[tdb]

I am in the market for a case , headspace gage , for 223.30.06,308, what would be the best ones to buy, I see some have a chamber gage to , some of my .223s are a little tight . Do I get ajustable or none ajustable , .Thanks TEDMI

[steve4102]

Not sure what you are looking for, but this is the Head to Shoulder Gauge I use.

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=be0d91eaca53b3a69cf39cedca2839b5&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=4ffc0a8772783e83440ac87ed0c3ee5b

[243winxb]

The L.E. Wilson Case Length Gage http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=234644 is good to sort out really bad ammo. The new one i just bought found only 2 rounds that needed work in the rim area. The Wilson gage does not check the whole body of the case, its for checking headspace(head to shoulder) and trim length. The adjustable Wilson is used for belted magnums. 223 308 types are not adjustable. Fired cases from my 5.56 chamber drop right in. It seem to have a large body diameter. Your rifles chamber is still the best gage available. For setting your flrs die to bump the shoulder back when flrs, the RCBS Precision Mic is used for that. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=477756 I dont think i would invest in another Wilson Gage.

[SlamFire1]

I use Wilson type gages all the time. I have dropped in chamber headspace gages into my .223, 308, and 30-06 Wilson gages, and there is an exact correspondance between the Go and No Go graduations.

As mentioned before, the Wilson gage only measures length. I wanted gages that would measure length and "fatness". The only way to do that was to have gages cut from chambering reamers.

Barnett cut me two for 308 and 30-06. Compass Lake Engineering http://www.compasslake.com/ cut me a .223 gage, one cut with the same reamer they used on the barrel they installed.

For those who are loading 308 or 30-06 for use in the M1 or M1a match rifles, I believe having a reamer cut gage is a risk reduction measure against out of battery slamfires. These darn rifles have the most slamfires of any type of rifle on the market, and every so often, one is out of battery.

While the AR does have slamfires, I have never heard of an out of battery slamfire.

[fguffey]

TDB, I make gages in thousands, from .015 below a go-gage chamber to infinity but to be more practical a gage that is .011 over go-gage chamber, the .011 over fits my M1917 Eddystone and it fits Mr Smith's Eddystone in Bradford PA. but before you are convinced it is possible someone that can not do it will convince you they can not do it, and sure enough-they can't.

As a thought, gages could cost $15.00-up, if you purchase a go-gage (useless), you have a go-gage that will verify the gage will chamber in a go-gage size chamber, we all knew that before it was purchased, it will not tell you the size of the chamber in .000 thousands, the go-gage can be turned into a go-to infinity gage but that would take years to explain and even longer for most to get used to the ideal.

Three gages, 223, 30/06 and 308 Winchester at $15.00-up is going to cost $45.00-up plus shipping etc., and all the gages are going to tell you is 'your rifle will chamber a go-gage'.

'A' good use of a go-gage is to use it as a transfer gage to adjust a die, shell holder and press for sizing, a feeler gage can be used to verify the go-gage.

F. Guffey

[Jim Watson]

I have never had any trouble with case head separation or inaccuracy from ammo loaded in brass sized to fit the Wilson fixed cartridge headspace gauge. You can get fancier, but the Wilson does what I want with no fiddling.

[USSR]

...the RCBS Precision Mic...

+1.

Don

[243winxb]

The unit on the left is a cut down 223 case to measure 223 brass before and after firing. The unit must be square and the part contacting the shoulder of the case must me chamfered inside. Dont measure on the primer, the straight edge stick is needed for alignment and to stay above the primer when measuring. If you can repeat your measurement +/-.001" you made it right. http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/Comparator_001.jpg http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/Comparator_002.jpg

[cracked butt]

243- I like the way you think. That's a very simple and cheap guage:cool:

I use a Stoney Point (now Hornady) shoulder guage. I measure 10-15 pieces of fired brass from a particular rifle and set up my sizing die to set the shoulder back 0.002-0.003" from the longest piece of brass that I measured. This will ensure that your reloads will chamber and will not cause any more wear and tear on the brass than necessary.

[Historian]

I use the RCBS Mic. and IMO it's one of the best investments I've made. Since I have a single stage press I use it to set the depth of my sizing die evey time I set up to size a batch (usually 250 to 300 .223 cases). It's easy to use and very accurate. I also use a sizing gauge to spot check my cases when I am running a batch.

Historian

[rcmodel]

Why do you have to re-set the sizing die every time you load another batch?

Oh! Lee O-Ring dies I betcha. :banghead:

A less troublesome method is to get some set-screw lock-rings.

Once set, you never have to touch them again, unless you change rifles and start all over again.

rcmodel