Redding Instant Indicator

[Papa Charlie]

I was surfing the net and came across this Redding Instant Indicator. Watched a couple of YouTube videos and it seems like a great tool. MidwayUSA has them for $115.99 without the indicator. I have plenty of those so nice they offer them with or without.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/631900/redding-instant-indicator-comparator-without-dial

I was wondering if anyone is using one of these and if so what is your opinion?

Here is one of the YouTube videos.

 

[TIMO]

Papa Charlie,
I have one for the 308 Win. it is well made (Redding quality). I have not used it yet, read over the instructions, it should be a useful tool. Hope this winter I can get it setup and start using it. I like the feature of checking the consistency of the case when I full length size. I have an extra single stage press and will probably set it up in it and not have to swap it out.

Sorry I could not give any more details of using it.

Tim

 

[fatelvis]

I use one in 308, 6.5 Creedmore, and 222 Rem. I like the way the measurements for shoulder and bullet length are very repeatable and easy to use. There is no learning curve, or multiple measurement tries to get the “knack” of using it, like the Hornady method.

 

[Carolina Hillbilly]

I use them in several calibers. They are incredibly useful, especially on my Dillon 650 for brass prep. It will sort for headspace, oal, etc. without slowing down the process.

 

[6BRinNZ]

Yip. I use them...loaded rounds come straight off the seater and into the RIID for seating depth check.
Same thing for checking the datum after full length sizing.
Very fast and precise...its amazing what you find when you measure each time.

 

[muleman69]

I find mine to be a very handy tool, beats the heck out of fumbling around trying to align a nut with the calipers

 

[chkunz]

I have been using them since they first came on the market. Great tool.

 

[memilanuk]

I use them in several calibers. They are incredibly useful, especially on my Dillon 650 for brass prep. It will sort for headspace, oal, etc. without slowing down the process.

I'd be interested in how you're running that particular setup... normally I only ever see people using these things on a single stage press.

 

[Carolina Hillbilly]

When I'm sizing, I normally put a neck die in the first station of my RL650 and a body die in the fourth station to even things out. I use the headspace function of the Redding die in the fifth station. I accept anything within .001 +- of my proper headspace. I usually get this number from a fired case before annealing in the same (fifth) station and zero my dial to .003 less. It is quick to measure three or four for an average. I subtract .003" and use that for "proper" headspace for my bolt rifle.

If I've shot that lot a time or two, I'll remove the neck and body die and use the oal feature while priming. I can quickly identify any that are growing a little too long and trim if needed. It's more of a safety thing, but I'm cycling the press anyway. The dial gives me something to focus on.

FWIW, I use the Whidden floating die toolhead setup and it's pretty easy to hold minimal tolerances.

 

[AJC]

Why is this tool any better than the bump gauge on the calipers other than it takes up space on your press. I could see using something like this on the multi stage press for quality monitoring but otherwise what is the added value for the cost.

 

[chkunz]

Why is this tool any better than the bump gauge on the calipers other than it takes up space on your press. I could see using something like this on the multi stage press for quality monitoring but otherwise what is the added value for the cost.

It is much faster and easier to use that the bump gage on the calipers and will do several other measures. I leave mine set up on the T-7 turret press.

 

[muleman69]

If a person wanted to change calibers does he have to buy another complete die or can you just order the internal parts.

 

[chkunz]

If a person wanted to change calibers does he have to buy another complete die or can you just order the internal parts.

I think you can but call Redding and talk to one of the Techs, they can tell you for sure what you need.

 

[Fred Bohl]

I have a T-7 turret set up for each of the four cartridges I load. In each I have two instant indicator dies, one configured to check shoulder bump and the other to check seating depth. This may seem like over kill but for me it works great to verify and/or sort each loading batch.

 

[muleman69]

I have a T-7 turret set up for each of the four cartridges I load. In each I have two instant indicator dies, one configured to check shoulder bump and the other to check seating depth. This may seem like over kill but for me it works great to verify and/or sort each loading batch.

I'm with you ,I have two t-7's and three turrets and may have to buy another. I find myself doing more reloading when everything is all set up. I have to agree with the the big boys not being as precision as they require but works for what I do

 

[tenring]

If a person wanted to change calibers does he have to buy another complete die or can you just order the internal parts.

I use 2 of these; one in .223 and the other for measuring bump in 6BR, 6PPC and 30BR. I have no use for the other functions.

 

[muleman69]

I have a T-7 turret set up for each of the four cartridges I load. In each I have two instant indicator dies, one configured to check shoulder bump and the other to check seating depth. This may seem like over kill but for me it works great to verify and/or sort each loading batch.

Are you able to adjust the indicator for other calibers by using one of your cases bumped to your specs?

 

[Fred Bohl]

I have used the same Instant Indicator for shoulder bump checking within two "families" of cartridges: 22BR, 6BR and 7BR also 243, 7mm-08, and 308. Each of these cartridge families share the same case shoulder datum length and diameter being based on the same parent case. Other such combinations exist but I have not personally used them. I use either the Redding supplied set-up gage or in the case of the 6BR I use the GO gage that matches my reamers/chambers.

Yes, if you have a cartridge master you could use it as a set-up gage for the indicator as little force is required.

NOTE: If the Instant Indicator is to be used for seating depth checking, the Redding supplied bushing is nominal bore diameter and will not match most caliper based comparators as it will contact the bullet ogive farther from the case base. You can use a larger bushing if you would like both methods to measure at a closer distance from base to ogive.