Which Digital Caliper Do You Use

[JMP]

I love how everyone says they have a Mitoyou or whatever and tell you to get it after you said you were not looking for expensive ones... LoL. yall never fail to entertain.

I prefer these:

http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-Instruments-147-Extra-Large/dp/B000UCIGCW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456000810&sr=8-1&keywords=general+calipers

But I have heard good things about just about EVERY cheapie digital calipers that are out there.

Stilly, you are right. I've used the Generals since they are what Home Depot and Lowes sells, and they are fine for the purpose of reloading ammo.

OP, there are a lot of reloaders that also have backgrounds/occupations in machining or some field that requires precision tools. Hence, they will use good Mitutoyo or other caliper so the cheap ones seem inferior. However, the fact is that your calipers are one of the few pieces of equipment where a cheaper tool can yield the same results as the better tool. To reload very accurate ammo, most of the calipers are fine.

Really, where you need the precision, you will use a micrometer. If you are loading precision rifle, then I would recommend getting an ordinary micrometer and a ball micrometer in addition to calipers. If you are just loading pistol or bulk ammo, then just calipers suffice and there really isn't going to be a measurement that precise as caliper measurements often lead to confusing results because there is a fair degree of imperfection in your bullets.

Then, most reloaders will have several calipers so they can be made handy. So, if you start with cheaper calipers, they will also be good for other purposes such as taking them to the range to measure group size.

Hence, if you think $200 is a lot of money, then don't spend it on calipers. If you have the money and want to use nice tools, then, by all means, get the Mitutoyos. Personally, I like to have nice gear, but I also like to have some extra sets of cheap calipers so I can just leave them out without worry about losing or breaking them.

[Frozenguy]

Yeah I have a $25 set of calipers in addition to the mitutoyo. Both the cheap and expensive calipers were accurate but only the Mitutoyo was precise.

[mjmagee67]

6 inch Starrett dial caliper. I've never had to change the battery and I've owned them over 15 years.

[LynnJr]

They all tend to work well for reloading purposes where absolute Precision is not the goal so spend as you feel comfortable.
If you need absolute Precision switch to a micrometer.

[liber]

They all tend to work well for reloading purposes where absolute Precision is not the goal so spend as you feel comfortable.
If you need absolute Precision switch to a micrometer.

The same goes for pretty much ALL reloading tools.

Anyone can use one of these outside calipers, they have NO markings of any type on them. Because guess what? You don't need them, and these only cost $3. You need numbers, get a ruler to use with one of these.

(Link to item)



Truth be told, there are a lot of people that take pride in the work they do, and many of them don't mind spending the cost to own good quality tools. This is true of reloading dies, reloading presses, primers, powders, even bullets. There are many people that will use the best they can find, even if not needed. I should also add, a pair of calipers comes in handy for many things, NOT only measuring the OAL of cartridges, but many, many things...

[Victor Cachat]

HF works for all my needs.
For the price of the better brands, I have two for the shop and one for the reloading room.

[stilly]

6 inch Starrett dial caliper. I've never had to change the battery and I've owned them over 15 years.

Snapple fact #871: EVERYONE that has used a Starrett dial caliper in 1863 is now DEAD...

Think about it man, do you want that risk?

I sure don't. Not me man. Two chicks at once, but no Starretts for me!

[JagerDog]

They all work. Professionally I enjoy my Mitutoyo Absolute. They run $100 or so. They feel $100 better in your hand when using them much of the day. Better "action" and dehorned. As for batteries, I need to replace the battery every few years with daily use. The cheapies used to eat batteries but seem to be getting better in that regards.

At my reloading bench I have Mitutoyo dials and a Hazard Fraught digital. the Mitutoyos were "extras" in my work box and the Hazard Fraught came with some gear I bought.

[hamster07]

I use these and have actually had them calibrated at a professional lab. They passed with flying colors. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00INL...lipers+igaging

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[TAS]

I'm in the Starrett camp when it comes to my digital calipers (sorry Stilly, must be the age). For reloading though, I prefer a dial caliper and usually reach for a $40 set that I bought some years ago. No markings on it, other than made in China, but it's a pretty decent quality.

Of course, I do like the Mitutoyos too but never liked the cheap HF ones - always had battery issues with them.

[RR.44]

Stilly thinks the Mitutoyos are out of OPs reach, but I found a brand new set at a pawn shop that I picked up for $55 ! The deals are out there you just have to know where to look.
Mitutoyo absolute!
Rich
Absolute are solar powered , no battery to change!

[SMarquez]

My Harbor Fright $15 digital has a wondering zero. I use a cheapie metal dial and am haapy with it. Thanks to Mr. Pete Aranda for teaching me how to read a dial 45 years ago.

[gixxnrocket]

+1 for dial.
Never have to worry about dead batteries.

[stilly]

Stilly thinks the Mitutoyos are out of OPs reach, but I found a brand new set at a pawn shop that I picked up for $55 ! The deals are out there you just have to know where to look.
Mitutoyo absolute!
Rich
Absolute are solar powered , no battery to change!

YEah, that is what is referred to as an exception. Everytime I have been to the local pawn shops all I have really seen is a lot of junk and worn tools, I would not consider a pawn shop a place to pick up a set of expensive and nice calipers.

But good for you. Of course, maybe your pawn shop had nicer things, mine had a lot of junk. How else did I get a 2nd gen Glock-17 for $479? See? Junk...

[orangeusa]

I have a dial from J C Whitney, and 3 (4?) Harbor Freight specials.

We aren't measuring Space Shuttle parts. I use the one that is working.

Also, the technique is more important than the brand. .. The question should be : can you get tlreliable results with the tool you are using?

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