SAC Comparator......What am I doing wrong?

[PJ1]

I just received an SAC Comparator and I'm disappointed. I'm either using it wrong ( been using the hornady one for over a year with success, but didn't like the bullet comparator inserts) or there is a lot of play with the o-ring attachment system. The play in the system attachment to the body is visible as you tilt the calipers to get a reading, and my measurements are just not consistent. I can see the inserts canting as I try to take measurements. Putting the inserts back into the stand I also noticed a lot of play with the o-rings and the milled recess in the stand. A couple of the inserts didn't even fit snugly in the stand. Maybe o-rings?

Went to yt and saw a video that UR (Gavin) did on the SAC. His did not seem to have the play that mine does. I have called SAC and the only suggestion the guy had was to rotate the inserts to seat them, which I had already done. When I asked about returning them he told me there would be a 30% "restocking fee" which is ridiculous.

Any ideas on what is going on as I have no faith in the readings that I am getting and don't want to lose 30% on close to a $300 purchase. I've also email'ed Mark Gordon, but have received no response.

 

[rijndael]

I put a drop of oil or graphite lock lube on the o-ring to make sure they're seat properly and don't bind. It made a big difference for making them fit smoothly in the holder.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thats pretty schitty to charge a restock on a faulty item. I thought those guys were pretty good about customer service. They have some nice stuff i may want to try maybe. Maybe you can get some thicker orings. Maybe if you got the case and all in there itll bottom out and the looseness doesnt matter?

 

[F Class John]

Truth be told I wasn't in love with my SAC comparators when I got them. I tried them, had the same issues you did and drawered them for a while. Finally pulled them back and and now it's all I use. I hate sounding like this but they're just 'different'. I didn't like the slop but then found when you apply pressure that all goes away. And yes as @rijndael above says, a drop of oil or graphite smooths it all out. I wouldn't let whether yours matches Gavin's mess with you. Throw a draw of oil and give it a whirl, all that matters is if you get repeatable results. Once I saw that was happening I stopped worrying about how the inserts fit because it became a non-issue and is one of the actual good things about the design in the long run. Just my .02 cents fwiw.

This reminds me I still need to make a video on these...

 

[TylerFromMS]

I have them and haven't noticed any play. Just make sure before you tighten everything down the caliper jaws are flush against the tool. Mine actually almost "snap" into place.

 

[tac284]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought somewhere I saw the insert and body each had a taper? So the o-ring just held the insert in the body but the tapers would make for repeatability. No….?

 

[jimmymac]

30% restocking fee? Sounds like great customer service.

I bought a SAC die bushing to try out. Wasn’t happy when I mic’d it. Let them know about the issue, but never heard back.

 

[PopCharlie]

I have this tool too, and love it. I use a bit of Imperial sizing wax on the insert o-rings. Also give the round a little twist to get everything seated and flat in the jaws of the caliper. You can also place the tool on the bottom jaw of the caliper, and let gravity do the work. I have used the tool both ways, I just prefer using the tool attached to the top jaw. No real reason except it's what I'm used to.

PopCharlie

 

[PJ1]

Thats pretty schitty to charge a restock on a faulty item. I thought those guys were pretty good about customer service. They have some nice stuff i may want to try maybe. Maybe you can get some thicker orings. Maybe if you got the case and all in there itll bottom out and the looseness doesnt matter?

That's why I was hesitant about posting this. They are supposed to put out great products from all I've heard. I honestly cannot say that about this product

Thats pretty schitty to charge a restock on a faulty item. I thought those guys were pretty good about customer service. They have some nice stuff i may want to try maybe. Maybe you can get some thicker orings. Maybe if you got the case and all in there itll bottom out and the looseness doesnt matter?

Truth be told I wasn't in love with my SAC comparators when I got them. I tried them, had the same issues you did and drawered them for a while. Finally pulled them back and and now it's all I use. I hate sounding like this but they're just 'different'. I didn't like the slop but then found when you apply pressure that all goes away. And yes as @rijndael above says, a drop of oil or graphite smooths it all out. I wouldn't let whether yours matches Gavin's mess with you. Throw a draw of oil and give it a whirl, all that matters is if you get repeatable results. Once I saw that was happening I stopped worrying about how the inserts fit because it became a non-issue and is one of the actual good things about the design in the long run. Just my .02 cents fwiw.

This reminds me I still need to make a video on these...

Thanks John for your videos on yt. They are a real help for the beginner...... ......Might not be a bad idea to post a video on these. I looked at the video that Mark Gordon did when he introduced the new design ( should have stayed with the old design, imho). I really noticed the slop with the o-ring in the slot of the holding body of my set. Nothing like the tight fit shown on his video. I shouldn't have to orientate the calipers vertically to get the inserts to seat flat. And Yes, I do zero the Mitutoyo calipers before each measurement.

30% restocking fee? Sounds like great customer service.

I bought a SAC die bushing to try out. Wasn’t happy when I mic’d it. Let them know about the issue, but never heard back.

Sad, to say the least. I had spoken to them a few weeks ago about a Bartlein barrel for one of my rifles. Guess I need to go elsewhere. Still no response from Mark.

 

[rijndael]

Did you lube the o-ring yet? It really makes a huge difference.

If so, and you still have a problem and want to sell them, give us a list of what you bought. I'm sure you can get out without a 30% fee.

 

[PJ1]

Did you lube the o-ring yet? It really makes a huge difference.

If so, and you still have a problem and want to sell them, give us a list of what you bought. I'm sure you can get out without a 30% fee.

I'm reluctant to do that lubing as I don't want to take a chance with the warranty. The c.card co. would also look at that negatively if I file a dispute as I just spoke to them. Their advice is to send it back and see what happens.

There looks to be a good 1/32"+ of slop in the inserts to the body. Also, if you put the inserts into the stand, two of the bullet comparator inserts would fall out if you were to turn the stand over on it's side. The other inserts stay in place. That says there is a problem.

 

[rijndael]

Proceed as you see fit, but lube is easily added and easily removed, and it can likely save you a lot of headache.

The fit on mine was just as you describe, I'd call it clunky and stiff, and now it's perfect with the graphite lube. Some of mine fit tighter than others in the storage block and they work fine in the comparator.

 

[RICK SMITH]

I prefer the first gen of the comparator. Solid one-piece design. The only disadvantage to that is you have to buy one for different cases that you reload. They actually made it cheaper on us to buy different inserts for the same comparator body. I have the (Gen 2) comparator and the inserts "snap" into place. I would try a different o-ring size. Too bad they don't make a solid one-piece design anymore.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Brownells has been making pretty much the same product, way cheaper and it works.

 

[rijndael]

The Sinclair ones? If so, I tried those before the SAC and returned them because of nicks and dents on the critical surfaces.

 

[J. Gunz]

That's why I was hesitant about posting this. They are supposed to put out great products from all I've heard. I honestly cannot say that about this product


Thanks John for your videos on yt. They are a real help for the beginner...... ......Might not be a bad idea to post a video on these. I looked at the video that Mark Gordon did when he introduced the new design ( should have stayed with the old design, imho). I really noticed the slop with the o-ring in the slot of the holding body of my set. Nothing like the tight fit shown on his video. I shouldn't have to orientate the calipers vertically to get the inserts to seat flat. And Yes, I do zero the Mitutoyo calipers before each measurement.

Sad, to say the least. I had spoken to them a few weeks ago about a Bartlein barrel for one of my rifles. Guess I need to go elsewhere. Still no response from Mark.

I’ve called over to SAC about 4 diff times last week. Alan has always answered the phone and been a great help. Have a couple rifles being built by them now and have several of their products. I just checked my set they all snap in with a loud audible sound and take a good force to push in. I would say it’s an o-ring issue. No issue with repeatability on the 6 I use. Remember they don’t make the o-rings.

 

[PJ1]

Did you lube the o-ring yet? It really makes a huge difference.

If so, and you still have a problem and want to sell them, give us a list of what you bought. I'm sure you can get out without a 30% fee.

I still have a few days before I can sell anything, but I would never sell a poor product like this to others. On other forums, I've had 100% ratings on things that I have sold, but they were non-shooting items. I want to keep it that way here also as I try my best to describe defects/problems there may be with an item.
At this point, it's up to sac to fix the problem as I have mailed it back to them.

A couple of observations;\
1) I'm really starting to wonder if you don't have an O-ring size problem, too small. Your report of the inserts falling out of the stand got me thinking. When I put mine in the stand they stay, no matter what. Turn it over, lightly rap it on my bench, they ain't coming out.
2) I am disappointed to hear of your customer service experience. I have heard others with the same complaint. I had the opposite experience. I have the SAC "The" Seating Die. I reported to them I was having issues seating Barnes .308 TTSX 168gr bullets. The seating stem would either leave a scrape ring on the ogive, or pull the bullet out of the case on the return stroke. They offered to take it back after I sent them pictures, measurements etc. I said, nah I'd keep it and use it just for my 6.5mm seating. They then sent me, gratis, a different shaped seating stem. It did solve the problem. Now, I will say, before all this went down, I had received 2 additional SAC neck bushings I did not order or pay for. I notified them and sent them back on my dime. Perhaps that had something to do with my customer service experience.

Exactly. I believe that the o-rings are the problem. I've recently had the ccp plague, so I'm reluctant to go out in public right now.
As to your second point, I had always heard that customer service was one of their strong points. If I turn the stand on it's side, at least two of the inserts would fall out. The ones I use the most wouldn't you know.

I prefer the first gen of the comparator. Solid one-piece design. The only disadvantage to that is you have to buy one for different cases that you reload. They actually made it cheaper on us to buy different inserts for the same comparator body. I have the (Gen 2) comparator and the inserts "snap" into place. I would try a different o-ring size. Too bad they don't make a solid one-piece design anymore.

In looking at the yt videos, I have to agree with you that gen 1 is the way to go. The gen2 just doesn't seem to have very good quality control.

 

[PJ1]

I got my money back, less shipping, after threatening to file a dispute with the c.c company. sac was rather snarky and lecturing about the whole thing, so I won't be doing a Bartlein barrel or further business with them.

Their 30% restocking fee is not in the returns and warranty section of their website. It is in the terms and conditions section. Never have seen that with a company before, as most show that in the returns.

 

[RustyInBend]

LOVE my SAC Comparator sets. I've had none of the problems described above, and they seat perfectly on the cases and bullets for both seating depth and headspace measurements. Only issue was the .338-LM bullet comparator that doesn't get to the ogive because of my required seating depth, but I use the .30 cal version and it works just fine. These give me a much more stable seat than the Hornady versions I used to use. No o-ring, canting, or fit/feel issues whatsoever. I know some had difficulty with these components, but I wanted the opposite view out there too ... since these work flawlessly for me in all five calibers that I hand-load. Sometimes the "pile on" in these threads make it feel like something "never" works, but that's not the case for me. That said, I respect the perspective of those that have struggled ... I'm just not one of them.

 

[rebeltex]

My SAC Comparator works great.
I also found the company great to deal with.