In too deep? Thinking about a concentricity gauge...

[AbitNutz]

I must be getting bored because I'm starting to wonder about cartridge and bullet run-out. I've seen the RCBS, Hornady and Sinclair run-out gauges.....then I ran across this http://www.xxicsi.com/concentricity-gauge.html

Anyone use a run-out gauge and if so...any advice?

[OS OK]

I must be getting bored because I'm starting to wonder about cartridge and bullet run-out. I've seen the RCBS, Hornady and Sinclair run-out gauges.....then I ran across this http://www.xxicsi.com/concentricity-gauge.html

Anyone use a run-out gauge and if so...any advice?

The 'Inquiring Mind' can be hard on the wallet!

I use a Neco I bought years back, comes with all the accessories to measure anything related to our handloads...only problem is that to get a pair of large paws in there and rotate the case is a bit tedious...and the V-blocks are not as smooth as the bearings and rollers on the one you feature. Also, that rolling wheel is the bees knees! Can't think of a better way to do the measuring and not interfere with the readout...those dial indicators are very sensitive.
If I had a chance to buy again I'm pretty sure I'd go your way...pricy a bit, yes...good tooling costs!
Great find. Remember that when you buy because one item is cheaper than the next...there's a good reason for it.

charlie


187436

Also...it didn't show it in the video but once the gage is set up you can rotate the dial to zero and then you can read the '+ & -' swings a little easier...

[Half Dog]

That looks sweet. Are there known tolerances?

[AbitNutz]

I saw a video where a "cheap" Lee Collet Die gave waaay less run-out than a much more expensive Redding die...which makes me grit my teeth. I also saw where the guys "paws" made using his gauge a pain. As you said, the needle jumped all over. The 21st Century widget has that wheel and in their video, it was much smoother and easier to get a good reading.

If I get one, I can really find out what's up with those Lee Collet dies.

[jmorris]

I have made a couple.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?314866-Concentricity-Gauge-build&highlight=Gauge

[M-Tecs]

A buddy of mine has one. He speaks highly of it. I have not seen it yet so I can not comment other than I really like the design.

[AbitNutz]

I have made a couple.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?314866-Concentricity-Gauge-build&highlight=Gauge


Jmorris...let me know when you get that homemade cold fusion reactor going...dude, is there nothing you don't make that I end up buying?

[AbitNutz]

I ordered the widget from http://www.xxicsi.com/concentricity-gauge.html so I'll let you all know how it works. I contacted them and they sent me a 10% off code and....it worked. So while it hurt, it hurt less.

[lightman]

I've used a Sinclair for several years. It explained some of the flyers that I was manfully taking the blame for!

[shoot-n-lead]

Don't use one...my bullets will shoot better than me already. I also use a bullet seating technique that seems to really limit run out, anyway. But, there is certainly nothing wrong with using one.

[OS OK]

"OCD is a long row to hoe...next, if your not careful will be neck sizing dies and a case neck reamer... :bigsmyl2:"

[lightman]

Thats the truth! It an Abyss, I tell you!:-)

[ole 5 hole group]

I've used a Sinclair for several years. It explained some of the flyers that I was manfully taking the blame for!

Ya, Blame Sinclair.;) I can always find some excuse for those fliers - mainly use the excuse those boolits just don't like each other or don't play nice with one another, as there's always at least one or two ornery cusses in the bunch.

[gpidaho]

Thoughts from another addict and OCDer. I own both the RCBS Case master and the Hornady guage. The Hornady works much better at gauging bullet run out (Excellent) but doesn't gauge empty cases, also the bullet straitening feature advertised is in my opinion a bunch of BS used as a sales pitch. The RCBS has more functions and sorta works for all but the neck thickness measurements where it fails totally. If bullet run out in loaded cases is the measurement you're looking for Hornady is the much better of these two. If I were to buy another I would go with one of the others mentioned above. Gp

[1066]

Here's one I knocked up in my shed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRFn9GQYvSc

[jmorris]

I liked that design the first time you posted photos of it, the video makes me like it even more.

One thing interesting that I found out after having them is that there is no "magical" press that turns out good ammunition. With the right combination of dies and components, I can take the cheapest Lee press or a progressive and load ammunition that has less runout than a Co-ax with dies that are less than ideal.

That said I have loads that despite having more runout than others, the "bad" ones will still shoot smaller groups. So, it's not "the tool" to make accurate ammunition, just another one..

[AbitNutz]

Here's one I knocked up in my shed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRFn9GQYvSc

The one ordered from 21st-century looks very similar to yours. I thought it important to get one that turns the cartridge/bullet with a wheel rather than your fingers. Besides the obvious advantages, turning the wheel a little spins the cartridge/bullet a lot.

[1066]

The one ordered from 21st-century looks very similar to yours. I thought it important to get one that turns the cartridge/bullet with a wheel rather than your fingers. Besides the obvious advantages, turning the wheel a little spins the cartridge/bullet a lot.

The wheel certainly makes it much easier to use. It's not a new idea, almost all concentricity gauges used in industry have some sort of geared mechanism to rotate the shaft.

It's also been used in the reloading field longer that you would think. Here one made by Ferris Pendel (6 PPC fame) in the 1970's:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/allan1066/th_ferris1_zpsog8jmfsm.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/allan1066/media/ferris1_zpsog8jmfsm.jpg.html)

[M-Tecs]

Herters had a very nice one that used a wheel in the 60's and possibly much earlier than that. Very well machined. I have always wanted one but the closest I have come is pictures.