In which order would you purchase the following?

[poli]

I know that they are all important in the precision reloading world, but if you could only buy one at a time in which order would you buy them?

- neck turner (21stCentury, Sinclair, K&M)
- 1” Micrometer to measure OD(I want a Mitutoyo)
- ball Micrometer for brass thickness (I want a Mitutoyo)
- concentricity gauge (H&H, Neco, Sinclair, or maybe 21st Century)

 

[Shynloco]

1. Mitutoyo Ball Mic
2. Mituyoto 1" Mic
3. Neck Turner - Sinclair
4. Concentricity guage - Your choice - I have the Sinclair and a Hornady, BUT again your choice.

Alex

P.S. You can interchange 2 & 3 so you can get start turning brass if you want to.

 

[poli]

P.S. You can interchange 2 & 3 so you can get start turning brass if you want to.

From what I read so far that seems to be the best choice, but I don't have enough experience that's why I asked for some expert advice

 

[timeout]

The one inch regular mic will have dozens of uses. Without a ball mic the neck turner will do you zilch good, so that is a no brainer. Some in the shooting world, at least shorter range, feel Concentricity is overrated. I have no facts to back that up. Consequently I would purchase the 1" standard mic first, ball mic second, neck turner third and concentricity gauge last.

 

[82boy]

Honestly unless your using a custom tight neck chambered riffle, all of the things on the list are just about useless.

There is no need to turn necks unless your fitting the brass to a custom chamber. With the quality of todays brass, the need to turn it down is not needed.

Ball mics are nice, but the problem is unless you have experience of using them, and develop a feel for them, they can be more problem than help. It takes experience and fell to properly use this tool.

Concentricity gauge, would be the only thing in the list I would truly consider a necessary tool. I would only look at using one if your are shooting long VLD bullets, that can have the ability to cock in a case. Most good dies will concentrically seat, and size brass.

Last is a 1 inch mic, it can be a good tool to measure seated bullets on the pressure ring to ensure that they are not to large for the chamber. the problem is if you not using a custom tight neck chamber why do you need to measure this?

A good set of calipers can do a lot of things, as far as the Reloader needs.

 

[timeout]

Honestly unless your using a custom tight neck chambered riffle, all of the things on the list are just about useless.

There is no need to turn necks unless your fitting the brass to a custom chamber. With the quality of todays brass, the need to turn it down is not needed.

Ball mics are nice, but the problem is unless you have experience of using them, and develop a feel for them, they can be more problem than help. It takes experience and fell to properly use this tool.

Concentricity gauge, would be the only thing in the list I would truly consider a necessary tool. I would only look at using one if your are shooting long VLD bullets, that can have the ability to cock in a case. Most good dies will concentrically seat, and size brass.

Last is a 1 inch mic, it can be a good tool to measure seated bullets on the pressure ring to ensure that they are not to large for the chamber. the problem is if you not using a custom tight neck chamber why do you need to measure this?

A good set of calipers can do a lot of things, as far as the Reloader needs.

Poli never mentioned a 6" caliper, but I would of course put that at the top of the list if he had. A 1" mic has many uses, even beyond reloading, if Poli is into repairing and building things. He will never learn the feel for using a ball mic if he doesn't buy one and use it. IMHO never having used one before is no reason not to buy one. Everybody starts somewhere and most likely the larger percentage of people on here probably have not had machine shop experience. Opinions are like noses, everyone has one and is entitled to it. No right answer to the question.

 

[XTR]

I use a concentricity gauge to spot check m target loads, but loading 400 rounds to carry to Raton no way I'm checking all those. I have over 1000 pieces of brass in rotation. Not turning necks.

I have a 1" mic, but i use it for BPCR loading where cast bullet size is critical. Never use it loading modern cartridges.

As written above, I don't turn necks. Lee collet sizer so the inside ball and the turner are moot.

6" stainless steel calipers and attachments to measure shoulder bump/headspace and ogive. Wear that tool out. (Mine's an inexpensive Frankfort, but it gives me consistent readings)

 

[22BRGUY]

If you want this stuff which is all good, I'd suggest keeping the list handy and look for the good deals as they come in whatever order. Narrowing yourself to one item at a time could take you longer if you neglect even looking for one or more of the other items that may be around at real bargain prices.
Best Wishes

 

[BoydAllen]

Before I answer your question, tell me something so that I may do a better job of answering. Why will you be turning necks? Do you have, or contemplate buying a rifle with a tight neck chamber, or are you working with factory chambers?

 

[poli]

Thanks you all for your suggestions.

Ball mics are nice, but the problem is unless you have experience of using them, and develop a feel for them, they can be more problem than help. It takes experience and fell to properly use this tool.

A good set of calipers can do a lot of things, as far as the Reloader needs.

Poli never mentioned a 6" caliper, but I would of course put that at the top of the list if he had. A 1" mic has many uses, even beyond reloading, if Poli is into repairing and building things. He will never learn the feel for using a ball mic if he doesn't buy one and use it. IMHO never having used one before is no reason not to buy one. Everybody starts somewhere and most likely the larger percentage of people on here probably have not had machine shop experience. Opinions are like noses, everyone has one and is entitled to it. No right answer to the question.

I have an 8" Mitutoyo Digimatic Absolute and another 6" Mitutoyo dial caliper. I am familiar with using a micrometer - back in the early 90's I used to work as an engineer in a tool and die shop - I just never got a good reason to buy one.

Honestly unless your using a custom tight neck chambered riffle, all of the things on the list are just about useless.

There is no need to turn necks unless your fitting the brass to a custom chamber. With the quality of todays brass, the need to turn it down is not needed.

Before I answer your question, tell me something so that I may do a better job of answering. Why will you be turning necks? Do you have, or contemplate buying a rifle with a tight neck chamber, or are you working with factory chambers?

I'm using Reddings FL dies with bushings and from what I read so far and what I was advised, bushing are most efficiently used after turning the neck. Currently I don't have custom chambers; I shoot factory chambers - a Browning A-Bolt with BOSS in 22-250 and a Steyr Mannlicher SSG 69 PII in .308, but most likely one day I will get one or more custom rifles.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Then I think the answer is E) none of the above.

 

[Barlow]

I'll 10-4 with 82Boy. Barlow

 

[Scott Harris]

Then I think the answer is E) none of the above.

I"d put 6" Mitutoyo calipers number one because it has so many uses from measure case length, bullet seating depth, shoulder bump, etc. All the neck turning stuff is nice to have: either buy everything you need to do it right or buy nothing. Not optional is ammo components.....buy more of that.

 

[timeout]

Maybe it's just me, but if he is using bushing dies, a ball mic is a necessity. Neck thickness of the brass will vary brand to brand, irregardless of having a tight neck or SAAMI chamber. If he can't measure the neck thickness, he will be hard pressed to pick his desired neck tension.

 

[82boy]

Maybe it's just me, but if he is using bushing dies, a ball mic is a necessity.

Why is a ball mic a necessity when using a bushing die? I went for years using bushing dies, and never needed a ball mic. I used my calipers and measured the loaded round diameter, and adjusted according.

 

[timeout]

Maybe it's just me, but if he is using bushing dies, a ball mic is a necessity.

Why is a ball mic a necessity when using a bushing die? I went for years using bushing dies, and never needed a ball mic. I used my calipers and measured the loaded round diameter, and adjusted according.

I would not say my way is the only way, but I measure the neck diameter and take it times 2, then add the bullet diameter. From that number I subtract.003" if I want 2 thou neck tension, as the case neck will "spring back" a bit. If you load a round to get the loaded dimension, it seems to me you are putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. In other words, how do you know which bushing to use for sizing when you have a new or different brand/batch of brass? The more I type, the better I like my method.

 

[Jeff Von Rosenberg]

I highly disagree that turning next to useless without a tight neck chamber! Consistent neck wall thickness equals consistent neck pressure which equals better groups just my humble opinion JVON

 

[amlevin]

I highly disagree that turning next to useless without a tight neck chamber! Consistent neck wall thickness equals consistent neck pressure which equals better groups just my humble opinion JVON

It is pretty much unnecessary when using premium brass. I've gone totally to Lapua brass and it lasts so much longer before necks split or primer pockets open up (even with "OMG Loads") to offset the lower cost of Winchester brass.

My new barrel I'm waiting for is being chambered for "no-turn" Lapua brass.