Hornadys new Measurement Station

[Shooter13]

Thought this looked pretty interesting, weight is 8 pounds and has leveling feet. Just thought it looked interesting for comparing ogive, headspace location and bullet to ogive location. Anyone seen one?

 

[dmoran]

Depending on price, they may sell a bunch of them.
Pretty slick setup, with a lot of versatility to measure a lot of aspects in one station.
Or so is my 2-Cents....

 

[JayHHI6818]

https://www.hornady.com/reloading/p...ools-and-gauges/precision-measurement-station

Midway lists one coming soon $253

 

[nmkid]

That does look interesting.

 

[JMayo]

Darn 250..... I do wish for something like that. But I've got 3-5 separate things that do the same thing just not as precise.

Does it measure at boat tail or above bt for ogive ....

 

[dmoran]

If I had one, I would add/mount a Test Indicator on it for the concentricity measurements (they work better then a Dial for rotational measuring) so that I could measure the loaded round length aspects immediately fallowed by the concentric's, without having to swing or move anything.

 

[Dud]

Yes, they should add a second dial indicator holder and a test indicator holder so you can add indicators, set it up for one caliber and leave it.

If they could sell that for $150, I think they would sell lots. At $250 with one holder, that's expensive.

 

[Tommie]

I like the concept

 

[JimSC]

I like the concept also, I have all the inserts but it can be a pain holding the calipers. I may pick one up when they go on sale somewhere. Or just get a digital height gage off Amazon and fabricate something that will do the same thing as far a shoulder and ogive measurements

 

[AJC]

Yes, they should add a second dial indicator holder and a test indicator holder so you can add indicators, set it up for one caliber and leave it.

If they could sell that for $150, I think they would sell lots. At $250 with one holder, that's expensive.

I pretty much consider this the target crowd so with were saying it expensive I can't see it selling like hotcakes

 

[geo.ulrich]

In parts its worth the money, the cast iron base is a great feature. The down stuff the indicator is cheap and they should have used a indicator collet instead of of a set screw to hold indicator which will bind the indicator

 

[Zero333]

 

[Texas10]

Me thinks Hornaday had a bunch of excess steel laying around and found a way to get rid of it by building an expensive paper weight.

Look at that base...HEAVY, must be solid! But is the rest of the construction up to par? Hmmmm.... who's got a 500 lb. granite plate to put that on?

Look at that 3/4 inch rod rising up from the middle. That seems a bit small in diameter compared to the base. Why so small? Wouldn't a thick wall 2" dia tube be stiffer? (yes)

Now look at the most important part, that TINY adapter that is the mount for the dial indicator. The dial indicator, the part that is supposed to reveal any loading errors, with its thumb screw that further diminishes its support of the most important part. The part that is doing the measuring. How much play between that and the rod?

If I were building it, there'd be a 2 inch section of thick wall tube with that mount welded to it (or machined from one block of steel) and .0005 to .001 clearance to the upright to eliminate all wobble.

And how are the cases held in perfect alignment? You still gotta spin them and get them to settle in as close to vertical as you can in order to get a consistent measurement.

I think I'll stick to my digital calipers.

Sorry if I've offended anyone with my honest critic, but I see a lot of inconsistencies in the design.

Edited to correct that it's a dial indicator, not a caliper per Dmorans suggestion. Sorry, it was late and my brain pulled up the wrong words. Getting old ain't for sissies.

 

[dmoran]

@Texas10
Wow... and maybe my bad, but your seeing a lot of things I'm not.
For one, where is the "caliper" your referring to?
Second, why would the case need to be spun to get vertical alignment, when the case is being sandwiched between the indicator's flat contact tip and the comparator being used, and with the spring pressure of the Dial Indicator?
Third, the post/rod is a standard diameter to comparator stands, and for Indicator mounting hardware.

I see a lot of positives about it....
It's a Compartator Stand, a Concentricity Gauge, a Headspace Gauge, a Case Gauge, and a Cartridge Gauge all in one station.
Buy each one of those separately, and there price is not out of line - IMO.

Plus, I see it to be very up-gradable !.!.!

Me thinks Hornaday had a bunch of excess steel laying around and found a way to get rid of it by building an expensive paper weight.

Look at that base...HEAVY, must be solid! But is the rest of the construction up to par? Hmmmm.... who's got a 500 lb. granite plate to put that on?

Look at that 3/4 inch rod rising up from the middle. That seems a bit small in diameter compared to the base. Why so small? Wouldn't a thick wall 2" dia tube be stiffer? (yes)

Now look at the most important part, that TINY adapter that is the mount for the caliper. The caliper, the part that is supposed to reveal any loading errors, with its thumb screw that further diminishes its support of the most important part. The part that is doing the measuring. How much play between that and the rod?

If I were building it, there'd be a 2 inch section of thick wall tube with that mount welded to it (or machined from one block of steel) and .0005 to .001 clearance to the upright to eliminate all wobble.

And how are the cases held in perfect alignment? You still gotta spin them and get them to settle in as close to vertical as you can in order to get a consistent measurement.

I think I'll stick to my digital calipers.

Sorry if I've offended anyone with my honest critic, but I see a lot of inconsistencies in the design.

 

[T-shooter]

I couldn't justify it if you already have the equipment to measure the same dimensions now, but starting out, it would be a great buy. Just my Sinclair runout gauge cost over $100 several years ago.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I dont see myself getting one because ive already built all of that on a real granite base but im glad theyre offering it. Im sure theyll upgrade the weak points once its known.

 

[Tommie]

@Texas10
Wow... and maybe my bad, but your seeing a lot of things I'm not.
For one, where is the "caliper" your referring to?
Second, why would the case need to be spun to get vertical alignment, when the case is being sandwiched between the indicator's flat contact tip and the comparator being used, and with the spring pressure of the Dial Indicator?
Third, the post/rod is a standard diameter to comparator stands, and for Indicator mounting hardware.

I see a lot of positives about it....
It's a Compartator Stand, a Concentricity Gauge, a Headspace Gauge, a Case Gauge, and a Cartridge Gauge all in one station.
Buy each one of those separately, and there price is not out of line - IMO.

Plus, I see it to be very up-gradable !.!.!

Donovan,
You missed the point: it's made by Hornady so the thing must be bad.

 

[Dud]

I know a few years ago you could buy an imported granite indicator stand for $30-40.

They might be more now.

Hornady isn't going to cast that base from Mehanite so it should be cheap.

I can see how the indicator holding bracket isn't great but it only has to withstand the pressure of gravity and the spring in the indicator, it's probably sufficient.

You don't need great quality to gather useable measurements from something like that.

I don't think they are going to be made with great quality but they are priced that way which is the problem I see.

 

[DJB]

I hope they are better then their head space gauges, or anvil bases. Have several, and none measure the same. I keep one on my bench, and another in my box that i take to the range. With several i have, the closest one i could find is .018 difference. They need to work on the tolerences of their measuring tools. DJB

 

[Texas10]

@Texas10
Wow... and maybe my bad, but your seeing a lot of things I'm not.
For one, where is the "caliper" your referring to?
Second, why would the case need to be spun to get vertical alignment, when the case is being sandwiched between the indicator's flat contact tip and the comparator being used, and with the spring pressure of the Dial Indicator?
Third, the post/rod is a standard diameter to comparator stands, and for Indicator mounting hardware.

I see a lot of positives about it....
It's a Compartator Stand, a Concentricity Gauge, a Headspace Gauge, a Case Gauge, and a Cartridge Gauge all in one station.
Buy each one of those separately, and there price is not out of line - IMO.

Plus, I see it to be very up-gradable !.!.!

Thanks for pointing out my incorrect reference to caliper. My bad, it was late and I was tired and so I've corrected my spelling. My point is the disproportionate use of materials. Too much were less is enough, and not enough were it's critical, namely the mount for the dial indicator.
As for spinning the case to get best alignment, I don't see how just dropping the case into the bushing that it will naturally seek best alignment, spring or no spring. In that way it's no different than using calipers, only fancier.

You're also correct in pointing out that it useful for several different measuring jobs. However, since we talking about precision loading, and trying to accurately measure what amounts to the nub on the nut of a nit on a gnat, the weakest point I see is the indicator mounting hardware where flex and shifting can skew readings. If the tool amasses errors greater than the tolerances required, it can't be helping.

Maybe the upgrade you mention will correct all this, if my foreseen errors do exist. What specifically do you see as upgradable? I'm always open to others ideas and experiences. And I see you as being one of very knowledgeable persons on this board.