What is the preferred caliper brand?

[LRPV]

My Cabela's special calipers are not reading correctly and I think it is time to get some that are more reliable. They are reading anywhere from - to 80 inches and I just don't feel comfortable using them anymore. They have done this before a time or two but just re-zero and then they worked like they were supposed to and measurements on previous items were still right on but today they wouldn't come out of it until right now... They seem to be working again.

 

[necchi]

Starrett, I never cared for the electronics, why mess with a battery?
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=411115&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=free&utm_campaign=649

Yes they are on the spendy side. We use these at work, and they get used hard. They last for years and get "verified" every month to maintain ISO standards.
With minimal proper care this model will serve a loading bench for a man's lifetime! ;D

 

[Nodak7mm]

Starrett or Mitutoyo. I like digital myself. I used my mitutoyo digi for 14 yrs with annual calibration checks, to NIST stds and never needed adj... Still using it..
Nodak

 

[LRPV]

I think that the humidity is what is going on with mine. Seems like as long as it left in the loading room it works just fine. I was checking some rifles for throat depth and took it outside the room to the shed where it was hot and humid and it went wacky. I didn't know that humidity would mess with it, but according to the directions it does. Always something new to learn I guess.

necchi, I get confused too easily without the electronics. I tried to use the dials and it got me in trouble.

Nodak, how far off are they when you get them calibrated? Is it important to get them calibrated for reloading? Also, I found quite a few Mitutoyo calipers used on EBay for decent money so I wondered about the longevity of them, not many used Starrett and those were still bringing quite a bit. I think I will get one or the other to have instead of this one. Better peace of mind.

 

[Nodak7mm]

LRPV,

Have not needed tweeking, always fell in range. If you have a concern, buy a 1' or 2" cal block to do your own checks by.

Bear in mind for 95% of the measuring we do in reloading is a reference point measurement, not a finite measurement. Your goal is in repeated accuracy, not finite. Who cares if it is off 0.0001 or .0005, as long as it is consistent. Technique is far more an issue than the tool itself.

And like our rifles, these tools are far more accurate than we can use them. You cant go wrong with a starrett or mitutoyo digi... Buy once, cry once.
I would be hesitant to buy used unless it came with a cal cert.. And buy from a reputable dealer.

 

[LRPV]

Thanks for the help guys. It's always appreciated.

 

[Rustystud]

Calipers are a disposable item in my shop. If I need a good measurment I use micrometers or dial inicators. Calipers are for rough measurments.
Inexpensive and expensive ones that have been dropped just once are not reliable enough for work other than rough measurements. I buy the cheap ones on sale at buster nuckle tools. When one set goes south I have no attachment and little financial loss.

Nat Lambeth

 

[ericskennard]

I prefer a Brown and Sharp. You can get them from MSC or many of the online tool companies. Mine were made in Switzerland and they worked accurately for 30 years. No battery, just a dial.

I don't know what would happen if I threw them on the floor and ran over them with a fork lift though!

ERIC

 

[flatlander]

I've bought several of the el cheapo digitals from a local auto parts store to use in the loading room. These calipers cost a whopping $19.95, and I'm sure they're not as reliable/repeatable as the Mitutoyo coolant-proof calipers ($140 on sale) I use in the shop. But for sorting hundreds of bullets by base-to-ogive length, the convenience & speed of a digital can't be beat. The only problems I've had usually occur right before the battery gives out, and they're so obvious that you couldn't overlook them if you tried.

I also use the digitals to check case length, setting up a case trimmer, and checking seating depth; they're fine for that, although a good dial caliper would also work well for these measurements.

 

[JabaliHunter]

I like my Mitutoyo dial calipers....

 

[Kenny474]

I have a set of starrett's and a few cheap dials and digitals. I usually check the cheapies against what my starrett's read once in a while and make sure they read consistent and accurate. I use my cheapies for most general stuff and whenever I am not at my work bench, that way if they get dropped I am not ruining my $180 calipers.

They don't have to be top line to get the job done, as long as they are consistent and accurate with a thou or two that's all that really matters. If you need more accuracy than that you should really be using a mic anyway.

 

[Scott Harris]

Starrett or Mitutoyo. I like digital myself. I used my mitutoyo digi for 14 yrs with annual calibration checks, to NIST stds and never needed adj... Still using it..
Nodak

+1 I have a Mitutoyo and love it.