case gauge or pistol bbl?

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mdp75

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whats the better option? I have been told the best way to check a case/ finished round is by using the bbl it is to be fired from and a set of calipers. the case/ finished round should drop in and out easily and will assure the best chambering and fit to that specific bbl. The reason I ask Is i shoot out of match bbls and find that even though the rounds may pass the case gauge they may still not fit the bbl
 
Case gauges usually will do the job. However I shot bullseye for many years and always used the barrel of my Colt Gold Cup as a case gauge. It worked for me! :)
 
I typically use the barrel, especially since I have a Springfield XD with a short lead and a 1911 with a "match" barrel. It's not unusual that a round will pass the case gauge test, but fail the barrel test.
 
bbl.

If you have multiple guns of the same caliber, you don't need all the barrel
Don't use your Glock bbl, use your CZbbl. for both/all. :)
 
well ridgeway that an excellent point lol. this is why i use lone wolf brrell to check for my glock and my fire dragon to check on my xd
 
The problem with using the barrel is that the hood covers less than 25% of the base of the case where the case gauge is 100%. If you have ever used a case gauge to check ammunition you would know that almost all of the rounds that fail, fail in this area. So if you use a barrel you can clock the round in and out of the barrel a bunch of times making sure it is ok all around the circumference or just clear those “mystery” malfunctions you have from time to time.
 
You can see here that glock barrels (loan wolf in this case) doesn't check any of the rim at all.
DSC02128.jpg

Most don't see any problem with this but they also never think about the relationship the round has to have with the breech face and extractor. Ask any winning competitive shooter what they use and you will get case gauge as your answer as malfunctions are not merely annoyances but can cost you a win.

DSC02130.jpg
 
I use a digital caliper to measure tolerances from time to time. But I run the rounds through a Dillon case gauge before I do their final tumble after loading. The Dillon case gauge (for .45 ACP0 is a little too forgiving on length. I believe that a digital caliper is a must for reloading. It has solved many problems for me with loader setup and final product.

Why digital? Well, I'm 59 and those big numbers are a heckofalot easier to read.
 
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