Is a head space gage needed?

[thrasherfox]

To catch everyone up to speed.

I have never reloaded.

I currently have a Dillon RL550B I just purchased and have everything I need to start reloading (including powder, primers, brass and bullets)

I have 5 different reloading manuals I am reading


I worked with a sales person from Dillon and probably spent a few weeks working out the kinks in my order. basically I wanted EVERYTHING I would need. Including purchasing 3 quick change kits.

I dont remember him ever mentioning anything about needing a head space gage.

I am currently reading the Lyman manual and the current section I am reading is talking about how important a head space gage is.


So I look at midway USA and see that they do indeed have head space gages.



So.. do I need a head space gage?

do the make a universal one that covers differant calibers? or do I need one for each caliber?


Is there a place that I can get them real cheap?

[Afterburnt]

Which calibers?

[bumpo628]

I'm just starting out with rifle too, but from what I've read a headspace gauge is required.

I'm going to get this Hornady set for $36

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=479704

[bubbapug1]

For rifle a case gauge is needed, but not a headspace gauge. You need to make sure your cases are resized to spec. There is nto way to do that with anything other than a case gage.

For pistol calibers (9 x19, 40 sw, 45 acp, 38 spl, 357 mag, 44 spl, 4 mag) you don't really need a case gauge.

[thrasherfox]

Which calibers?

Rifle

.223
.300 winmag
.308


Pistol

.45acp
.45 long colt
9mm
50AE

[Afterburnt]

Like Bubba said unless you are using bolt action rifles.

[Afterburnt]

Maybe I should elaborate. Case length is important for riffle and pistol. For bolt actions I would only trim to length and resize the mouth. That is on once fired brass from that rifle. If they are for semi auto full length size and use a case gauge.

[GeoffLinder]

The L.E. Wilson case gauge is what I use to check headspace and how much I set the shoulder back.

You have to pay attention to headspace for semi-auto rifle, you don't need to do so for pistol

[SanPedroShooter]

I 've been going back and forth with this one too. Some people like the case gauges, but i'm going with the hornady comparator. You get an actual number instead of just eyeballing, and it works with most calibers, instead of having to buy a new case gauge for everyone. Plus the comparartor body will work with thier bullet seating guage. I use a lee case guage to determine if i need to trim, and a hornady comparator to set the sizing die.

[straykiller]

I'm just starting out with rifle too, but from what I've read a headspace gauge is required.

I'm going to get this Hornady set for $36
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=479704

good set i bought it and like it

[RaymondMillbrae]

RCBS Precision Mic.

CLICK HERE

You don't necessarily need one for .223 if you are loading for a magazine fed black rifle. But if you are loading for bolt action Win .308 or Rem .223 - it is a must have!

In Christ: Raymond

[Taildraggerdave]

To the OP,
You need to know the correct names for the items you are asking about. A headspace gage is what you use in a rifle, for example, when you are building/assembling it. This gage will tell you if your chamber is sized to SAAMI specs (correctly sized). When correctly sized, any correctly sized factory ammunition should fit.

A case gage is basically a hand held rifle or pistol chamber. It simulates the correctly sized rifle or pistol chamber you are trying to make ammo for. You would use
a case gage to make sure your brass is being resized to the right dimensions. On a rifle, if the shoulder doesn't get pushed back sufficiently far, then the bolt won't close on the cartridge. On a pistol caliber cartridge, the round may get stuck in the chamber before it seats all the way, keeping the slide open, etc.

After you load up a few rounds, or at least resize the cases, you can drop them into your new case gage and they should be flush (plus or minus a couple thousandths). If so, you are good to go. If they stick out then you will need to inspect the setting of your sizing die.

Good luck and enjoy reloading.

Take care,
Dave

ETA: Your rifle or pistol chamber also make an excellent case gage but can become tedious depending on what platform you are using. Lots of pistol shooters will pull the barrel out of the gun and drop each round into the chamber to check for proper fit.

[Taildraggerdave]

Here is the case gage I use. It covers a couple of your mentioned calibers.

http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=44&products_id=172

Take care,
Dave

[f4tweet]

The Hornaday comparator is a must if you are shooting a semi auto. It allows you to adjust your dies to set your shoulder back .002-.003. The Wilson case gauge I got from my Dad is a SAAMI spec. It works, but it isn't my chamber. I reload for my chamber, not SAAMI spec. I hope that helps.

[GeoffLinder]

The L.E. Wilson gauge works fine and very, very accurately IF you measure case head depth of a fired case from YOUR rifle first then measure case head depth of a re-sized case.

In other words, the L.E. Wilson gauge actually allows a proper measurement of how far you are setting the shoulder back compared to a fired un-sized case.

In my book, setting headspace for a rifle doesn't get any better than that.

Using it as a straight-up ammo check drop gauge is another story entirely and has nothing to do with how well it works for "measuring" shoulder setback