Dial calipers

[Kappy]

I had a set of digital calipers when I first started reloading. It was fine... until it wasn't. Once the batteries started to die, the readings became erratic. I gave up and bought a set of analog calipers and haven't looked back since.

A digital scale? No way in Hell am I trusting my pickers and stealers to a digital scale. I want to see that beam swing. I'll trust a digital scale to weigh a bullet (it would take forever to weigh out my cast bullets on a beam), but for powder... never in a million years. What happens when you have a bad battery?

The best stuff when it comes to measuring for ammo is always analog.

[problemchild]

The easiest way to double check the digi stuff is how I do it.

For a scale I have a 40gr 22lr bullet that I test my scale with. If it says 40gr's I know its working right and accurate.

For my calipers I have a .223 smk round that I measure. If it reads the bullet correctly I know the calipers are working correctly. You can do both of these things several times during a reload session.

[ExtremeX]

I think the battery thing isn’t an issue… just buy a couple packs... 10 cells for 80 cents and you can put your fear of running out juice at night and stopping a reloading secession to rest. I am still on my first battery and I use my calipers a lot.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FDOJCQ/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M2T1_SC_3p_dp_1

I like analog and digital, I prefer digital, and accuracy / quality all comes down to manufacturing. Just because it’s analog doesn’t make it better, as you can also make a crap analog caliper and a quality digital.

[Kappy]

The problem is that you don't really know when the battery has gone bad and when your readings are a bit off. I had the same problem with a thermometer I used. You didn't realize it was bad until it was far too late.

[ExtremeX]

I have a couple verified length cuts of metal I use a “check weights” for my calipers… I check it just like I would my scale before using them.

It’s on you to test you own equipment, and even high end scales and calipers need to be checked every once in a while.

With that said, it just comes down to how critical that measurement is. Checking COAL of my reloads… I can deal with it if my $10 harbor freight calipers are couple thousands off… That may not be acceptable depending on the application but for most its fine.

[m98]

if ur talking about max precision and durability nothing beats high end calipers like mitoyo/starret etc. i have both digi and dial mitutoyos. i use them everyday in my line of work becuz precision is very important. most all other el cheapos like the harbor freight crap is barely accurate enough.

[Kappy]

True. I can't afford expensive tools like $100 calipers, so the $20 set I got from OSH will do me fine.


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