Hornady Concentricity Tool

[DBD]

Just wondering if anyone can help. I'm interested in checking my bullet run-out and have been reading about the Hornady Tool. Has anyone used this? And is it worth getting. I shoot a Cooper 260 remington and wonder if this would be a worthwhile investment for my reloading bench.
Thanks for your Help!

Grizzly Papa in Montana

 

[jonbearman]

I have one since they came out.I have used it alot and it is the nicest,easiest tool to use for this type of measuring.You wont be disappointed imho.

 

[icecream-2]

It Will Tell You If Your Loading Equipt Is Doing Its Job Right !

 

[bozo699]

GrizzlyPapa,
Welcome to the forum, anywhere Missoula? I shoot 1000 yard BR there. Jonbearman and I are good friends but we always disagree on this subject, you can only check loaded rounds so you never know if your problem is in the brass or bullet or seating issue or what, I also don't believe in fixing a concentricity issue by pushing it straight, I believe in finding the problem at the source and fix it there, I like the Sinclair and the Neco and I believe the new 21st century is probably a good outfit. These of course just my opinions, best of luck to you.
Wayne.

 

[DBD]

What you say makes sense and is what I have been thinking. Just had the feeling if I was finding a cartridge out of round that I could fix it instead of just knowing it was bad. Agree 100% about the reloading being how to do that. I'm located in West Yellowstone Montana and am a ways from Missoula. You mentioned shooting 1000 yards, I would really like to do that! Can you send me some of the dates and info about these shoots? I really would like to try that!
Thanks Much for your input!

Dave

 

[bozo699]

What you say makes sense and is what I have been thinking. Just had the feeling if I was finding a cartridge out of round that I could fix it instead of just knowing it was bad. Agree 100% about the reloading being how to do that. I'm located in West Yellowstone Montana and am a ways from Missoula. You mentioned shooting 1000 yards, I would really like to do that! Can you send me some of the dates and info about these shoots? I really would like to try that!
Thanks Much for your input!

Dave

Dave,Following are the shoot dates for 2012:

March 24-25
April 14-15
May 12-13
June 9-10
July 14-15
Championship Shoot August 10-11-12

The 1000 Yard Range is available for practice January 1 to August 31st, Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 AM until
12:00 Noon. Extra practice dates are March 11th, May 6th, July 8th and August 5th, 2012.
I encourage you to come and your welcome for sure all the guy's and gal's are great people!
here are the dates, followed by a web site if I can find it.

http://mt1000yd.com/

Dave, on another note on the Hornaday tool you can straighten ammo on it so to speak but if you have quality brass and quality equipment and you use good reloading practices you shouldn't need to repair it, it should already be concentric, also you can straighten ammo with any concentricity tool by holding the brass with one hand and pushing on the bullet with your thumb, of course if your running high neck tension you may not be able to but high neck tension can lead to runout as well, hope this helps some and remember it's only my opinions as Jon is a very accomplished loader and shooter and I value his opinions as well and he and many others like the Hornaday tool so keep that in mind, hope this helps some and I sure hope to see you at the Deep Creek 1000 yard range this year, if you forget my name just ask for the guy with the largest group size, that will probably be me
Wayne.
Wayne.

 

[308ocd]

I have been using the 21st Century concentricity gauge for about a month and I recommend it over anything else out there. It is the easiest to use by far and it will check inside diameters. To my knowledge, there isn’t another out there that can do this. At least Hornady and Sinclair aren’t doing it. Another plus on this gauge is that it uses a horizontal dial test indicator. Other tools are using a height indicator which isn’t even designed for checking rotating diameters. The tool is new so there isn’t a lot out there on it but I look for some top writers to publish reviews before long. Here’s a link to it:

http://www.21stcenturyshooting.com/Concentricity_Gauge.php

Good luck to ya. West Yellowstone is awesome!

 

[bozo699]

I have been using the 21st Century concentricity gauge for about a month and I recommend it over anything else out there. It is the easiest to use by far and it will check inside diameters. To my knowledge, there isn’t another out there that can do this. At least Hornady and Sinclair aren’t doing it. Another plus on this gauge is that it uses a horizontal dial test indicator. Other tools are using a height indicator which isn’t even designed for checking rotating diameters. The tool is new so there isn’t a lot out there on it but I look for some top writers to publish reviews before long. Here’s a link to it:

http://www.21stcenturyshooting.com/Concentricity_Gauge.php

Good luck to ya. West Yellowstone is awesome!

308ocd,
Welcome to the forum, the 21st century doesn't check inside diameter it checks inside concentricity just to clarify, also the Neco has been the standard for years and has the same capabilities and more and uses the same style indicator as the 21st century. The 21st century I am sure is nice as all of Johns equipment is, take care and shoot straight.
Wayne.

 

[Rustystud]

I bought one of the Hornady Bullet Concentricity tools. I immediately began checking and straightening a whole 5 gallon bucket of .223 Remingtons. The next morning I had one hell of a blister on my thumb aand index finger. The nylon tip in the adjusting screw had seen its better days.

I went to the local fastener shop and bought a couple of replacement screws that fit the thumb screw hole on the Hornady Concentricty tool. I took a piece of .750" ,12L14 steel stock about .500" long and knurled the OD. I drilled and tapped it for the replacement screw. Then I drilled and bored it so the screw head was sunk flush with the end and the threads extended out the other end. I locked it in with red lock tite. I made a very nice knob to turn that has lots of surface area . I radiused and polished the end of the screw. No more blisters and a much better tool now.
Nat Lambeth

p.s. I spent 5 days in West Yellowstone Last summer. Had a great float fishing trip on the Madison River. The I-Max theater was well worth the money also. I enjoyed a little Moose Drool for the first time.

 

[pmarauder]

+1 on the 21st Century Concentricity tool.

Also, I dont believe you can check inside neck runout on the Neco...... Wayne??

 

[swt5]

I am very happy with this one:
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010/10/hh-concentricity-gauge-bullet-straightener/
Intuitive set up and use and as you become familiar with it you get a feel for how much deflection is required to correct run out to within .001"
I haven't yet had the opportunity to conduct imperical testing at long range to see how much improvement, if any, it makes. I can attest that it sure makes me feel better knowing my finished round is that much more exacting.

 

[jonbearman]

I still think the average guy will have less problems with a simpler tool like the hornady.There are others that by design are better,but you dont have to straighten rounds with it.Just set them aside and investigate why they are tweaked.

 

[Forum Boss]

The guys at 21st Century are working on a very cool upgrade to the Concentricity gauge based on a design idea we recommended. If the prototype works out, this will make rolling a case faster, easier, with more repeatable measurements. If the update makes it into production I think you guys will be see this as a major breakthough.

 

[LRPV]

That's just great news to hear since my 21rst Century unit is due to arrive on Monday. Any idea if the upgrade will work along with the now defunct and outdated version that is only a couple months old?
Jason

 

[bozo699]

Jason,
John is very good to deal with and has been outstanding in customer service, he has taken real good care of me when I had a problem with one of his primer tools, no questions just another tool in the mail and it has worked flawlessly, I recommend him every chance I get, he designs good tools and then as Paul said he improves upon them if needed or wanted, take care and no worries, it's not defunct!
Wayne.

 

[LRPV]

I know it's not really defunct. I wanted to order one when he first showed it off on here but I had enough self control to wait a little bit and now it's possibly being upgraded already. I guess I should know better by now than to think that I could keep up.
Jason

 

[Forum Boss]

LRPV,

Don't cry -- the upgrade is specifically designed as an add-on to the unit you have, using the existing rails (tracks) you have. There's nothing about your machine that will be superceded.

And as for the upgrade -- it may not make it into production. John is still at the design stage.

 

[stumpm2]

I got my 21st Century concentricity tool in the mail today. I guess it will be interesting to see what the updates are.

 

[TerryLee]

I purchased one shortly after they came out and its worked fine for me. I've probably had to use it for one out of every 20 rounds I'd say. Its a simple tool that works.