Caliper cost?

[Paddy]

Old starret good, new starret garbage. Old harbor freight pretty good. New HF less than worthless. Most brands also sliding down. Selling off names. Moving production over seas. Reloading brands like rcbs and Hornady are equal to older Chinese HF in quality.

I like B&S, made by Tesa, also good. Mitutoyo still good.

For us and for any dial caliper, okay quality is fine. But, garbage is not. So, spend 95$ on a decent pair and you're good for life.

 

[Offfhand]

What Paddy says about various makes of measuring instruments is interesting and in line with my recent observations. I work (part time) in a consulting engineering firm where accurate measuring is vital and we use top quality tools. In recent times I've noted that new Starrett tools have neither the look and feel of the older stuff in our shop. Also, I've noticed that our technicians tend to prefer Mitutoyo instruments, which I also now prefer.

 

[vongh]

I bought a set of chicago brand mic's when I was in trade school. And every now and then i pull them out and measure parts that where measured with calibrated digital mitutoyo mic's and they within .0001. SPI is another lower budget comparable to fowler but still good enough. Unless your holding tenths. I also bought a pair of HHip brand dial calipers that i use for reference for $20 and they will hold the same as my Mitutoyo digitals calipers. For reloading I use a pair of HF dial calipers.

 

[Hondo 60]

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

Just because of the brand name stamped on 'em.

Same goes for electronic calipers.
Many of them (all?) are made in China & look the same, except for brand name.
And prices are all over the place.

 

[RandyP]

For MY realistic reloading measuring needs, even the Harbor Freight $20 digital or dial calipers provide far more accuracy than the task demands. I find the digitals to be easier on my aging eyes but either does just fine. I'm not remotely interested in "NASA" level measurements for my mid range plinking ammo. Heck, most all factory ammo has a notable OAL difference in a box of rounds and we don't think twice about loading and firing it.

 

[Blkhrt13]

https://www.amazon.com/INSIZE-1311-...qid=1491365636&sr=1-3&refinements=p_89:INSIZE

 

[Blkhrt13]

Insize as a brand was made when the former vp of ls starrett got mad at the prices they charged for their world cal line. I have been well pleased with my six inch set. I used them daily for about two years before I moved to a shop that only allows calibrated company owned tools. Still have them with the rest of my tools in my Kennedy.

 

[Grey man]

I am a professional mechanic. I have starret, snap on, and Mitatoyo, my favorite one is a cheap general tools I picked up at home depot or Lowe's, I can't remember. It's just as accurate as the expensive ones and I don't have a fit if something happens to it.

 

[jmorris]

Heck, most all factory ammo has a notable OAL difference in a box of rounds and we don't think twice about loading and firing it.

Just because you have the ability to measure differences doesn't automatically mean you are going to eliminate them.