Caliper vs micrometer

[Lead Slanger]

As a machinist, I really don't see the need for mics other than being able to measure things that calipers aren't ideal for, like neck thickness. If a person knows how to use calipers correctly, there's no issue measuring .0005.

IMO, a decent set of dial calipers and a Harbor Freight set of digital calipers is all you'd need. I like the digitals for measuring with comparators.

 

[AckleymanII]

Anybody make calipers with a 2" dial? HEE HEE!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Anybody make calipers with a 2" dial? HEE HEE!

Apparently that makes them more accurate.

 

[ELR LVR]

When and why? What does a micrometer do a caliper won't? Do reloaders need both?

Mic for .0001" resolution (Needed for miking Exact Bullet OD such as pressure band, Cases on 0.200 line etc
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Caliper for .001" +/- .001" (Best for things like CBTO, OAL, Which Bullet Lengths etc
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Actually I use a BALL tubing micrometer more than a Micrometer, for measuring Neck Thickness on brass
Necessary item if you are going to turn your necks and make them all consistent.
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Caliper - is an every day necessary item, Dont Skimp on your caliper and go cheap here
It will last you 20 yrs
B&S can be had from MSC for $120 - Just do it

 

[ELR LVR]

.249 and .250 gage pins .

If your able to measure down to tenths with dial calipers , God bless you.

Dont know if anyone notices but- that pic shows it well
The B&S have a little dot in between every .001"
It's a real Nice touch

 

[nettle]

When you start using micrometers and calipers with 48" plus capacity the difference in feel is very noticeable.

 

[Fast14riot]

Get a decent set of calipers and a gauge block and trust that everything you do in reloading will be up to the quality of the measurement device. You can lean to be more consistent with a tool, but a tool can't be any more accurate/precise than its construction. Ability to measure properly and repeatedly goes a long ways in making good ammo every time. Calipers and powder scale. If you trust those, you'll have an easier time trusting your ammo. Mics are handy when you need to know exactly how big something is to the 4th decimal, but honestly in reloading I rarely use mine. Its nice to have when I need them, but not a requirement.

Measure gauges don't have to be certified, either. You can make your own. For length a parallel faced section of rod that you take a bunch of reading from and write down its length to the resolution of your caliper. Just keep it clean and protected. That way you have a known measure you can check your caliper to and base all your notes on. Same for powder scales, you can use a piece of copper or aluminum wire cut to a length approximating your charge weight (even though most scales come with check weights) to find any errors in your scale.

The scale check weight saved me before. I had an inexpensive digital milligram scale used for weighing charges. I turned it on, ran through calibration and it said ok. Put my own check weight on and it read a full 2 grains high! Redid calibration, everything said ok. Check weight still 2 grains high. I grabbed my tuned balance beam scale, checked my check weight, it was good. Checked the calibration weights, they were good. The scale went bad. I replaced that scale.

No need to buy Etalon, B&S, Starret, calipers from the start if you're only going to use them reloading, but something close to $100 will last you decades and be reliable.

 

[Old Navy]

My calipers all have large faced 100 thou dials. II can see .0005 easily.
I also have a clip on magnifying glass if lighting is bad. At 73, and blessed
with great eye sight. I don't use the micrometers much anymore......

I had good eye site to when I was 73.

 

[Bojo]

As said above , no matter what tool you are using. You need to be able use it the same way consistently in order to get an accurate reading. It’s not very hard to “flex or stretch” a mic or caliper if you put to much Mongo on it. It’s also not hard to see a .0005 variation on a caliper if you are consistent enough. Sometimes seeing that amount just means that you need to get out a more precise measurement tool/gauge and dive further.

 

[ELR LVR]

When you start using micrometers and calipers with 48" plus capacity the difference in feel is very noticeable.

It's been awhile since I miked the OAL of my barrel

 

[ELR LVR]

No need to buy Etalon, B&S, Starret, calipers from the start if you're only going to use them reloading, but something close to $100 will last you decades and be reliable.

I like your idea for making your own check weights
Good idea for making a target weight close to what you would normally use

FYI - For an extra $20, a guy may as well get B&S for $120
(I paid $100 USED for my B&S and still feel they are worth every dollar for how much nicer they are above Mitutoyo)
Most everyplace else lists B&S for $200 plus
Cuz nobody knows better I guess - (I doubt MSC would sell china copies)
Just being helpfully informative here
I would kick myself if I spent $100 then realized I could have gotten B&S
Worth every dollar

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/76340140

 

[Leo_B]

I like your idea for making your own check weights
Good idea for making a target weight close to what you would normally use

FYI - For an extra $20, a guy may as well get B&S for $120
(I paid $100 USED for my B&S and still feel they are worth every dollar for how much nicer they are above Mitutoyo)
Most everyplace else lists B&S for $200 plus
Cuz nobody knows better I guess - (I doubt MSC would sell china copies)
Just being helpfully informative here
I would kick myself if I spent $100 then realized I could have gotten B&S
Worth every dollar

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/76340140

The price drops from $121.90 to $112.15 if you create an account and sign in. Lunch is on them!

 

[AckleymanII]

My personality defect is that I have a love affair with quality tools. Every time I pick up my Starrett and B&S dial caliper, I secretly say, "I love you"!

 

[Leo_B]

I've got this caliper from one of my Midway assortment packages. I think I'll work with it for a while to learn to use a caliper. Also, my two main rounds, .32 H&R Mag and .22 Hornet, are in this: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012875376?pid=559802
Can you use this to check case length without needing the caliper for every case?

 

[Syncrowave]

I'm a plinker, not a shooter. I like to go to the range and shoot and see how I do compared to last time. I won't ever be making my own bullets or anything else graduate level. I probably won't ever advance beyond the freshman class.

Then a decent caliper (I like the dial type) will be more than adequate.
99% of the "small measuring tasks" I do as a reloader can be handled by a caliper.
I only use my ball micrometer once in a great while, and my regular micrometer -- I don't think ever.

 

[Mike TackleBerry]

When and why? What does a micrometer do a caliper won't? Do reloaders need both?

I use a micrometer for measuring neck wall thickness, i use mitutoyo digital calipers for pretty much everything else.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

As a machinist, I really don't see the need for mics other than being able to measure things that calipers aren't ideal for, like neck thickness. If a person knows how to use calipers correctly, there's no issue measuring .0005.

Wow! As a machinist I can't imagine doing good work without micrometers. I believe I own around a dozen or more.

As a reloader, there is very little need for any micrometers, except for a 0-1" ball mike for neck thickness.

Anyone that thinks a caliper is good for measurement under a thou is fooling themselves. It just isn't repeatable.

Going back quite a few years, my Level 3 Machining instructor taught that a caliper should never be used to hit a tolerance tighter than +-0.001". Back then, I thought he was being overly cautious, but now I see the wisdom in that.

 

[Lead Slanger]

Wow! As a machinist I can't imagine doing good work without micrometers. I believe I own around a dozen or more.

As a reloader, there is very little need for any micrometers, except for a 0-1" ball mike for neck thickness.

Anyone that thinks a caliper is good for measurement under a thou is fooling themselves. It just isn't repeatable.

Going back quite a few years, my Level 3 Machining instructor taught that a caliper should never be used to hit a tolerance tighter than +-0.001". Back then, I thought he was being overly cautious, but now I see the wisdom in that.

Lol.... I'm talking about not needing mics in the reloading room. Haha. That's the reason I said something about measuring neck thickness.

On a side note....I still say you can easily measure .0005 with good calipers.

 

[long40shot]

What would you guys recommend for an entry level micrometer for checking neck thickness?

 

[Lead Slanger]

What would you guys recommend for an entry level micrometer for checking neck thickness?

SPI or Fowler