Dillion Case Gage

[vietnam1947]

I understand that the Dillion Case Gage is used to give the reloader a GO or NO GO if the reloaded round will chamber into the barrel, IF I AM WRONG PLEASE HELP. I have had a problem with the Berry 125gr HP not chambering in my S&W 5906 seating the bullet with a OAL of 1.125, I had to keep seating the ronund till I got a OAL of 1.055 to be able to chamber the cartiage in my pistol.
Will the Dillion Case Gage give me a Go or No Go OR do I still need to take my 5906 apart and try to chamber each round in the barrel??? Thanks, Fred

 

[50 Shooter]

The gauges work just like you think, if they fit flush they will work. If the round sticks out it more then likely wont work.

 

[taliv]

i'd be a bit more specific. if a cartridge fits in the gauge, then it will in theory fit in any saami spec chamber.

however

that doesn't mean it will feed reliably or even at all, as the shape of the bullet, the condition of the feed ramp, the magazine lips, etc all come into play.

also, i wouldn't use the gauge to measure OAL. use calipers for that. in some calibers, like 223, the gauge measures the case itself and so the bullet necessarily sticks way out of the gauge.

finally, just to make sure, don't confuse this with the GO/NO GO headspace gauges. they measure different things. i'm not trying to invoke the Headspace Police for another 10-page marathon thread just sayin'

 

[vietnam1947]

Thanks for all the input, I tried to follow the specks of OAL of 1.141 , but the round would not chamber in the brrel, the cartiage started from the mag, seeated to OAL 1.125 and loaded mag and still would not fully chamber, seated to OAL 1.10 and still would not chamber and lock receiver, so I had to finaly seat deaper to an OAL of 1.055 to be able to go from the Mag into the receiver to the chamber and be able to lock the Barrel...
Whant worries me is seating the bullet deeper and going from 1.141 OAL to 1.055, I measured the powder to the case lip jjand still had rume to seat the round that deep but am Worried about why I had to seat so deap..
I did load 14 rounds at 1.055 and choot thro the chrony and overall average was 988 fps, with highest being 1027fps, and lowest chrony being 957fps. So I take it I did OK, the chots fired a 2 inch group at 25 yards.....

 

[taliv]

that doesn't sound right.

take an empty case you've just resized and see if it chambers w/o a bullet

 

[vietnam1947]

Oh Yaq I have did that, I deprime and check Case size befor I tumble. Thats what adds Worry to what is going on, all the case are to with in specks and I drop so in every once in a chile to check.. I even droped cases in two other 9mm barrels and they were ok.. It hase to be something about the bullets,

 

[Bruce H.]

I have had a similar thing happen with my S&W model 915. I loaded some Sierra 125 gr. JHP's. The overall length was 1.100". They would not chamber in my Model 915. The same cartridges worked fine in my P89 and P95. I have never had any problems chambering cartridges loaded with 115 gr. and 147 gr. bullets in my Model 915. The only time that I ever ran into the problem was with 125 gr. bullets. I just don't use 125 gr. bullets when I load for my 915 anymore.
I have one of the Dillon Case Gauges that I use when loading my 223 Rem. cartridges. The case gauge is only good for checking the Case Headspace and the Case Length. You have to use a pair of calipers to measure the overall length.

 

[vietnam1947]

Calipers, oh ya I use them quite friquent while reloading. But I had been loading rainer 124 gr, and had a 1000 rd of Berrys 125 gr son loaded u a test of 20 sto see how they chroneyed, I had them calipered to a OAL of 1.125 so the trip to the range was short, came back home and broke down the 5906 and kept seating the rounds till they would chamber, First time to have troubel with OAL .
But they now chrony at average 0f 988 fps and shoot well so I guess I use them for IDPA at the 1.055 OAL till I run out. Have ordered a few thousand precision bullets now to use when I finish these. Thanks Fred

 

[Otto]

I have had a problem with the Berry 125gr HP not chambering in my S&W 5906 seating the bullet with a OAL of 1.125...

Berry's doesn't make a 125gr HP for the 9mm.
But they do make a 125gr HP for the 38/357 Cal (.357).
Are you using the right bullets?

 

[Bullet]

taliv

i'm not trying to invoke the Headspace Police for another 10-page marathon thread just sayin'

OK :banghead:

 

[vietnam1947]

OTTO,
Sorry my Fat old Finger, yes Berrys 124gr HP, is what I have ment all the time.
Again sorry for the type -O- You made me get up to make sure of what is on the BOX, ( but they weight 125.3 gr cheched out about 25 befor I started to to check the average of them .

 

[strat81]

Sorry my Fat old Finger, yes Berrys 124gr HP, is what I have ment all the time.
Again sorry for the type -O- You made me get up to make sure of what is on the BOX, ( but they weight 125.3 gr cheched out about 25 befor I started to to check the average of them .

Did you measure the bullet width with calipers? It's possible the box says .355 124gr but it's filled with .357 125gr.

 

[vietnam1947]

I did Mike the width and they kept reading .3555 or .0005 over .355 .
Question If I was to tapper heaver with the FCD would that change anything, I am going to try that in the morning and see, reason is the bullets make the caseing slightly larger at the mouth now so that could be my problem?????
Fred

 

[SR_]

I have one of the Dillon Case Gauges that I use when loading my 223 Rem. cartridges. The case gauge is only good for checking the Case Headspace and the Case Length. You have to use a pair of calipers to measure the overall length.

You are correct that the Dillon gage does not measure OAL for rifle cartridges. But, a Dillon case gage for a pistol cartridge will measure cartridge OAL.

 

[vietnam1947]

To all that have given input to this. I did rebuild a dummy round this morning.
I m
easured the Rainer round it is a 124 gr HP and the side walls were .0255 long, I measured the Berry rd 124 gr HP it has a side wall of .0361, so there is where I was having a problem seating the round in my chamber. ( the Berry round has a longer side wall for fitting in the case and a short crown with the HP. ) ( the Rainer hase a shorter side wall for fitting into the case and a longer crown with the HP. ) Both The BERRY and TH Rainer shoot well and chrony to what the book says or really close. I HAD OR HAVE NO COMPLANTS ABOUT EITHER MFG. I WAS ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ( OAL OF THE CARTIAGE ). I have order a Case Gage from Dillon for both my 40 S & W , and My 9 mm cartiages. I want to THANK every One for input and HELP. Thanks, Fred