[Ravenslair]

Just a heads-up. They are $15.99 right now.

[Magnum Mike]

Is the battery included? :D

That's a good deal, I know I paid $30.00 when I bought mine 6 years ago.

[Ravenslair]

Not just one battery, but two. One installed and spare.

[ocabj]

I can't put much faith in $15 Chinese/Taiwanese made digital calipers.

I'll stick with my Mitutoyo dial calipers.

[Ravenslair]

Can't blame you. Yours may be made in Taiwan. Mitutoyo has a big presence in Taiwan.

They also manufacture a lot of items in Brazil.

[The Bushmaster]

Anyone ever heard of Starrett??? :what:

[Oldnamvet]

Starrett = high quality tools and it also = $$$$$$$$$$$$
You get what you pay for.

[pete f]

Starrett same $$ as mitutoyu. made in america by americans and lifetime warrantee

[BigSlick]

I use the Dillon calipers.

I don't know who makes them but they have been reliable and accurate for several years.

Any of you guys know of a set with flats on the blade ?

I would like to be able to set a bullet flat on one blade and center it for a more accurate reading.

With the ones I have and others I have seen, it always seems like a balancing act if you're using ball ammo.

BigSlick

[Ravenslair]

pete_f,

I will check them out. I would rather purchase something made here and support fellow Americans. American made may cost more, but it lasts longer and is of better quality.

Thanks for the tip.

[bogie]

I've had some bad experiences with Harbor Freight's measuring tools. They make one heckuva sledgehammer, but I don't trust their calipers.

Look at flea markets, pawn shops (especially near large manufacturing areas), etc...

My Mitutoyu digital mike cost me $40. I paid full price for my Mitutoyu caliper, but needed one THEN (the one I had bought at Harbor Freight went erratic on me at a match...). I've bought a bunch of Starretts, etc., at pawn shops, etc., and resold them.

[Souris]

Sportsmans guide has an electronic caliper on sale right now.
Caliper link (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=92082)

[freakaccident]

I have had good experiences with Harbor Freight measuring devices in the automotive field. They check out very well. Not swiss watch accurate but not Chevy sloppy either.

[The Bushmaster]

Easy on the Chevys, Freakaccident...Mine just pulled a horse trailer, loaded with two horses, for over 2000 miles to the Three Sisters, Oregon (God's Country) and back. And it's a '72... :scrutiny:

Starrett...I know of no one that makes a better product. I have been using Starrett for over 48 years. As a master machanic in marine and industrial diesel, I just can't think of anyone. I moved my Starrett calipres from my tool box to my loading bench years ago. :cool:

[dmftoy1]

How about the Franklin Arsenal stuff? I think it's made in china but I'm not sure. Is it accurate enough to measure the trimmed length of .223 cartridges?

Regards,
Dave

[mrapathy2000]

frankford arsenal has worked for me. though dont drop it they will break.

[Dave R]

Wow, I need to change my shopping habits. After scoring press, powder measure, etc. for around $20 each, I blew $70 on my dial caliper. Hornaday label, but OEM'ed from someone else, I'm sure.

Oh, well. They work very well and will prolly last my lifetime.

[VonFatman]

I bought mine from H. Freight a over two years ago (a tad over $15.00 delivered).

It's unreal accurate. I continue to "check" it's accuracy with my dial caliper and have never had the slightest problem.

I bought it after someone one one on the various reloading forums mentioned the "deal"...figured I could afford to loose $15.00 if it was junk.

Mine's NOT junk...but of course, your mileage may vary.

Thanks for the head's up Ravenslair!

Bob

[Rabbi]

No matter what you post, someone will attack it.

+/- .001" is good enough for a loading bench.

[JA]

The Frankfort Arsenal,Dillon,RCBS,Lyman,Sportsman Guide,and Harbor Freight are all the same Chinese made calipers just a different name on them.
I have had the same calipers that are Midway brand for 5 years. They are still accurate to within 5/10,000 of a inch as I have checked them several times againist my Starret micrometers that will measure 1/10,000 of a inch.

[dfaugh]

I'm actually a big fan of Harbor Freight...Yes, most of their tools are not super-high-quality...However, for a hobbyist they are often more than adequate,as long as you don't abuse them. Years ago, when I worked on cars(professionally) and had thousands of dollars worth of tools, I had lots of Snap-on and Craftsman, high-end welding equipment, too. But I also had quite a few various tools that I had picked up from Harbor Freight, mostly things I didn't use often, so I didn't want to invest alot into. But eventually, I used and abused some of these HF tools and they actually held up well, I only remember wearing out or breaking a very small numberof things (and I was usually "beating" on them when I did. No problem, just get another, for cheap.

Anyway, I've had one of these sets of calipers for several years now, and they've always worked quite well, and maintain accuracy (I don't think I've ever had to re-zero)...

[A. Partisan]

There is nothing wrong with Harbor Freight calipers. Egoless reloaders will find them more than adequate.

[Deavis]

I bought calipers from HF and from Starrett. After using the Starrett calipers, the ones from HF feel like total crap in your hand. They just don't have the same motion and look like terrible to boot. That being said, they are more than accurate enough for reloading and if you drop them or otherwise damage them, they are so cheap, who cares? It is like buying drill bits. You can buy an awesome American made bit that is will last and cut well for a long time or you can just buy 10 cheap import bits and throw them away each job. For a hobbyist, the choice is simply one of preference. If you have the money and enjoy having a quality tool, get the Starretts, otherwise buy from HF and forget about it. They also have some good deals on IR tools if you catch them at the right time! :)

[buzzcut]

Thought I'd be slick and get the cheapest Craftsman calipers to secure their lifetime handtool warranty which they told me their calipers carried. Ordered from online store, arrived with 1 year coverage only. Back they went.

RCBS sells a cheap stainless steel dial caliper that looks to be covered by their lifetime warranty. Seems like a good idea for a little more outlay than the H.F. pair.

Buzz

[db_tanker]

Brown and Sharpe....my 6" digital calipers are made in Wetzlar Germany. I also have some 0-1" Mitutoyo mic's that, regardless of where they are made, it is one of the best measuring tools I have ever had the pleasure of owning. Funny thing is, those mics were cast off by our machine-shop here at Baker Hughes..I cleaned 'em up, got 'em recalibrated, and they are 100%.

I just need to get a set now with the vee block anvil to check dia on odd number rifle lands...

[Jet22]

My boss just bought (last summer) a set of Starrett 6" digital calipers. Was he shocked when he found the "MADE IN CHINA" sticker on them! :cuss:

[The Bushmaster]

HOLY SH**...!!! At least mine were made in the US as they are over 40 years old...

[Jet22]

Ya, we were shocked. :barf: What I didn't say was that he sent them back. :mad: I remember a friend of mine sprung for Starrett dial dalipers (USA) about 15 years ago. What a Cadallic set of calipers. Most my tools are Starrett but I do have 6" and 12" Mitutoyo calipers. I'm kinda hard on calipers (I use them in place of a 6" scale) having had balls of chips grab grab them of the top of the lathe and toss them across the shop and such. They still work which says something for their quality. I'm not so sure the $15 China ones would hold up so well. :confused:

[coonan357]

I have Starrets and the Harbor freight ones and I had rebuilt a BBC racing engine with the HF ones and it is still together. But Like any use of an measuring insturment I Check the calibrations before using them with a standard ( feeler gauges or wire standards) I ruined a starett by dropping it on the floor (out 120 bucks) :banghead: so I wouldn't feel so bad by dropping this and breaking it ( I bought 4 of them for reserves)

[greg531mi]

I have a set of HF electronic calipers I had for about 3 years, and I just tested it with a 1" standard, after zeroing it in, a it measured out to 1.000 !
Most people don't know is that RBCS, Starret's Dial Calipers, Fowler, and others are Chinese made, I think by the same company. They just put their name on it, and mark it up big time. I hate when American companies do that, I think it is ruining there good name, and defrauding the consumer that doesn't know they are buying fake American products.
If you are going to buy Chinese products, buy it with their own label, and buy it cheap......
At least HF is doing that, though some of their products are bad, I had a plastic deburring tool from them that broke in 3 days. Bought a good Aluminum one, it it will last a lifetime.

[mrapathy2000]

beware of items that say made in canada too. they are importing chinese componets and assembling them then smacking label saying made in canada. found this out recently with craftsman workbench

[cracked butt]

I use a Cabela's brand caliper. Yup, made in China.