I had never used a gauge for handgun brass either, until I bought a 9MM with a SAMMI minimum spec chamber and locked it up tighter than Dick's headband. I now gauge all my sized brass and scrap the few that fail the gauge. Other 9MMs would eat those slightly bigger (At the base) cases like candy.
9mm and case gauge
- Thread starter bob4
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LiveLife
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I load for multiple pistols and other pistols relatives/friends may bring to the range with me. So I need to reload for my rounds to function in most pistols. It is for this reason why I cannot use different sized lead bullets and have gone to softer/lower BHN bullet loads so the same load can work in different groove diameter barrels as factory barrels tend to be on the oversized side.
Like Walkalong posted, if I used factory barrels with more generous chambers as gauge, my reloads would lock up pistols with tighter chambers. And it doesn't take much variation in finished rounds' dimensions to do that.
Do all of our finished rounds need to pass the case gauge? Many may disagree but I think it's a good idea to reload within a certain level of consistency, specifications or standards. For me, that's being able to feed/chamber in most pistols.
YMMV
Like Walkalong posted, if I used factory barrels with more generous chambers as gauge, my reloads would lock up pistols with tighter chambers. And it doesn't take much variation in finished rounds' dimensions to do that.
Do all of our finished rounds need to pass the case gauge? Many may disagree but I think it's a good idea to reload within a certain level of consistency, specifications or standards. For me, that's being able to feed/chamber in most pistols.
YMMV
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gamestalker
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About the best gauge IMO, is the chamber being loaded for. If I owned a super tight match chamber, I would definitely check my loaded rounds by using my chamber. But I suppose a gauge would be quite a bit easier.
Speaking of chambers, is an XDM of that breed, to which a tight SAAMI chamber would be likely? I do load for a couple of those, and have had no problems.
GS
Speaking of chambers, is an XDM of that breed, to which a tight SAAMI chamber would be likely? I do load for a couple of those, and have had no problems.
GS
LiveLife
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I don't own any XD/XDM pistols so I can't comment much about chamber tightness. I thought the issue with them was the feeding that required shorter typical OAL (perhaps others can chime in to clarify).
My railed Sig 1911 XO is one such with tight chambered barrel. Not only does it have a tight chamber but very quick start of rifling with almost no leade. Some of lead reloads that will freely chamber in SA/RIA/M&P won't fully chamber in the Sig barrel.
And of course tighter Lone Wolf 40S&W barrels that are right at the edge of pass/fail for larger .401" sized lead bullets. Most of my lead loads will pass with a few that require finger push pressure to fully chamber. This forces me to be extra consistent in my reloading practice but I like the tightness for reasons inherent to 40S&W and mixed range brass.
My railed Sig 1911 XO is one such with tight chambered barrel. Not only does it have a tight chamber but very quick start of rifling with almost no leade. Some of lead reloads that will freely chamber in SA/RIA/M&P won't fully chamber in the Sig barrel.
And of course tighter Lone Wolf 40S&W barrels that are right at the edge of pass/fail for larger .401" sized lead bullets. Most of my lead loads will pass with a few that require finger push pressure to fully chamber. This forces me to be extra consistent in my reloading practice but I like the tightness for reasons inherent to 40S&W and mixed range brass.
Potatohead
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Agreed. If youve got your bbl, I cant imagine needing one really (pistol)..Its not like you have to worry about the shoulders. I guess had I experienced a tight chamber or loaded for other folks like BDS I'd feel differently, maybe. Or if I ever have one lock up like Dicks headband
Walkalong, 'Tight as Dick's headband"?...that cracked me up! I needed that today for sure.
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rim damage on old brass
in my limited experience with a 9mm case gauge, it sometimes happens that the case rim has some damage from having been previously extracted. This can cause a tiny sliver of brass to jut out beyond the rim.
In a 'tight' gauge, this brass sliver is enough to prevent the round from fully headspacing (though it almost does), and then to resist falling back out.
in my limited experience with a 9mm case gauge, it sometimes happens that the case rim has some damage from having been previously extracted. This can cause a tiny sliver of brass to jut out beyond the rim.
In a 'tight' gauge, this brass sliver is enough to prevent the round from fully headspacing (though it almost does), and then to resist falling back out.
Potatohead
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Hmm. maybe I should break out the gauge after all.
LiveLife
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Perhaps another way of looking at this is neck sizing case for the chamber of a bolt action rifle vs full-length sizing the case to ensure the cartridges fit all your rifles, including semi-auto rifles to ensure reliable feeding/chambering.
Both methods are applicable.
Both methods are applicable.
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