Which gage is more beneficial?

[deltagunner00]

Looking on opinions as to which would be more beneficial?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/880646/le-wilson-case-length-headspace-gage-308-winchester

Or

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/479704/hornady-lock-n-load-headspace-gage-5-bushing-set-with-comparator?cm_vc=sugv1231904

Thanks

 

[BoydAllen]

I have both and prefer the Hornady, by a wide margin.

 

[VaniB]

I'm not the guy who shoots thousands of rounds each year......so maybe somebody more experienced can chime in.

But......... the one 223 Wilson gage like that which I had bought was totally useless to me. Unless you have a case that is so out of whack that it either just bulges or produces gaps everywhere out of that gage, I can't make heads or tales with such fine differences just by feel or eyeballing it in that silly gage. I'd much rather have a dial indicater on a caliper read out such fine differences to me. You can clearly make out a 6,000ths reading on a dial indicator, but try to see or feel those small 6,000th's difference on the surface of that Wilson gage! I just don't get it the way Wilson had intended that thing to be used!!!!

Anybody else have an opinion?

 

[bigedp51]

I have three types of gauges and at 62 with chronologically gifted eyesight the Hornady gauge with a vernier caliper and a large dial is fool proof.

"BUT" some cases are very easy to read in a Wilson gauge. (.303 British humor)

New Remington case

Fired case.

This proves that case weight has nothing to do with chamber volume. :

 

[gotcha]

Amazing how tight those Brits could hold headspace :

 

[K22]

The Hornady head space gage system is far superior for precision reloading and I highly recommend it over the Wilson gage. With the Hornady gage, you can precisely measure shoulder set back which you cannot do with the Wilson gage. The Wilson gage gives you an approximation of shoulder set back and with experience can be used somewhat like a go / no go gage.

The Wilson gage is not useless in my opinion when used for loading hunting ammunition if used in accordance with their instructions. I've successfully used one for many years before I switched to the Hornady gage. It's a quick and easy way to check for under or over full length resizing.

 

[bozo699]

I have both and prefer the Hornady, by a wide margin.

+1 or +2 on what Boyd said!
Wayne.

 

[DanConzo]

You can use the Wilson gauge on your granite block stand with dial indicator. You can always return to zero when changing from another cartridge by zeroing the top of the gauge and it will repeat the same readings It's foolproof and the Wilson gauge is still very well made. You disregard trying to sight or using a straight edge or calipers on the gauge and if the case is below or above the top of the gauge surface it don't make any difference with the dial indicator it still measures it.

 

[DanConzo]

The above was for case headspace only.

 

[DanConzo]

The Wilson Headspace gauge for the belted magnums measures headspace on the shoulder and the shoulder portion of the gauge is an insert which is adjustable with a lock screw which is very handy, since you can have the head of the case always above the gauge surface and measure it with your calipers or dial indicator stand. Very neat tool.

 

[Shynloco]

I have both and prefer the Hornady, by a wide margin.

+1 or +2 on what Boyd said!
Wayne.

Add me to this list! I also use the RCBS precision mics when measuring shoulders for bumping. The original referenced Wilson case gauge IMHO is a general rifle go or no go measurement and works fine for hunting reloading purposes, but not for exact measurements.

 

[DanConzo]

With the Wilson gauges and the comparator stand and a wide choice of dial indicators it would be pretty hard to be more accurate and also repeat it, but I'm not looking for an argument and appreciate your writing in so the thread starter can get a good picture.

 

[fdshuster]

The Wilson gauge will indicate that the round is within SAAMI specs. It will not indicate a precision headspace fit to your (emphasis on "your") chamber.

I would be lost without my Stoney Point (now Hornady) chamber over-all-length gauge. Use it with each and every batch of ammo loaded.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Here ya go...

 

[DanConzo]

Yes the Wilson will indicate your personal chamber headspace for your case. It's a chamber itself. Once you establish the correct push back of your shoulder that you want and then set your die to push shoulder to that point you can check and maintain that with this gauge and a comparator. Don't forget you have to maintain paralalism with the Stoney Point on the calipers but I understand you can have a set-up case to check that with (and they are other methods) the Stoney and the Stoney is ok, the Wilson is foolproof solid steel and if it sits on a machined metal or granite base with a dial indicator (many to choose from w/ different accuracies) that is locked parallel on it's holder (and stays that way) it is a precise way of measuring and most important repeatable. The person that started this thread wanted to know the differences and I told him a time and proven method because he indicated the Wilson vs the Hornady (Stoney Point). I also have nothing against the Hornady and others. I have partial chambers made up on old barrel stock that are just the berries cut with the same reamer that cut the chamber w/ the neck bored out slightly. There are many other ways of doing this measurement also but I'm running out of room.

 

[Lazydays]

I use the Stoneypoint which is now the Hornaday. But at least half the bushings I use are custom machined to fit my needs. Samething for measuring seating depths. I have bushings bored to match up to rifle barrel bore sizes (I have some that are tight and a couple that are kinda loose.). I've never been a real fan of the modified cases, and have several of them that I've glued precision shim stock on the base. What makes me mad is that I once had a box of 5/16-27tpi taps, and could have made my own cases out of once fired and unsized cases.
gary

 

[bigedp51]

For $38.95 and having one gauge that fits all calibers and not having to buy separate gauges and accessories for every caliber the Hornady gauge can't be beat.

I say this after using many Wilson Case gauges for years and if money was no object I would think about Innovative Technologies Digital Headspace Gauge.

http://www.larrywillis.com/

I’m surprised bozo699 didn’t mention this gauge also and put dancing Hula girls in his posting. :

Jeeesh Wayne....you could've at least put dancing hula girls in this post response.....LOL...Longfeather

BigedP51 would have done that I just call it how I see it, best of luck to you
Wayne.

 

[DanConzo]

I agree with you completely, especially for someone new at this accuracy game, but a lot of us already have Wilsons and others long before these newer ones were on the market. I just can't stand by and have the good old Wilson tool (probably one of the first marketed for this measurement) and still top notch misrepresented.

 

[bigedp51]

I agree with you completely, especially for someone new at this accuracy game, but a lot of us already have Wilsons and others long before these newer ones were on the market. I just can't stand by and have the good old Wilson tool (probably one of the first marketed for this measurement) and still top notch misrepresented.

Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gage

Cheaper, better, faster

 

[DanConzo]

The Larry Willis gauge is a very nice gauge and I don't think that the price is too high but the thread starter didn't mention it. Larry Willis is going directly to the shoulder for the measurement and the case head is sitting on a machined surface, measurements will be very precise. The Wilson gauge sits on a machined surface w/ the shoulder pushed down against the shoulder recess and the indicator is touching the case head which is also a very precise measurement. The thread starter has all these to choose from, he can make up his own mind and costs surely means something.