mic. Othewise you are just guessing at your specs on base-to-datum-line on the shoulder. Different lots of brass have differing degrees of elasticity. So, even if you keep your sizing die permanently locked-down in the press, your base-to-datum-line specs can differ. http://www.rcbs.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=4&s2=3&s3=28 Throw away that steel bullet thing that comes with the tool. The steel bullet thing is worthless. The micrometer tool is the good part. __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

April 01, 2007, 19:53	#8
shootist87122 Registered FALaholic #: 7202 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NM Posts: 5,126	I like the Dillon's over the Wilson's. Stainless rocks. __________________ "So in the Libyan Fable it is told, That once an eagle, stricken with a dart, said, when he saw the fashion of the shaft, it is by our own feathers, not others hands, are we now smitten." -Aeschylus

March 31, 2007, 11:17	#3
SteveW Registered FALaholic #: 9378 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,183	MAINER said : "I have sized cases that will gage correctly but won't chamber, so be sure to try your resized case in the rifle before loading up a bunch." Huh ? The whole point of buying the gauge is that I am going to be getting into progressive reloading of 223 soon and was going to use the gauge to set up the body sizing die. What was the root cause of your rounds not going into the chamber ? Bullet seating depth ? S.

March 31, 2007, 17:19	#4
gunsmith_tony Registered FALaholic #: 6564 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,521	Yeah...that is curious.

April 01, 2007, 07:47	#6
SteveW Registered FALaholic #: 9378 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,183	Thanks for the clarification.

April 01, 2007, 21:17	#9
SteveW Registered FALaholic #: 9378 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,183	WEG said : "Different lots of brass have differing degrees of elasticity. So, even if you keep your sizing die permanently locked-down in the press, your base-to-datum-line specs can differ." Well, that statement right there kinda puts the kybosh on the whole plan ! I was planning on buying once fired (mixed headstamp) brass and setting up the sizing die (on a progressive loader) to put the brass back to the minimum spec, and using the headspace gauge to set that sizing die up. Is there enough spring in the brass to put a case out of spec, once it's been sized down to minimum SAAMI spec ? S.

April 01, 2007, 22:46	#10
steveo539 Registered FALaholic #: 18190 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 394	Reloading really isn't rocket science (or is it.....little lead rockets...hmmm). Don't let all this scare you off. Not sure you need the headspace gauge to set up your sizer. I've never used one for that. Usually just set the sizing die to just touch the shell holder and call it good. Some say not to resize the case any more than absolutely necessary because it will wear out the cases more rapidly. I'm not too concerned about that. More concerned with the loads chambering. If I get 3 or 4 reloads out of a case I'm happy. Steve

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