Is a case gage necessary?

[Reloadron]

That's pretty much what I discovered. I had four cases that wouldn't size out of my first 100. They were all range pickup AND they were all military 5.56 brass. Coincidence?

Absolutely, purely a matter of coincidence.

Seriously, while many view range pickup brass as a gift from the range gods the problem is many times we haven't a clue what it was fired in or for that matter how many times the stuff was loaded in the case of reloads. While some people think nothing of shooting new factory ammunition and leaving the brass, others like myself only leave brass when we no longer want the stuff. When I leave brass I generally pick it up and deposit it in a trash can. You can pretty much figure anything I leave behind is worth brass scrap value and that's about it.

When collecting range brass it is wise to check the stuff thoroughly and run it through a good case gauge, a gauge cut from a chamber reamer that will measure all the important features, including case diameter.

Just My Take....
Ron

 

[tcoz]

I was initially in the habit of doing the same thing that I've always done at the indoor pistol range...that is, pick up almost any brass I see laying around (especially .45acp). It's always worked for me since I inspect it three times before it actually gets loaded.

Now, I've learned with rifle brass that isn't the best way to do things since everything is a lot more critical so I only pick up mine, my son's and if there's another shooter using good new brass cased factory ammo and he doesn't want it, I'll take that too if he's agreeable.

Every day I'm learning how much different rifle reloading is from pistol and I'm learning how much I like it.

 

[fguffey]

When collecting range brass it is wise to check the stuff thoroughly and run it through a good case gauge, a gauge cut from a chamber reamer that will measure all the important features, including case diameter.

Checking range brass with a chamber gages as a gage cut with a chamber reamer is not going to work. Checking range pick up with a with a Wilson case gage works when checking the length of the case from the shoulder to the head of the case. Measuring the diameter of the case, new, fired and or sized is possible, one day we could get around to discussing methods and techniques, it is possible to modify the Wilson case gage to measure case body diameter.

F. Guffey

 

[dprice3844444]

my thoughts is load each round like your life may depend on it,because it might one day.

 

[Reloadron]

Checking range brass with a chamber gages as a gage cut with a chamber reamer is not going to work. Checking range pick up with a with a Wilson case gage works when checking the length of the case from the shoulder to the head of the case. Measuring the diameter of the case, new, fired and or sized is possible, one day we could get around to discussing methods and techniques, it is possible to modify the Wilson case gage to measure case body diameter.

F. Guffey

I haven't a clue what I was thinking when I posted that. No, it will not work and thanks you Mr. Guffy for pointing out the error of my post. Don't believe I actually typed that. Maybe a few too many hard ciders with the wife out of town.

Thanks
Ron