Do You Measure And Plink Test Every Pistol Round?
- Thread starter peeplwtchr
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SnowBlaZeR2
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I should 1k rounds of 9mm a month. No way I'm gauging every one.
Spare Parts
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Yes! Let the result guide your testing. In a previous life, my job was writing software to test security cameras. Since test-time is money, The Company would adjust their test rate based on how many defective units were found later in the process. If defective product is not being found, then time is being wasted.
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For load development, I measure powder to the nearest milligram because I can. Every round goes in the case gauge. Total-OCD, because it's R&D that affects a future production line.
For rounds that may end up in a SAAMI-compliant chamber, every round goes in the case gauge. I wouldn't want a gun to jam if/when it needs to work. Can totally ruin a range day. My range is 40 minutes away, and 80 minutes is a LOT of test time.
For my own general plinking rounds, I check powder weight every 7th round. For pistol, I use a EGWGuns.com 7-hole case gauge, since it's a convenient holder before the rounds go in the box. For rifle, every round goes in a case gauge - I had an Unfortunate Incident that jammed a 5.56 case into a chamber so hard that it could not be extracted by any means. The price of a new chamber/barrel buys a lot of test time.
buba68
Member
If you have faith in your equipment then you should not have to powder and plunk check every round you load. If you don't have faith in your equipment then you should get new reloading equipment. I plunk check and powder check if I set up a new cartridge or change any component in a cartridge that I have been loading after that if I haven't loaded a cartridge for a while I check the first 5 and if they are good I don't check anymore after that. Loaded several thousand 9, 45 and 380 calibers and never had any issues.
CQB45ACP
Member
Yeah that round trip time sure is worth a little more at home prep/gauge time. I take two pistols each time (although I only ever shoot one per trip) just in case something happens.
sparkyv
Member
Unless I am loading brass that I know were shot from my own firearms, I cartridge gauge every one. One very slightly out of battery case blowout was all it took for me to learn my lesson.
GoldieMI
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for Pistol Competition- yes...every round goes into the 100 round case gauge before getting packed into the mtm cases.
lordpaxman
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Ditto.
Also, the case gauge gives a heads up on COL, 380’s that made it though, primer seating, and you can force them a bit to see about neck tension. Good luck.
I gauge all of my high volume 9mm rounds. The ones that don't pass are usually because of nicks on the rim. Almost all of those will pass a plunk test, and they get loaded in range magazines immediately, and that brass is discarded at the range the next trip.
I dont own a single case gauge and I load 9 and 45 by the thousands with zero malfunctions in my Smiths and Sigs. The only time I have ever seen an issue, and this wasnt due to me making a mistake, was the KKM barrel in my 9mm M&P Pro 5" has a deep chamber and I loaded some 115s with a very long COAL and those wouldnt run in my carry piece as the chamber is much shorter. I have also seen issues with someone shooting my reloads in a CZ and a Springfield due to how short chambers are cut. I use the barrels from a couple different pistols, sometimes even borrowing a barrel or two from a friend, during the development stage and find the best COAL to run for "plunk" and Im done with it. I load all my stuff to fit everything I own except in some one off cases like I mentioned with my M&P Pro. The dies get setup, and COAL is set, and I just load bullets knowing I tested them vs the chamber before.
Here is a truth that some will find uncomfortable: A case gauge is not the same as your chamber. Ive seen plenty of guys that used a gauge, only to find out their reloads dont actually run in their gun due to the chamber not being the same as the gauge. Or their reloads wont pass the gauge, but will run flawlessly in their gun.
Here is a truth that some will find uncomfortable: A case gauge is not the same as your chamber. Ive seen plenty of guys that used a gauge, only to find out their reloads dont actually run in their gun due to the chamber not being the same as the gauge. Or their reloads wont pass the gauge, but will run flawlessly in their gun.
irishlad
Contributing Member
True statement. I load for 3 9mm pistols, I use a Wilson case gauge on every round. If they pass the gauge they will plunk test in all 3 guns.
mcb
Member
A chamber check and a case gauge are two different tools.
A case gauge is there to make sure your cases, after prep but before loading, are the right length and the head space is correct, not to check loaded ammunition.
A chamber checker is there to check finished ammunition. A chamber check if made correctly will be at the minimum dimensions allowed buy a SAAMI spec chamber and will allow you to quickly check that rounds will chamber and OAL of the loaded ammunition is at or below the max. If it passes the chamber checker then it will function in any chamber that is cut to SAAMI specs.
A case gauge is there to make sure your cases, after prep but before loading, are the right length and the head space is correct, not to check loaded ammunition.
A chamber checker is there to check finished ammunition. A chamber check if made correctly will be at the minimum dimensions allowed buy a SAAMI spec chamber and will allow you to quickly check that rounds will chamber and OAL of the loaded ammunition is at or below the max. If it passes the chamber checker then it will function in any chamber that is cut to SAAMI specs.
irishlad
Contributing Member
Here is the gauge I use, I should probably not call it a case gauge.
The Wilson Pistol Max (Cartridge) Gage is designed to check loaded pistol cartridges and is set to maximum SAAMI spec dimensions. This gage will measure Max Case Length, Max Cartridge dimensions and Max Loaded Round Length. But, more importantly it will help you to determine what is going on with your loaded ammunition. It can help to solve many issues associated with loading pistol ammunition. Such as, bowing of cases during sizing, oblong rounds, bulge on case or crimp just to name a few. The Pistol Max Gage is a must if you are loading your own ammunition for your handguns or if you need to check purchased factory ammunition.
From the Wilson website
I don't measure every round, but I do case gauge every round. The case gauge has caught a few things that I missed such as slightly split cases that I didn't see, upside down primer, slightly scraped plated bullets and I caught one where I loaded a Makarov instead of a Luger.
When I'm doing test loads I do measure the OAL, powder and case gauge every round.
When I'm doing test loads I do measure the OAL, powder and case gauge every round.
A case gauge will do exactly that, check brass. However, if you are full length sizing your pistol brass, unless the die is horribly made, it will pass a case gauge. The big case where it might not is of you have a piece of brass that was "Glocked" or shot from a poorly supported chamber. The gauge will find that. I combat that simply by tossing brass that has this issue.
A chamber checker can be used yes, however not every manufacturer uses a SAAMI chamber. I know for a fact CZs almost always run on the short end and can be a little tight as they chambered in more of a "match" chamber. I also know for a fact Smith chambers are long and loose because generally they are looking for ultimate reliability for feeding for defense purposes. Neither of these manufacturers are within SAAMI spec. So you may have 100% confidence in your checker, but if the chamber on the actual pistol isnt SAAMI spec, you are wasting your time. Youre simply better off using your barrel for a "plunk" check during load development and being done with it. The one time, and this comes back to the chamber and how close it it is to SAAMI spec, that a chamber checker can save you, is if your chamber is tight, and the brass is thick, causing the rounds loaded on that thick brass to not chamber correctly, the checker will find those, maybe, possibly.
MFInc
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I have 2 different 9mm's that I shoot. I do a barrel plunk on those. I can't shoot HP rounds out of the AR due to feeding issues so just RN gets shot through it and I don't plunk those nearly as frequently as I did when starting unless it looks funny. But on the HP's I will plunk one every 5 as they seem to have a longer OAL. When setting up a new load I will plunk quite a few in a row. I have a hornady chamber gauge for my .40 S+W loads, I find myself plunking almost all of those just to make sure whatever bulge is gone.
Slightly OT, Don't think all factory ammo is 100% correct. I was looking at some AMMO INC rounds for my .40 I bought a bulk pack last year before I started reloading. But I found about 5 rounds that had a double bell in them and would not plunk. There were a few others that failed plunk, and the OAL was all over the place. It's all mixed brass too and non has the AI head stamp. Watch the cheaper ammo's and check it...
Slightly OT, Don't think all factory ammo is 100% correct. I was looking at some AMMO INC rounds for my .40 I bought a bulk pack last year before I started reloading. But I found about 5 rounds that had a double bell in them and would not plunk. There were a few others that failed plunk, and the OAL was all over the place. It's all mixed brass too and non has the AI head stamp. Watch the cheaper ammo's and check it...
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irishlad
Contributing Member
I have one for every pistol round I reload. I rarely load more than 100 rounds at a time. Only takes a couple of minutes to check em.
CQB45ACP
Member
So back to the case gauge vs. cartridge gauge....I’ve discovered the gauges I use (Hornady brand) for both 9mm and 45ACP, are for sizing BOTH/EITHER cases and/or loaded cartridges, but don’t measure OAL. I don’t need new gauges already have an RCBS for length. (I knew the Hornady wasn’t for length, believe me.)
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AJC1
Member
I could care less about an oal check as that is part of my workup and many rounds I shoot long on purpose. How one uses a guage I guess is just as important. I use my guages for brass specifications.
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