Caliper cost?

[sbwaters]

Why do RCBS digital calipers cost $70 while Hornady and Lyman cost $30-40?

If I am looking for new calipers, what should I look for? Any particular brand?

I am doing basic reloading using a Single Stage and LnL of 9MM, .45, .223 .308, 30-06, and 12 gauge.

Thank you!

 

[.308 Norma]

I had to go look because I couldn't remember what brand I have. It's a Lyman. I've had it since I can't remember when, and it works great. With the exception of 12 gauge, I load all of those you mentioned, and a few more. I'm a bit of a cheapskate, so I used a vernier caliper and a cheap calculator for a long time before I asked my wife for a digital caliper for Christmas one year.
I'm not sure how useful you'll find a caliper for loading shotgun shells, but I don't load them, so what do I know?

(edited for a dumb misnomer) I have a Lyman "dial" caliber, not a "digital" caliber. Sorry about that. It still works great though!

 

[cfullgraf]

$20-$30 set of calipers will cover the bulk of the recreational shooters needs.

If you are getting into gun smithing where better precision and reliability are required, higher end calipers are in order, as well as other measuring equipment.

Digital calipers require batteries but most can be converted back and forth between English and metric measurements. They are quick to "zero" when measuring different from a closed jaw zero.

The "batteries" never wear out in a dial caliper.

Vernier calipers are good instruments, but are pretty much obsolete now a days as the price point of digital and dial have gotten low enough that there is no advantage to buying vernier calipers any more. I can't remember when I last had my vernier calipers out of its case.

But, if you want to buy higher end tools, by all means do so and enjoy your purchase.

 

[bassjam]

For dial calipers I'm happy with my $20 Grizzly unit. I used the Grizzly dial indicator to set the lash on my truck's dif and that's been good for 150k miles, so I'm sure the calipers would be find for reloading.

I don't trust digital as much so I'd want to spend a lot more. I rely on a set of $100 Mitutoyo 6" digital calipers for the past 10 years at work, and that's probably what I'd get if I needed similar precision at home.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I wouldn't spend much. Every cheap digital one ($30ish) that I have encountered has been good to one or two thousanths. If you need more precision that, a micrometer is probably in order.

A dial caliper is nice too though. No chasing around for batteries. They tend to go for quite a bit more than digitals that work just as well.

Checkout your local hardware store, Napa, or even Harbor Freight.

 

[LoneGoose]

Harbor Freight has what you need for around $20. Use the 20% coupon and get a good deal.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Why do RCBS digital calipers cost $70 while Hornady and Lyman cost $30-40?

If I am looking for new calipers, what should I look for? Any particular brand?

Thank you!

Because you pay for the name.

As LoneGoose said Harbor Freight has the SAME EXACT ones but for MUCH MUCH less.

If you do a search you'll see that these companies buy them from the same Chinese company and have their name put on them.

I was amazed that there was so much difference in price but when I researched it I checked over and over to be sure. The bottom line is if you're going to buy anything made in China you need to do some homework as it's usually available via multiple sources and some are much less expensive than others.

 

[edwardware]

Why do RCBS digital calipers cost $70 while Hornady and Lyman cost $30-40?

Because RCBS. That warranty costs money.

I suggest a tool supply houses' house brand vernier caliper. I bought mine from Travers. I've also been very happy with the used Mitutoyo gear I've bought from ebay, but I would never afford Mitutoyo new.

Vernier, because reading it is a dying art, and there's less to break.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Because RCBS. That warranty costs money.

I doubt it as Harbor Freight also has a lifetime warranty too. I had one that slipped out of my hand and I dropped and broke. When I found out they'd exchange it. I took it back and they replaced it no questions asked. I was surprised as most places don't have warranties on precision instruments and tools.

 

[someguy2800]

Most of the stuff rcbs sells is a ripoff in my opinion. I get them for $20 each at the hardware store

 

[Sunray]

"...Why do RCBS digital calipers cost $70..." Has 'RCBS' on it. Anything that says 'gun' or 'gunsmiths' or the like just costs more. You can buy a 6" digital vernier in Home Depot for $16. $11.99 with free shipping on Amazon.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have never had an issue with a warranty claim at HF.

 

[pert near]

I have both digital & analog vernier calipers. The analog is a Midway model & the digital I bought at a garage sale & it is a "Cabela's" model. By checking, both seem equally accurate & consistent. They both work great for most Handloading work (trim length, OAL measuring, bullet seating, etc.) More & more, I find myself reaching for the digital model first. My micrometer is an analog Chinese, but I'll pick-up a digital version as soon a good opportunity presents itself!

 

[rg1]

I finally bought a good quality caliper: http://www.msi-viking.com/Mitutoyo_500-196-30_6-Inch_Absolute_Digital_Caliper
On sale for $90. I've had a cheap Home Depot digital caliper. It eats batteries. Every time I go to use it the display is blinking indicating a low battery. Everyone says the cheaper Chinese made calipers that you have to remove the battery after using them and that the display turns off but the caliper keeps using the battery. Anyway, I love my new Mitutoyo caliper and highly recommend it. I bought from this company to prevent the possibility of buying a fake Mitutoyo made in China. I understand the fake ones are being sold by some places on Amazon??? I would recommend Starrett for a dial caliper. I used calipers for nearly 40 years in industry and you get what you pay for. Not saying some other calipers won't satisfy your needs though.

 

[9mmepiphany]

On a related question, does the braintrust have recommendations for a micrometer?

 

[red rick]

I have a Starrett dial caliper and a Storm digital caliper that I got from Northern Tool for about $20 dollars and for awhile I compared it to the Starrett , it always read the same , so I use it all of the time now . You just have to keep a pack of batteries in the case with it . I pulled mine out last week after not using it for awhile and yes the battery was dead , but I had a 3 pack of batteries on hand , so no big deal .

 

[Mizar]

Every cheap POS caliper runs "great" until you check it on a calibration block... A cheap vernier Mitutoyo is much more consistent in measuring than a digital RCBC-or-whatever-stupid-POS-branded Chinese digital one. And no, vernier is not "obsolete" - it's a budget alternative. That is IF you are buying a caliper from a respected manufacturer specializing in measuring instruments, and not just some big name branded junk made in China...

 

[red rick]

I haven't seen a difference in mine and I think USA made Starrett is just as good as Mitutoyo calipers . I agree a nice vernier caliper will last longer with heavy use than a cheap pair , but for what we use them for a cheap digital caliper does the job .

 

[WestKentucky]

I always ask the gauge calibration tech at work to hook me up with a set of mitutoyo or starrett that are out of calibration. I have my own verified 1-2-3 block so even if it's "out of cal" I can check it and adjust as necessary. I also have a set of Hornady calipers, and honestly one is as good as the other. I keep an extra set around because I am literally using worn out junk, but I haven't seen anything problematic yet aside from one set that starts slowly climbing if left on for too long. Ask around with your factory worker friends to see what shakes out of the bushes.

 

[Reloadron]

I have a Fowler Ultra Cal II which I have had for about 30 years now, expensive and accurate caliper. I also have a Kobalt vernier caliper which runs about $20 to $30 at any Home Depot. When looking at intended use it really matters not which I use. While it is true names like Mitutoyo, Starrett, and other top shelf are more accurate and better made for general reloading applications the difference will never come in light of the gauges intended use.

As to names like RCBS, Lyman, Hornady and the rest? I would bet none of them ever made a vernier caliper and for the most part they are all likely made in China, branded and given whatever color the buyer wants. My old Fowler is Swiss Made and the Kobalt is off the boat from China.

Ron

 

[Walkalong]

On a related question, does the braintrust have recommendations for a micrometer?

Hard to beat Brown & Sharp, Starrett, or Mitutoyo. Fowler seems to make some pretty good stuff these days. I don't have a pic of the B&S caliper/micrometer set.

 

[Doublehelix]

I have been using a Lowe's purchased set of calipers for years, and finally broke down and bought a Mitutoyo . Wow. They are so smooth and just work great. Accuracy-wise, the Lowe's calipers were probably fine for what I use them for, but in terms of ease of use and joy in using them, the Mitutoyos are hands down the best set of calipers I have ever used.

 

[SlowFuse]

I've used a Frankford Arsenal branded digital caliper for about 6 or 7 years and have no complaints.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/604242/frankford-arsenal-digital-caliper-6-stainless-steel

 

[jmorris]

I would rather pay $9 for a harbor freight caliper and $31 on standards close to the dimensions that I intend to measure than $40 on any set without standards.

In reality any caliper will likely be fine for reloading as long as it can measure the same part and come up with the same length. It wouldn't be uncommon to have OAL variance greater than the resolution of even the cheapest of calipers.

If they all read accurately on standards, the only difference is how much money you spend on them.

So you can use the cheap ones and just take photos with the Brown&Sharpe, Starrett or Mitutoyo.

If you want something that is "really accurate" you shouldn't be using a caliper anyway.

 

[Bart B.]

I think the only critical measurement reload- and handload-ers need to the nearest .0001" is bullet and barrel bore & groove diameters. Most others are close enough to nearest .001". Overall cartridge length is the least critical dimension so a .005" spread is OK for us mortals. A good micrometer with tenths on its scales and digital caliper to .001" plus some decent standard gauge for both will be good enough. I've used a 1/4" diameter steel pin from Ace Hardware as a standard that's mic'd .2503" for decades. But a quarter inch Johanssen gauge block in the metrology lab at work was .25000". The lady running that lab said to use anything that mic'd the same every time as a standard; but remember it's size.

It's the same mind set in weighing powder charges to 2 or 3 decimal places. Emotional joy happens if we can measure something exact, precise and accurate; each and every time. Even if we can't shoot bullets that way.