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March 20, 2013
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I am planning on starting to reload. Not the greatest time to get components right now I know (hell even the reloading equipment iteself are hard to find), but there are other stuff that I figure I could be purchasing in the meantime. The first piece of equipment I am looking to purchase is a nice set of calipers but I am questioning just how accurate of a caliper do I need? I have an El Cheapo set that I use for automotive use and they work well enough for that but I also use an extra fine set at work that I am guessing cost well over $500.00.
IIRC, my set at home reads down to the .001" but is +-.005". Looking at the Lyman's reloading manual, it gives dimensions down to the thousandths of an inch. How critical are these dimensions? Are we talking $100? $200 $300 calipers?
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Here are the two I have:
http://www.opticsplanet.com/frankford-arsenal-stainless-steel-dial-caliper-516503.html
and
http://www.opticsplanet.com/frankford-arsenal-economy-electronic-caliper-672060.html
I find myself using the digital one most, due to arm length (sometimes I can't hold the dial out far enough to read).
You really only need to measure brass for the initial loading and then you are fine until you can't get the case to chamber. Then you'll need the calipers again for trimming measurements.
Regards, Ron
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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+1 On the Frankford Arsenal digital calipers, low cost, good accuracy, they are what I use mostly. I use Dillon case gages for the more common semi auotmatic cartidges like 9mm, 10mm and 45 acp to be check for defects prior to putting in the ammo can.
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March 2, 2008
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Mine is a Cabela's $30 item, it's fine for any purpose I have, and then some.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
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April 20, 2010
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I use a Mitutoyo caliper that I already had before I started reloading, but I have a friend who has been reloading longer than me and he gets satisfactory results from a digital Harbor Freight caliper.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
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July 2, 2011
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I use a model we sell from Velleman. I've used them for other misc. stuff and expect they will be fine for reloading. One reason I like them is the digital readout is large because, as Ron pointed out in another thread, I'm old! lol
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
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