Pin gauges...which sizes?

[jason280]

I'm getting ready to order a set of pin gages to check the cylinders on a few revolvers, what sizes are recommended? I'd like to check .38/.357, .41 Mag, .44 Spl/Mag, and .45 Colt/.454 Casull. The majority of the revolvers are a mix of New & OM Rugers, with a couple Mag Research BFRs in .45 Colt and .454 Casull. Thanks!

[alfadan]

It may be more economical to order a set. I got a minus set from kbctools.com good folks to deal with. It goes from some decimal size below 1/8" to .5 in one mil increments for something like 90 bucks on sale

[jason280]

I'll keep that in mind, thanks!

[alfadan]

You bet. Its like gauge blocks, there is quite a markup to order individual sizes. If you do order individual ones, 4 sizes up and down from nominal would work. Make sure the throats are absolutely clean when measuring.

[gpidaho]

jason: As mentioned above by alfadan, just buy the full set. You'll find them to be a very useful tool. Gp

[jason280]

I just sent an email to VermontGage, interested in seeing their quote for a few sizes to do .41, .44, and .45/.454.

[shampine]

I just sent an email to VermontGage, interested in seeing their quote for a few sizes to do .41, .44, and .45/.454.

Please let us know how you make out . I tried buying the individuals and by the time I priced them all and figured in shipping it made more sense to just buy the whole set . Glad I did but I always wondered if I just looked in the wrong places when I started shopping for them .

[farmbif]

all I know about pin gauges is a full box set can run about $1000 for the good stuff.
I have been getting along with a set of 4 adjustable starrett small home gauges, goes up to 1/2" and they work great with an accurate micrometer.
guess I just got used to the adjustable hole gauges when rebuilding engines and running my own boring bar.

[country gent]

If you order individuals you get tubes or envelopes order the set you get a nice case that makes finding the size you want easy

[Scrounge]

It may be more economical to order a set. I got a minus set from kbctools.com good folks to deal with. It goes from some decimal size below 1/8" to .5 in one mil increments for something like 90 bucks on sale

Amazon had a set similar to that for $55 or so, not too long back. I haven't bought them yet because I'd really like to have a place to put all my tools before I add anymore. I was thinking I need two sets, so I could use them to gauge dovetails, too.

[onelight]

I order a mine based on careful consideration and thought , and of course I wind up without the ones I need :violin:

[jason280]

Amazon had a set similar to that for $55 or so, not too long back. I haven't bought them yet because I'd really like to have a place to put all my tools before I add anymore. I was thinking I need two sets, so I could use them to gauge dovetails, too.

Question is, how accurate/reliable are the import gage sets?

[onelight]

Question is, how accurate/reliable are the import gage sets?
If you have a mic to check them it doesn't matter much for our use .

[fredj338]

I ordered a set but if you just want certain sizes, go 0.002" over & under your bore size. So like 0.355"-0.359" in 0.001" increments for 357mag.

[mdi]

Since I wanted cylinder throats that were larger than my groove diameters I chose gauges (to start) .002" larger than groove diameter. This was a good start and worked quite well as a "minimum" "Go" gauge. I since then got gauges for my 44 Mag revolvers .429", .431" and .433"...

[rkrcpa]

Since I wanted cylinder throats that were larger than my groove diameters I chose gauges (to start) .002" larger than groove diameter. This was a good start and worked quite well as a "minimum" "Go" gauge. I since then got gauges for my 44 Mag revolvers .429", .431" and .433"...

This is what I did as well. I have no need to know how much too small a cylinder throat is, only that it is too small.

[jason280]

I was able to get a quote for $81 for 10 pin gages, not sure if I should go with them or take my chances with an import set.

[Mal Paso]

I got a set of 250 ZZ minus pins .250-.5 for around $120 shipped. MSC on sale.

$109 https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_1?ie=UTF8&adId=A03048552WM11L4MEW6MV&url=%2FHFS-0-251-0-500-CLASS-STEEL-MINUS%2Fdp%2FB00UCQO1UM%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa%3Fdchi ld%3D1%26keywords%3Dpin%2Bgauges%26qid%3D161282939 9%26sr%3D8-1-spons%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1612829399&id=4303330654484124&widgetName=sp_atf

[onelight]

After buying the pin gauges to try to measure thread choke and cylinder throats I decided the soft lead balls I have used for 35 or more years to slug barrels and cylinders work fine . Not as easy but good enough.

[murf205]

Question is, how accurate/reliable are the import gage sets?

I don't know how reliable the import gages are but the Meyer Gage pins I have are made in the USA and the 2019 catalogue says so. In that catalogue, the price for individual pins in the .061 to .5005 is $3.53 per pin. The shipping is very reasonable because they shipped mine in a small bubble cushioned envelope. I ordered 2 thousands under the nominal size and went up as far as I reasoned I needed to go per caliber. Example, for a 38/357 revolver, i went down to .355 and up to .361, which would just about cover a 9mm revolver(future purchase maybe) all the way to a 38 S&W(not special). You can go online and look up www.meyergage.com or call them 800-243-7087. The people I have talked to were very helpful. I didn't buy all mine at once so the 25 or 30 bucks I spent per caliber didn't hurt my notoriously cheap buying habits. I will tell you this, the "Z" gages I have, made sizing boolits a lot more compatible and my issues with accuracy and leading are minimal to say the least. BTW, don't forget to clean the cylinder throats and oil them with a light oil before you measure them.

[murf205]

I got a set of 250 ZZ minus pins .250-.5 for around $120 shipped. MSC on sale.

$109 https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_1?ie=UTF8&adId=A03048552WM11L4MEW6MV&url=%2FHFS-0-251-0-500-CLASS-STEEL-MINUS%2Fdp%2FB00UCQO1UM%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa%3Fdchi ld%3D1%26keywords%3Dpin%2Bgauges%26qid%3D161282939 9%26sr%3D8-1-spons%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1612829399&id=4303330654484124&widgetName=sp_atf

That's a pretty good deal if they don"t beat you up on shipping

[oley55]

Quote Originally Posted by jason280 View Post
Question is, how accurate/reliable are the import gage sets?


If you have a mic to check them it doesn't matter much for our use .

This^^^. I try to avoid Chinesium products when I can, but sometimes it just makes sense. Although you will eventually find more uses down the road, for the most part pin gauges will rarely get used. For me they are good enough, and mic-ing is pretty easy.

Besides a couple years ago I was getting an odd/unexpected reading from an unbranded 40+ year old USA made set of mechanic's feeler gauges. When I mic-ed the one in question it was three thou thicker than etched/marked. It was thicker than the next two thicker marked gauges. No doubt an anomaly, but a lesson learned for me. I now check most any gauge I use.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I got a set of meyer - set from ebay for under $100. Shipping was about $40, if I am remembering correctly. It seemed steep at the time, but they have come in very handy.

[rkrcpa]

I was able to get a quote for $81 for 10 pin gages, not sure if I should go with them or take my chances with an import set.

McMaster-Carr shows individual pins at $4 each

[Mal Paso]

My last set of import pin gauges had a couple of pins that were off but wasn't a big deal as I always double check with a micrometer, haven't found a flaw in the current set. If you are a mechanical person you will use most of the set over time and a case with the pins stored in order is a big plus.