Pin gauge increments

[Just Say Moe]

For those who use pin gauges to verify inside neck dimensions, do you go by 0.001 or 0.0005 in between?
Example: 0.240, 0.241, 0.242 OR 0.240, 0.2405, 0.241, 0.2415, 0.242.

thanks

 

[RegionRat]

The increment is up to you.

If you are a beginner, you will do well enough with 0.001" to 0.0005" steps, and if those happen to be pins or mandrels it won't matter.

Most reloaders will do better with using mandrels as gage pins because they have a very forgiving shape compared to a typical gage pin.

A very fine gage pin set for a given nominal size is expensive and unless you really have the need to have pins in steps of 0.0001" they are not necessary for reloading.

An average person can have enough sensitivity to 0.001" steps that going to the finer steps is not usually required. When you develop a feel for gaging, you will have a pretty good idea of how "loose" that 0.001" pin feels compared to the next one that will need to be forced.

If you have the budget, 21st Century and K&M will sell mandrels in 0.0005" increments, and you can use those as gage pins. Just be sure to check their actual diameters with a good micrometer to be sure you know the actual size.

 

[marchboom]

I use pin gauges in .0005" increments. They are marked but as mentioned above always check them with a quality micrometer.

 

[Rich S]

I like 0.0005 increments. Pin gages in 0.0005 increments are pretty cheap. I also use the pin gages as sizing mandrels. I grind a bevel on one end and leave the other end sharp.

 

[marchboom]

I like 0.0005 increments. Pin gages in 0.0005 increments are pretty cheap. I also use the pin gages as sizing mandrels. I grind a bevel on one end and leave the other end sharp.

That's exactly what I do. Also highly polish the beveled portion so as not to scratch the ID of the neck.

 

[hoz53]

For those who use pin gauges to verify inside neck dimensions, do you go by 0.001 or 0.0005 in between?
Example: 0.240, 0.241, 0.242 OR 0.240, 0.2405, 0.241, 0.2415, 0.242.

thanks

id like to have a few 0005 gages but havent gotten around to getting them yet. 001 are plenty good enough for loading for me.

 

[Oso]

Porter Precision manufactures a Neck Expander Die / Mandrel that utilizes a collet and standard gage pins. You can buy your own gage pins, and Porter also sells gage pins that he has tapered/round over the edge on one end to help it more easily fit into case mouth. You can do this yourself by simply chuck up the gage pin in a cordless drill and spin it run across sand paper or against grinder.

 

[Chris Edmondson]

Pin gages typically have a plus (+) or minus (-) tolerance which'll run from +0.0002 to -0.0002. It's fine to check them with a micrometer if it's calibrated, otherwise, it's whichever one you believe.

 

[Oso]

For our purposes the “+” or “-“ isn’t as critical. Decide which directional tolerance makes you happy and then always get your pins with same tolerance. This way the change in diameter from one pin to the next stay as consistent as possible.