How many of you have one of these on your bench?

[farmerjohn]

I used to buy Emeralds in a past life and always had a 10x jeweler loupe on my person. Now I have them scattered all over the place. Truck glove box to tackle box to first aid kit to loading bench! I cannot do case prep without! It dosent take long to get the knack to use one and they are fastest way to inspect things up close.
I have a thing thing about loading super straight ammo and it probably makes no difference for my shooting but I still like to try to be consistent in runout for the challenge if nothing else. What I found years back was I could get a run going at 1 thou max runout and then a 3 thou would pop up in same batch. After this happened a few times I started examining my processed necks with a 10x loupe and would find some occasional micro dents creating inside flat spots, or on the lip, that were not visible with my naked eyes or tiny burr. Or just being able to see that a neck is actually slightly out of round. I am back to using neck bushings and to fix this I double up by necking down with an undersized bushing so I can use my .243 mandrel and then re-size neck with a diff bushing to get back down to my target tension. It is double work for me and for the neck brass but I anneal each firing. End result are straight slick tubes. I use a k&m vld chamfer and I can only cut a perfectly even bevel when the necks are treated this way. I can only see any unevenness in the cut lines with a loupe.

Other uses include: measuring the length of lands scrape mark on bullet for depth of jam. Flash hole inspection etc.

Irony of all this is the LCD eliminated all of the above steps with one process! I am considering ordering an slightly oversized mandrel from Lee to turn 2 steps into one, and then finish with a neck bushing. View attachment 1487702

Yep, desk drawer, reloading bench, and pickup.......John

 

[nmkid]

Been using them for years while metal detecting.

 

[Oso]

I have one nearby in shadow box with interesting stuff I’ve collected in life. My 7yo has just discovered rocks and thinks science lies somewhere between using a 2lb hammer and a 3x loupe.

I just use the magnifier visor with built-in led light. It comes with a variety of different magnified lenses. Amazon

 

[TaperPin]

For some reason getting a loupe in a Christmas stocking is fun for adults as well as kids. They should be in everyone’s drawer.

A few years ago I almost fell over when a jeweler didn’t have one when picking out a diamond engagement ring for the misses. Maybe the crappy drilled and filled, or synthetic stones look bad under magnification? It was weird. Maybe the dog ate it.

 

[wildcatter]

I've found 3.5 readers cover 90% of defining anything small, when they fail after using jewlers loupes, magnifiers, and other clumsy options, nothing works better than adding a pair of 3.5 readers over my 3.5 readers. Best for magnified viewing that I've found.

 

[BigBolt]

I used to buy Emeralds in a past life and always had a 10x jeweler loupe on my person. Now I have them scattered all over the place. Truck glove box to tackle box to first aid kit to loading bench! I cannot do case prep without! It dosent take long to get the knack to use one and they are fastest way to inspect things up close.
I have a thing thing about loading super straight ammo and it probably makes no difference for my shooting but I still like to try to be consistent in runout for the challenge if nothing else. What I found years back was I could get a run going at 1 thou max runout and then a 3 thou would pop up in same batch. After this happened a few times I started examining my processed necks with a 10x loupe and would find some occasional micro dents creating inside flat spots, or on the lip, that were not visible with my naked eyes or tiny burr. Or just being able to see that a neck is actually slightly out of round. I am back to using neck bushings and to fix this I double up by necking down with an undersized bushing so I can use my .243 mandrel and then re-size neck with a diff bushing to get back down to my target tension. It is double work for me and for the neck brass but I anneal each firing. End result are straight slick tubes. I use a k&m vld chamfer and I can only cut a perfectly even bevel when the necks are treated this way. I can only see any unevenness in the cut lines with a loupe.

Other uses include: measuring the length of lands scrape mark on bullet for depth of jam. Flash hole inspection etc.

Irony of all this is the LCD eliminated all of the above steps with one process! I am considering ordering an slightly oversized mandrel from Lee to turn 2 steps into one, and then finish with a neck bushing. View attachment 1487702

 

[Old Navy]

I wear mine on my head, some refer to is as an OptiVisor, I call it my High-Tec Pecker Peeker.

You need to let your wife/girlfriend wear that.

 

[jepp2]

I am considering ordering an slightly oversized mandrel from Lee to turn 2 steps into one, and then finish with a neck bushing.

Where do you buy oversize mandrels from? (I've bought undersize from several sources, but never seen oversize) My experience is that neck bushing will result in more runout than you LCD leaves the case with.

 

[Timberyote]

I have an OptiVisor and a photographer loupe that I use occasionally.

 

[Tesoro]

Where do you buy oversize mandrels from? (I've bought undersize from several sources, but never seen oversize) My experience is that neck bushing will result in more runout than you LCD leaves the case with.

I dunno! I just assumed someone makes one because every time I think I have finally come up with a loading tool invention I soon find out someone beat me to it!
I agree with you but I got ticked off at Lee metal and finish quality with my LCD's and went back to expensive bushings and since have had a heck of a time trying to hold consistent runout to acceptable level. Gone are the days when I could roll out 20 rounds in a row with max 1 thou runout using a lowly $26 collet die!!!!
I have come to the conclusion for the n'th time that neck sizing with bushings should ONLY be done on turned necks.
And..squashing neck down, then expanding out and then squashing back using mandrel+bushing will make straighter ammo but I think at the cost of less consistent neck tension. One is working the thin brass too much per load.
And if time is a consideration then the LCD gets to the finish line way ahead of the pack! I wish LE Wilson would make a neck collet die! Seems like the patent should have expired by now.

 

[Larry Koch]

Have you tried to take a picture with your cell phone. Then you can magnify it as much as needed.
Once every thing is set I leave it alone. I might have a few extra reloading presses because of it.

 

[Krogen]

I used to buy Emeralds in a past life and always had a 10x jeweler loupe on my person. Now I have them scattered all over the place. <snip> View attachment 1487702

@Tesoro Can you recommend a trustworthy loupe supplier? I went shopping on the 'net and found all sorts of cheap knockoffs. I suppose a cost of $50 to $100 is a decent indicator. Still, spending some $$ isn't a guarantee that I'd not be buying a knockoff.

 

[Tesoro]

@Tesoro Can you recommend a trustworthy loupe supplier? I went shopping on the 'net and found all sorts of cheap knockoffs. I suppose a cost of $50 to $100 is a decent indicator. Still, spending some $$ isn't a guarantee that I'd not be buying a knockoff.

Yes chicom fakes. They say 'Triplet' ( 3 lenses) but who can count them!!
Here you go:

Kassoy | Gemological Equipment and Jewelry Tools

www.kassoy.com

 

[Krogen]

Thank you, Tesoro! Cool website, I can see some other items I will need to buy. Heretofore, I didn't know I "needed" some of them . . . .

 

[nakneker]

Used a loupe for years when I was learning to sharpen knives on Japanese wet stones. I still keep it around but use strong readers more when it comes to reloading.

 

[Tesoro]

Thank you, Tesoro! Cool website, I can see some other items I will need to buy. Heretofore, I didn't know I "needed" some of them . . . .

Yes they have some neat stuff!