Just got my own set of pin gauges!

[Fergie]

I know this is probably old hat for a lot of folks here, but I just picked up my own set of pin gauges so I can check the barrel and cylinders on my revolvers and such.

I had gone on a hunt locally for a set of brass punches the other day, and found a very small, local shop that specializes in "quality tools." In fact, that is even the name...Quality Tools! The owner got me squared away with a good brass set of punches, and I started talking to him about pin gauge sets.

Turns out he keeps several sets in stock for area gunsmiths, and had a full set of .250-.500 gauges. The price was right and I bought them.

I'm looking forward to checking my Ruger RH in .44, my 686PC in .357, my .32 H&R and a few others. I have to thank this board for the confidence to do this and fire-lapping after all my reading and research.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/pg_zps9a970766.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bergferg/media/pg_zps9a970766.jpg.html)

[RG1911]

In case the set can be ordered online, can you post the brand and approximate price?

Thank you,
Richard

[Fergie]

In case the set can be ordered online, can you post the brand and approximate price?

Thank you,
Richard

Richard,

They are made by Shars. It is an M2 set, Class ZZ minus.

I paid $108, tax included.

[nicholst55]

McMaster-Carr and Enco carry these; prices vary quite a bit based on who (what country) makes them.

[Markbo]

Is there such thing as a smaller set? I'd like to have 'some' but frankly I don't need all that many!

[Clark]

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx220/ClarkM/Reloadingareapingauges251to500in7-24-2014.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx220/ClarkM/Pingauges00110to07500in7-24-2014.jpg
I keep the .251 to .500 set in my reloading area.
I have four sets of different sizes from 0.011" up to .750" in my gunsmithing machine shop.
Yesterday I measured the inside diameter of a Herters wildcat bushing die at .7500" in the shop.
I also have a number of in between sizes for dialing in 6mm, 257, and 7mm bores.
The in between gauges I order individually from MSC.

[Fergie]

Is there such thing as a smaller set? I'd like to have 'some' but frankly I don't need all that many!

You can order each gauge separately if needed, but the price per pin is more. If you only need a small range for something like .357, then that is the could be the way to go.

[bangerjim]

Check www.useenco.com for prices on gauges.

I have the full set (0.006-1.000) from years back (American made) and they are very handy for all kinds of machine shop/metrology work.

The import minus ZZ sets are good enough for "gubmint" work!

bangerjim

[Fergie]

So I went in to the local gun shop today and had a nice surprise...

A bit of backstory though, I was talking with the owner and his machinist/2nd in charge right after I got the pin gauge set and they asked if I would mind them borrowing the set for a project they were working on. I said of course not, and brought the set in later that day. Over the last few weeks, they have borrowed it a day here and there, and were always thankful for the use. I figured it was just helping some folks out.

I come in today and was asked, "What is your favorite powder?" We talked about powders for magnums, regular straight wall cases, semi-autos and rifles, and then the guy walks over to the powder safe, pulls out a pound of H110 and hand it to me and says it is a thank you for the use of the pin gauge set.

I was gobsmacked.

On top of all of that, the use of the gauges has led to me fire lapping a few barrels that had restrictions, namely my .32 H&R and a .44 mag Ruger RH.

[Markbo]

Did the firelapping solve your restriction issues? Did you use a kit or make your own?

[DougGuy]

Anyone looking for USA made single gages can call Meyer Gage Co. and order the ones you need. They are the maker of these, they are really good people to work with, ship fast and cheap too! I would recommend them over McMaster Carr or ENCO as McMaster Carr don't keep half the ones you need for Rugers in stock, and ENCO is terribly overpriced from what I have seen.

http://www.meyergage.com/ 1-888-746-4243

[M-Tecs]

+1 on Meyer Gage being good people.

[Fergie]

Did the firelapping solve your restriction issues? Did you use a kit or make your own?

Yes, it did. I used the kit available from Midway. The .417 pin starts and goes all the way through the barrel now. I had to buy some additional lapping compound from one of the local gun shops as the kit did not have enough. All told, it took 27 shots, but now the pistol shoots wonderfully, as far as accuracy is concerned.

[RG1911]

I was looking at gage sets and see that you're offered the choice of "plus" or "minus." I did not find a definition in the product literature. What does it mean and should one be selected over the other?

Thank you,
Richard

[marvelshooter]

I was looking at gage sets and see that you're offered the choice of "plus" or "minus." I did not find a definition in the product literature. What does it mean and should one be selected over the other?

Thank you,
Richard
Gage pins have a diameter tolerance from the listed size. Either plus or minus .0002 is the commonly encountered tolerance. A .250 minus pin could range from .2498 to .2500 and a .250 plus pin could be anywhere from .2500 to .2502 diameter.

[spfd1903]

Got the same set, Amazon Prime, $100. Cleaned the grease off of 20 or so and measured with a micrometer. They all were as stamped.

[DougGuy]

You really want the minus set. Say you are wanting to shoot .452" boolits in your .45 Colt/.45 ACP Ruger convertible. The minus set will tell you what a hole diameter is when it goes through it. A plus set will tell you a hole is bigger than a certain diameter when it goes through it.

Let's say you are wanting to ream or hone your cylinder throats to .4525" which is a half thousandth or .0005" over your boolit diameter. If you had a plus gage for .4525" it would only go in the hole when it was bigger than the gage. If the gage actually miked at .4527" it wouldn't go in the hole until the hole was bigger by at least a couple of tenths, or .4529" or nearly a whole thousandth over what you really wanted, which is unacceptable to me.

A minus gage sized .4525" that goes in the hole snugly, but slides all the way through it, is closer to the actual measurement of the hole because if they were both the same size, the gage would NOT go in, but since the gage is clearanced .0002" smaller, and it goes in the hole snug, the hole is right on .4525."

[257]

I have a set of meyer from .011 to 1.125 inch minus I picked them up at a auction some years ago they are extremely handy