What Micrometer Do You Use?

[ar15barrels]

For mics, I have a set of Browne & Sharp 1" - 6", a 1" Tesa Master, a 1" Starrett - all analog & 1" Mitutoyo Digimatic.

For dial calipers, I've got 6" Browne & Sharp that are my favorites, plus a couple Starrett 6" and a Mitutoyo 12". For digital calipers, I have a 6" Mitutoyo Digimatic and a Harbor Freight 6" to loan out.

Test indicators are Starrett and Interapid (Swiss).

Dial indicators are Federal and Mitutoyo.

Gage blocks are Starrett to be able to check them all. A couple of granite inspection plates for flat surface reference.

I don't reload, but have a small hobby machine shop and am a bit of a precision measurement too junkie

Based on your choices in measuring tools, I think we would get along just fine.

[Cowboy T]

My calipers are Lyman analogue. They work pretty well and were reasonably affordable. Not sure who makes 'em for Lyman, but the things do the job.

Oh, and "batteries not required". :-)

[RNE228]

Last night, I grabbed a 30-06 case and measured it. All of the 6" calipers I tried were 2.498-2.499. I measured twice with each caliper to make sure I was consistent. This included:
- Lyman plastic dial caliper from the 1980's
- Mitutoyo dial caliper
- Performance Tool digital caliper - cheap Orielly parts store
- Neiko digital caliper - Harbor Fright
- Mitutoyo digital CD-6"CSX #1 (not in picture)
- Mitutoyo digital CD-6"CSX #2 (not in picture)

I was surprised all were so close. None of them have been calibrated.

The Lyman always amazes me. It was cheap when I got it in the early 1980's when I first started reloading. It's plastic. But it and the three Mitutoyo all measured the same

The plastic Lyman, and the three Mitutyo were MUCH smoother to operate than the two cheap Performance and Neiko calipers.

[ar15barrels]

Last night, I grabbed a 30-06 case and measured it. All of the 6" calipers I tried were 2.498-2.499. I measured twice with each caliper to make sure I was consistent. This included:
- Lyman plastic dial caliper from the 1980's
- Mitutoyo dial caliper
- Performance Tool digital caliper - cheap Orielly parts store
- Neiko digital caliper - Harbor Fright
- Mitutoyo digital CD-6"CSX #1 (not in picture)
- Mitutoyo digital CD-6"CSX #2 (not in picture)

I was surprised all were so close. None of them have been calibrated.

The Lyman always amazes me. It was cheap when I got it in the early 1980's when I first started reloading. It's plastic. But it and the three Mitutoyo all measured the same

The plastic Lyman, and the three Mitutyo were MUCH smoother to operate than the two cheap Performance and Neiko calipers.

I had a plastic dial caliper from SPI in the late 80's.
It worked good and was indeed accurate enough but I prefer the feel of steel mitutoyo calipers so that's what I use now.

[JagerDog]

My micrometers are from Starett, but they do not typically ever see much use reloading. I'm a vernier caliper guy and have several sets in both mechanical and electronic format. I even have some of the harbor freight calipers and they are accurate every time I test them.

Try using a set of verier calipers along side your micrometer and I bet you will switch over to the calipers.

Dial or digital. I haven't been able to read verniers for 20 years.

I do have a Mitutoyo 600mm vernier. It was cheap used cuz "nobody" wants metric only. Worth the math (and magnifying glass) on that rare occasion I need precision beyond 12".

I have a couple (Starrett) vernier height gauges I'd sell cheap.

For reloading, anything with 0.001" resolution will work fine. From Hazard Fraught to Mitutoyo and beyond. When you use tools for a living or even serious hobby, you appreciate the "feel" of quality. Good action, friendly to the hand, balanced, etc. But for the infrequent user, there's not a lot of difference. I will say batts is my Mitutoyo Absolute calipers last for years. Hazard Fraught, not so much.

[RNE228]

Agree 100%.

I really don't use the plastic one; just sits in it's case in a drawer.

The Mitutoyo dial caliper gets all the use on my reloading bench.

I had a plastic dial caliper from SPI in the late 80's.
It worked good and was indeed accurate enough but I prefer the feel of steel mitutoyo calipers so that's what I use now.

[Socalal]

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and advice. Thanks AR15Barrels for the ebay link, I bought that caliper and it works great. No drifting. Thanks again everyone!

[ar15barrels]

Thanks AR15Barrels for the ebay link, I bought that caliper and it works great. No drifting.

Now you know what a quality measuring tool feels like.
Take care of it and it will last your lifetime.

[RNE228]

That looks identical to the set I have. They work great. I prefer the dial type for reloading

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and advice. Thanks AR15Barrels for the ebay link, I bought that caliper and it works great. No drifting. Thanks again everyone!

[FLIGHT762]

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and advice. Thanks AR15Barrels for the ebay link, I bought that caliper and it works great. No drifting. Thanks again everyone!

I actually also went to the e bay link and was going to buy them until I saw 1 bid near the end.

I thought it might be you, so I didn't bid on them. I'm glad you got the Calipers. I may replace one of mine for a better one.

I happen to live very close to the e bay seller.

[randomBytes]

I have a Mitutoyo 1" mic that've had for 40 years or more.
I had a decent vernier caliper that got lost in move to US 20 years ago,
have a digital caliper which seems to always need a new battery ;-)

[xMAC1x]

Mitutoyo

[eaglemike]

I have a Mitutoyo 1" mic that've had for 40 years or more.
I had a decent vernier caliper that got lost in move to US 20 years ago,
have a digital caliper which seems to always need a new battery ;-)

A lot of the digital calipers never turn all the way off, even if the screen goes off. Some guy did a test a while back and discovered that problem.
I have a Mitutoyo digital micrometer that also eats batteries. Technology is way better now than when I bought it many years ago.
I wonder how many people know how to read a vernier caliper at this point? I might need a decent light and/or magnifying glass these days.

[ar15barrels]

I wonder how many people know how to read a vernier caliper at this point?
I might need a decent light and/or magnifying glass these days.

I read my 1/10,000 verniers all the time on micrometers but I dread using my vernier height gauge without a light and a magnifier.

[fguffey]

Vernier, like most I own round and flat Vernier tools, and I believe I have been surrounded by a different crowd. I have never been around a machinist that could not measure .0001 with a standard micrometer.

And then there were the blessed, I would hand them a micrometer and something to measure, before they were through, they would adjust the micrometer to 'zero' with a standard.

F. Guffey