Dial Caliper Recommendations

[Hugger-4641]

If I didn't have check blocks, I'd probably just use a transfer punch or roller bearing as a gauge and to check my calipers.

 

[Howa 9700]

If you were a machinist and you were going to use them everyday I’d say buy Mitutoyo or Starrett but just for reloading I’d say buy anything made in the USA Japan or Switzerland. Check on eBay for some older ones that are like new or NOS. You’ll pay less for brands like NSK or Fowler or Tesa and they’ll be good quality.

Where was this helpful bit of advice a few weeks back when I was looking???

I wound up with Hornady dial calipers from Midway. Seem to be doing OK. A couple things I noticed.......when watching videos by RCBS, etc, all their tech guys were using dial calipers. Good enough for them, it was good enough for me.

 

[hk940]

I have had Starrett and Mitutoyo analog for years, then thought I would try a inexpensive digital, only problem the display would count up under florescence lights and inside and outside measurements were were off from each other.
I have since gone back to the analogs I have used for 45+years. For real accuracy use a mike.

 

[film495]

Where was this helpful bit of advice a few weeks back when I was looking???

I wound up with Hornady dial calipers from Midway. Seem to be doing OK. A couple things I noticed.......when watching videos by RCBS, etc, all their tech guys were using dial calipers. Good enough for them, it was good enough for me.

I also just ended up getting the Hornady dial calper from Midway; price was right, sold for reloading work. some quick tests showed they were spot on, and the the two calipers I had already, one digital one dial, were .002 to .0035 reading low consistently. have some pin gauges coming to keep working on it, but - I also like the Dial on the Hornady is easier to read than the old set I have, much easier.

After having worked with a dial caliper a bit, I much prefer it to the digital ones.

 

[NMexJim]

Simply that calipers as far as precision tools go are the least precise but cheap and handy to use.

$120 for a set might seem really expensive to folks that only own tape measures but when compared to a $500 bore micrometer or a $12,000 set of micrometers, they are cheap and not as accurate.

If you want precision measurements you use precision tools.

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Calipers are “accurate enough” for most reloading chores, meaning more precision isn’t necessary for them.

You could measure your, say seating depth to .000002 but it wouldn’t matter because you can already tell they are not that precise just using your calipers...

Where the heck were you during the discussion on zeroing?

 

[Guy48065]

Where the heck were you during the discussion on zeroing?

WHAT discussion on zeroing?
Wipe the jaws clean. Hold up with a strong light behind & close the jaws. There should be NO light seepage anywhere along the jaws out to the tip. Lock the slide. Turn the dial to zero, or press the "Zero" button (or "Origin").

 

[cfullgraf]

At work I mostly use Mitutoyo digitals, the new solar powered digitals are awesome since the batteries never go dead.

When I was working, I had a set of solar calipers. They worked great except when I had to take a measurment inside one of the production machines. Funny how they do not perform well when there is little or no light.

I went through a phase of using digital calipers at home but battery life became an issue. I’ve gone to dial calipers. Their batteries don’t ever need replacing maybe because there are none.

I have a Mitutoyo and Starrett set.

My first set of calipers is a Fowler vernier set. Now, they are a trip to read. I still have them. They are back up calipers for the back up calipers these days.

 

[NMexJim]

WHAT discussion on zeroing?
Wipe the jaws clean. Hold up with a strong light behind & close the jaws. There should be NO light seepage anywhere along the jaws out to the tip. Lock the slide. Turn the dial to zero, or press the "Zero" button (or "Origin").

Sorry, we weren’t talking about a caliper, rather an LE Wilson Case Gage Depth micrometer. Not important.

 

[Broccolis]

for work where a caliper is used, the Mitutoyo absolute digimatic at just over $100 is excellent.
it is digital, not dial. I grew up on mic's, love this digital caliper. when I dropped my dial caliper, I did not replace it.

 

[AJC1]

Hurt a little when he said he likes digital

 

[Bill M.]

I have a lot of years experience measuring things with calipers. To me the digital calipers are the way to go. Cheap digital calipers are now better than cheap dial calipers. Many things electronic are cheaper to make than their mechanical counterpart. Like watches and calipers. Our company supplies a set of calipers with a machine we sell. We used Starret for a while and then switched to Mitutoyo. Both are good. We like the cabling and the remote reading function better on the Mitutoyo. Actually my favorite shop tool to play with is my Mitutoyo caliper. I use it when a ruler would do. Like for planing lumber.

 

[JFrank]

Im not machining just reloading ammunition.
I use an inexpensive digital caliper and ball mic and if you don't believe they are accurate enough you could pay more.