Bullet length gauge

[gsc3zny]

I have bullet length gauges for 9mm .223 and .45 from Lyman, but I cannot find one for .38 or .37. Any suggestions for a quick check gauge?

 

[LiveLife]

For revolver loads, you roll crimp case mouth into the crimp groove/cannelure of the bullets so OAL gauge is not necessary, as long as the rounds slide in and don't stick past the cylinder.

 

[LiveLife]

Walkalong's pictures showing roll crimp into the crimp groove/cannelure - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5871460#post5871460

Medium roll crimp into the cannelure of the bullet

 

[gsc3zny]

What if it doesn't have a cannelure groove?

 

[Walkalong]

If you do not have a pair of calipers, either dial or digital, pick up a pair. You will find a hundred uses for them reloading.

HF recently sent out a flier with a $9.99 coupon for the digital set, so I picked another one up and stashed it back.

I load some plated bullets with no cannelure in several revolver calibers and I just picked a good looking OAL/seating depth to start with. I tweaked them a little to see if longer or shorter shot better, but most times I cannot shoot the difference. There are a couple of pics of them in the thread bds linked to.

 

[hentown]

This is a new one on me. I've loaded several hundred thousand rounds and never even heard of a bullet length gage. Who makes 'em?? Why would I need one?

 

[LiveLife]

They do exist. MidwayUSA has them for 38 Special for $16.99. Midway don't list one for 357 Mag but they are $22 from the manufacturer.

How about getting the Max case gage instead? MidwayUSA has one for 357 Mag for $19.99.


Case Length Gage

One-piece, non adjustable cylinder-type gage with milled surfaces on one end for checking minimum and maximum overall length of rifle and pistol cases having no shoulder.

More familiar Pistol Max Gage

The Pistol Max Gage measures the maximum dimensions of a loaded round. This includes case length, max chamber dimensions, and max length of loaded round.

 

[Comrade Mike]

If there is no cannelure, taper crimp.

 

[rcmodel]

Any suggestions for a quick check gauge?

Yes.

Any digital or dial caliper and a reloading manual to find out what Max length is.

On the other hand, the SAAMI Max length a cartridge gage (not bullet gage) is not necessarily the same as Max length that will chamber in your barrel of your gun without hitting the rifling.

A gage has nothing at all to do with checking that.

rc

 

[Hondo 60]

Just to keep the confusion down...

A "bullet" is NOT the same as a loaded round.
A "bullet" is the projectile.

 

[LiveLife]

And a "Boolit" is a lead bullet you casted yourself. Right?

 

[rcmodel]

PLEASE don't get me started on that!!

When it gets to the point of Boolets in your Shottie!

I'm coming after somebody!

rc

 

[BullfrogKen]

Those Wilson case length gauges are awesome.