The push through dies can remove the bulge, as can the roller type sizing setups (That doesn't mean it hasn't been over stressed and isn't weak there), but I use a regular Lee sizer with the tapered carbide insert, and if it doesn't size the bottom of the case enough so that it slips in and out of my Wilson case gauge from its own weight, I scrap it. I don't check loaded ammo, but getting rid of the brass that wouldn't fit the gauge eliminated the problem for me. The problem being a tight chambered (SAMMI minimum) EMP. I lose about 10 to 15% of range brass because it won't size down enough to fit the gauge. That's OK though, I have plenty, been picking it up for years.
do strait walled need a case gauge?
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thomas15
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I load a lot of 9mm and use it in competitions, Auto-loaders and revolvers. Every single round I produce goes into a case gage. For my moon-clipped 9mm revolver those also get put through a cylinder gage once they have been moon clipped. I have two 9mm case gages, a Lyman single cavity and a 20 cavity DAA. The Lyman is a tad bit loser than the DAA.
I can say with confidence that using a fcd is no guarantee that the round will gage or feed into an auto loader. It might improve chances but it will not always produce results. When I find a round that will not gage I run it through a 9mm fcd. Sometimes it fixes the problem sometimes it doesn't. The ones that don't fit after trying every trick I know might work in my guns but I don't want to have a malfunction in a match just to save a couple of cents.
springer99
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Never felt the need to own a case gauge, either for straight/tapered, or bottleneck cases. For an auto, the "plunk" test works fine. For my revolvers, if it fits into the cylinder and the bullet doesn't protrude out the end, I'm GTG.
bullseye308
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I used to get by with a gauge till I got a couple of Springfield Range Officers. I had more then a few rounds that fit the gauge that stuck in the RO. Now I use the barrel for all ammo loaded for the RO's and the gauge for the Glocks and Ruger and Astra.
So many different answers 
. Well here is my slight dilemma. Myself and 2 buddies are all going to start shooting amateur IDPA matches. I have an M&P9 4.5 barrel and the other 2 are running M&P shields both performance center and non. We will be shooting a lot of 9mm so me being the only one who reloads they will be using my ammo from time to time. Right now with my Lee dies setup per instructions all the rounds run fine through my fullsize but if im correct the only way to know if the rounds fit in their guns is to plunk them correct or buy a case gauge? Just trying to get all 3 guns to run the same ammo.
. Well here is my slight dilemma. Myself and 2 buddies are all going to start shooting amateur IDPA matches. I have an M&P9 4.5 barrel and the other 2 are running M&P shields both performance center and non. We will be shooting a lot of 9mm so me being the only one who reloads they will be using my ammo from time to time. Right now with my Lee dies setup per instructions all the rounds run fine through my fullsize but if im correct the only way to know if the rounds fit in their guns is to plunk them correct or buy a case gauge? Just trying to get all 3 guns to run the same ammo.You'll want to plunk samples to make sure the bullet profile/OAL play well with the throats/rifling of each.
Then you may or may not want to case gauge completed rounds to make sure the brass - including parts near the rim that will sometimes false-pass a plunk check - are the right size.
There's some overlap between what each of the tests will determine, but some non-overlap.
Then you may or may not want to case gauge completed rounds to make sure the brass - including parts near the rim that will sometimes false-pass a plunk check - are the right size.
There's some overlap between what each of the tests will determine, but some non-overlap.
bullseye308
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Find the barrel with the tightest chamber and use that. If it fits in that one it will fit the rest.
rfwobbly
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Typically these events require up to 200 rounds, so you might be hauling 300 out to the event with you. In this case, I find that owning a cartridge gauge is very helpful simply because I want the gun in the trunk or in the gun safe. I do not want my gun strewn all over the reloading bench so I can drop test 300 rounds, then run the risk of misplacing a spring or slide stop just hours before a competition !
A cartridge gauge is something I can leave on my bench with my 9mm die set. The kids won't mess with it, and the wife won't move it.
rfwobbly
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First thing to do is wash out the new gauge really well. I use a plastic bore brush and lots of RemOil. Secondly, make sure it accurately mimics your chamber. You can only do that with a side-by-side drop tests with your barrel and gauge. If the gauge rejects all the ones your barrel does, then you know you have an equivalency you can trust.
Then when you have you pile of competition ammo loaded, run them through the gauge. Even with careful reloading, you'll be rejecting 1 or 2 per 100. Use those rejects for practice ammo. The idea is to remove all the "hiccups" you can control before you step up to the RO. Competition will throw enough trouble at you as it is, without you bringing more to the event !!!
Then when you have you pile of competition ammo loaded, run them through the gauge. Even with careful reloading, you'll be rejecting 1 or 2 per 100. Use those rejects for practice ammo. The idea is to remove all the "hiccups" you can control before you step up to the RO. Competition will throw enough trouble at you as it is, without you bringing more to the event !!!
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rfwobbly
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You are confused about what a case gauge does, and does not do.....
♥ A case gauge checks the exterior of the cartridge for external physical abnormalities, like burrs left by extractors or trimmers, out of spec case bulges, and over size expansion of a case due to Major PF. It will also check for concentricty of the cartridge, and check the roundness of the case.
♥ A case gauge does NOT check OAL or how the bullet sits relative to the rifling in the barrel. Only the barrel can do that.
Again, once you know that the gauge matches the barrel for size, the check is: Does the cartridge fall into and then back out of the gauge using ONLY the weight of the cartridge.
PS. Reloading ammo for your pals is a VERY bad idea on several levels. Allow them to come over with their own components and use your equipment, but do not reload for them. I assure you, their widow will have no issue with taking every penny you ever expect to earn at the first available opportunity.
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Lyman says theirs does. Of course, all it does is tell you if it is over/under in comparison to the SAMMI max, it doesn't tell you if it is what you want it to be.
Definitely correct.
the main reason i got one was to make sure cases were not over or under length and make sure they are being sized right. I understand the need to plunk them and get an OAL to make sure the bullet isn't hitting rifling i was just more concerned with locking up a gun in a competition for having mixed sized brass seeing how all we shoot is range pickups.You are confused about what a case gauge does, and does not do.....
♥ A case gauge checks the exterior of the cartridge for external physical abnormalities, like burrs left by extractors or trimmers, out of spec case bulges, and over size expansion of a case due to Major PF. It will also check for concentricty of the cartridge, and check the roundness of the case.
♥ A case gauge does NOT check OAL or how the bullet sits relative to the rifling in the barrel. Only the barrel can do that.
Again, once you know that the gauge matches the barrel for size, the check is: Does the cartridge fall into and then back out of the gauge using ONLY the weight of the cartridge.
PS. Reloading ammo for your pals is a VERY bad idea on several levels. Allow them to come over with their own components and use your equipment, but do not reload for them. I assure you, their widow will have no issue with taking every penny you ever expect to earn at the first available opportunity.
thomas15
Member
This is actually my experience also, 1 or 2 per 100 don't case gage.
^^^Very good advice
someguy2800
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PS. Reloading ammo for your pals is a VERY bad idea on several levels. Allow them to come over with their own components and use your equipment, but do not reload for them. I assure you, their widow will have no issue with taking every penny you ever expect to earn at the first available opportunity.
I reload for several friends and family members. I wouldn't give them a bullet that had a chance to blow up nor would I shoot it myself.
.308 Norma
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Actually, I would be a widower, and that's simply not true. I assure you, if my wife was killed or injured by one of our friend's handloads, I wouldn't be looking to sue anybody. I've never heard of a person being killed by a bad handload anyway, much less anyone filing a lawsuit against someone because their spouse got killed by that someone's bad handload.
I agree though - it's not a good idea to shoot someone else's handloads. Nor is it a good idea to give your handloads to someone else. But honest to goodness, there are limits to cautiousness. My wife has fired thousands upon thousands of my handloads. Over the years, I suppose I've even fired a few hundred of hers. And horror of horrors - yesterday, I even let my buddy shoot a magazine full of my 9mm handloads in my gun!
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Varminterror
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I'm one to support the principle of confirming feeding potential, but also support the idea a gauge tells you almost nothing about fitment of a cartridge into a specific barrel. Unless the same reamer is used for the chamber in the gauge and the barrel, it's NOT a confirmation do fit, except for fit to the gauge.
I'm also one to point out - the quality control in my handloads, knowing the commercial production and QA controls therefor, I have greater QC/QC on my bench than commercial manufacturers. I'm not as steeply insured, not any more at least since I'm no longer class 6. A 1/2 page release of liability waiver is all which is needed for reloading ammunition for friends, not for profit.
I'm also one to point out - the quality control in my handloads, knowing the commercial production and QA controls therefor, I have greater QC/QC on my bench than commercial manufacturers. I'm not as steeply insured, not any more at least since I'm no longer class 6. A 1/2 page release of liability waiver is all which is needed for reloading ammunition for friends, not for profit.
rfwobbly
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We're not talking of gifting a pal with 50 rounds to shoot while we're at the range together. This is about supplying 2 other shooters with infinite ammo on an on-going basis for an indefinite period.
And here's why I say that....
1) Without your friends having first hand experience, and discovering how much work it can get to be, especially reloading for 3 shooters who will want to have at least 500 rounds per week, this favor will soon turn into a full-time job you will soon come to resent. No matter how good these friends you are today, something that is given is never really appreciated. That's the problem with all government give-aways, and that's the problem with this basic setup.You are placing your pals on "ammo welfare".
2) You will reload, and your pals will pay you for the components that were used. That could be construed as a "sale" in court. It is against Federal law for a private reloader to sell their ammo.
3) "Hell hath no fury"... like a mother bear deprived of the bread-winner for her cubs. Let any accident happen with your ammo, and the wife of the friend mention that in passing to a lawyer, and the next thing you know you'll be in court. The basis of the case will be willful violation of #2 (above) and your "inadequate safety standards". The husband need not be killed; the wife can initiate the law suit. Is it really worth loosing your home (and of course your wife will leave you when you can't provide her a home) so you can help a friend have fun ? I think not. And the fact that it has never been previously tried in court is just what lawyers live for, too !!
Again, reloading for your friends is a very bad idea.
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someguy2800
Member
Let the lawyers come. People come over to my house, we BS, tell some lies, make some bullets, and have a good time. I'm not going to let fear of hypothetical situations stop me from doing the things I love. Otherwise I wouldn't even bother to hunt, shoot, reload, ice fish, drive my race car, or even own guns at all.
I wasn't aware that someone giving me a box of bullets, primers and powder and then me giving them ammo was against the law. we do it all the time. go to the range and hey I only brought one box so I give them a box. I have yet to load any 9mm but 10rds so I have to load for me first. he said he would just buy factory anyways seeing how we only shot a box the last match and he can get 9mm for about $8-50 so this freaking out about my reloads killing someone or being illegal means nothing cause its not going to happen. He offered to buy them from me and I told him it was illegal just pitch in when I buy supplies and we will split it.
You can give them reloads, you just can't sell them reloads.
That's the way to do it.
At first he said he would buy them from me and I said nope-not allowed its illegal. that much I knew. I said stuffs on sale, this is what we need and I will make us ammo, just help buy the stuff. he figured it up what it would cost and him not having the thousand cases like I do it wouldn't be worth it for him cause he would have to get cases and it would put him at what he can buy factory for. I'm good with that cause I cant even keep up with my own stuff. the other guy sold his freaking gun which I didn't know so he's out of the question too. now I'm just loading for myself. if we go to the range and they need ammo ill plunk them first in their gun and if they fit here ya go buddy a free box of bullet but beware they are reloads use at your own risk.
Varminterror
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It's not, and it hasn't been. It's repayment for purchased goods, with no representation of compensation for services. It IS an assumption of liability, hence a waiver of said, but reloading for others and being repaid for the purchase value of the components is not constructively considerable as manufacturing ammunition for compensation.
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