Calipers what do you use price ?

What calipers do you use. Price ?

  • Dial $30 or less

    Votes: 26 23.9%

  • Dial $30 or more

    Votes: 27 24.8%

  • Electronic (digital) $30 or less

    Votes: 38 34.9%

  • Electronic (digital) $30 and up into the $100's

    Votes: 18 16.5%
  • Total voters
    109
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
Rule3

Rule3

Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2010
Messages
10,420
Location
Florida
What calipers do you use?

The prices are just ballpark round up or down. Just as close as possible. Pretty much do you use a high quality brand or some Chinese brand regardless of the name on them.
 
We beat up calipers pretty well last month in this thread.

I have a few sets and for what it's worth the majority of what we use them for in hand loading doesn't require a high end precision set. They just need to be reasonably accurate and have good repeatability. A good vernier dial indicator caliper should last a lifetime.

As to many brand names like Cabela's, Lyman, RCBS, Hornady and the list goes on, I doubt they ever made one and likely contract the same OEM companies to make them and put their name on them. Much like Sears never actually made a rifle or shotgun.

With a good set of a few Jo Blocks calipers can be periodically checked much like using check weights on a scale.

Ron
 
I mostly use a Harbor Freight digital caliper you can get on sale for $12 at times. It works well and is plenty accurate for 99% of reloading needs.

I also have a Mitutoyo dial caliper and a Brown & Sharp dial caliper (6" Caliper and 1" Micrometer set) I break out on occasion to check things, but when I really need a precise measurement, I use a either my Mitutoyo or B&S micrometer. For measuring case neck thickness you must use a ball micrometer.

If my Chinese made HF caliper reads 1.750 for .223 brass, but it is really 1.753, who cares? It is still safe, and consistent brass length is more important than whether it is 1.750 or 1.753.

Like I said, if I need a precise measurement, I break out a better caliper or a micrometer from a reputable company. In my case Mitutoyo and B&S.
 
RELOADRON:
Truer words were never spoken. Your spot on.

OP: Stay away from cheap electronic calipers, they won't last and you will be replacing them very soon.

Get yourself a cheap pair of stainless steel, covered rack, dial calipers and they will last you the rest of your life. I don't care if they're made in China or not. Stay away from the cheap electronic calipers, I don't care whose name is on them, You'll be replacing them when the battery goes dead unless your really lucky.
I have three sets of dial calipers, 6", 8", and 12" that were made in Japan 30 years ago, and I will never have to replace them. They are as accurate as the Sterritt calipers I've had were, and I threw the Sterrits in the trash after 3 months for constantly jumping time. I paid over $180.00 for the Sterrits and I thoroughly wasted my money.

The rest of you can think what you want. I've machined for 35 years and my cheap Japanese dial calipers are all still going strong. Both pairs of my Sterritts went out in the garbage.

Stay with electronic calipers or get used to paying $180.00 to buy Mitutoyo or Brown and Sharp digitals with covered racks. All the cheap stainless steel dial calipers I have seen come with covered rack gears. They will last you a life time.
Suit yourself.
 
Reloadron said:
We beat up calipers pretty well last month in this thread.

I have a few sets and for what it's worth the majority of what we use them for in hand loading doesn't require a high end precision set. They just need to be reasonably accurate and have good repeatability. A good vernier dial indicator caliper should last a lifetime.

As to many brand names like Cabela's, Lyman, RCBS, Hornady and the list goes on, I doubt they ever made one and likely contract the same OEM companies to make them and put their name on them. Much like Sears never actually made a rifle or shotgun.

With a good set of a few Jo Blocks calipers can be periodically checked much like using check weights on a scale.

Ron
Click to expand...
Ditto - " ...the majority of what we use them for in hand loading doesn't require a high end precision set. They just need to be reasonably accurate and have good repeatability. ..."

I use calipers mostly for COL. For real accuracy needed when slugging a bore I use a real, quality micrometer.

They both have their place.
 
I have a pair of Mitutoyo digitals from work. A caliper and a micrometer that cost $340 for the pair.
 
I have 2, and old starrett with the dial and a digital mitutoyo that reads in SAE and metric. It also has a couple other bells and whistles as well. Both cost over a $100 each, the starrett is 40 some years old, the Mitutoyo is over 20 years old. I've never had a problem with either one, they a have been used a lot and I just had them inspected a recertified per ISO. They have passed each time they are checked. Just goes to show you you get what you pay for
 
I've got a mid range digital that I bought out of a tool catalog a while back. Not sure of the brand off the top of my head. Works well, I have checked against feeler gauges and other known measurements with no discrepencies. Used that for a long time. But recently came across a nice dial caliper at work that nobody wanted to claim. I use that for reloading now and keep the digital in the garage. Works out nice because I deal with more metric than standard out there. Even though it takes a second longer to read the dial, I like that I never have to worry about batteries. It just works.
 
My first set more than 30 years ago was like $80 or $100. I loaned that set out I think, and either never got them back, or something else happened to them. Now I just use a HF's, also dial, not digital.

GS
 
I have the RCBS ones. Cost 50-60$

My cheapy Frankford Arsenals wouldnt hold zero.
 
I answered dial over $30 because that's what I use. I have an analog watch too.
But if you're used to digital, switching to dial may throw your comfort zone off.

With digital, cheaper equipment may work just fine.................. or maybe not.

In my opinion, Its kind of hit or miss on the quality control of their manufacturing -----little electronic chips (by others), thinner wire, assembly line soldering, etc ( just guessing here)
Yes, you can buy several cheap calipers for the same price as a better one, but i think it comes down to an "odds" thing. 1 in 1000 tested, 1 in 10, all ???

With electronic equipment, I'd go with the low end of a quality brand name like Mitutoyo. They probably don't want to put out products with their name on lower quality control products and maybe use the same electronic chips and battery set-up as their higher end stuff.

shopping can be fun:neener:
 
Both of mine I've had for over 30 years. A Brown&Sharpe 0-6 dial and a Central tools 0-6 dial. So I would say $30 +.
 
Reloadron said:
We beat up calipers pretty well last month in this thread.

I have a few sets and for what it's worth the majority of what we use them for in hand loading doesn't require a high end precision set. They just need to be reasonably accurate and have good repeatability. A good vernier dial indicator caliper should last a lifetime.

As to many brand names like Cabela's, Lyman, RCBS, Hornady and the list goes on, I doubt they ever made one and likely contract the same OEM companies to make them and put their name on them. Much like Sears never actually made a rifle or shotgun.

With a good set of a few Jo Blocks calipers can be periodically checked much like using check weights on a scale.

Ron
Click to expand...

Yes, I have read it. Just trying to get more of a count of what people "actually" use. So far it's pretty equal.

I have used Midways Frankford brand for years and no problems. Trying to see if I want to spend big money on some Mitutoyo. I called the company and they only have one that has a auto shut off. It also is waterproof. (not that I need that!)It costs $158.00
 
Rule3 said:
Yes, I have read it. Just trying to get more of a count of what people "actually" use. So far it's pretty equal.

I have used Midways Frankford brand for years and no problems. Trying to see if I want to spend big money on some Mitutoyo. I called the company and they only have one that has a auto shut off. It also is waterproof. (not that I need that!)It costs $158.00
Click to expand...
Yeah, I believe what it comes down to is need verse nice to have with the nice to have being fine if the budget allows. :)

At $158 there is some overkill in there but if that caliper works for you, has the features you want and is in your budget, then by all means go for it.

Ron
 
Like on another forum I post on, Any new reloader who asks what press to get, I only need 100 rounds a week, GET A DILLON:D This forum is more tolerant of other brands.

They will pay $1000 for a Dillon and all the extras but buy a $20 caliper. Heck even the dial caliber sold by Dillon is $28.

I agree $158 is a bit much, the next one down is say $130 but it does not have auto shut off. . Maybe I will look at the Solar version and go green :D
 
Mitutoyo....a Series 500 Absolute Coolant Proof Digimatic to be exact.

Enco recently had them on sale for one day @ $125 shipped.
 
There are places where "cheap "is just fine. I have all 4 types of calipers listed. I could choose to use what I want but prefer to use my cheap digitals for reloading.
Cheap calipers aren't the same as a cheap car or washing machine. Or an airplane
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

1TwistedGimp
  • Locked
Difference between Lyman and RCBS dial calipers?
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
scythefwd
S
barnfrog
  • Locked
Using dial calipers
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
Walkalong
Walkalong
B
  • Locked
Calipers - do you use them
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
Greg Jones
G
S
  • Locked
Used Starrett Dial Calipers?
Replies
17
Views
2K
jmorris
jmorris
B
  • Locked
Caliper recommendations?
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
clutch
C
Back
Top