Case Guage? - The Firearms Forum

Gene Seward · 10-29-2008, 10:21 PM

Just how the heck do you use a case gauge? Do you just put the case in and if it doesn't protrude from the top you are good to go, or what? I am starting to see that in .223 that are shot out of one of my Bushy rifles there is very little growth, but in the 308 it is waaaay more noticeable. If the case gauge will help in speeding up the process of checking the length it will really help. Thanks as always.

DoesItMatter · 10-30-2008, 05:47 AM

I've got the Lee case gauge/trimmer combo for my 30/30 rounds.

1 side has a shell holder/lock

other side has a 4 blade cutter with a threaded middle.
You thread in the case gauge length pin that fits thru the primer flash hole
and hits the shell holder/lock

If the case is within spec, it will free spin, no trimming necessary.

If the case is too long, the blades will bite in and allow trimming.

That's the Lee version that you throw in a 3/8" drill.
One of the cheaper ones I believe. Its good enough if you don't do a whole
lot of cartridges, but you may want one of the better ones if you're doing
a lot of shooting.

LDBennett · 10-30-2008, 07:33 AM

Gene Seward:

I reload and keep my brass together in lots of about 100 to 200. I rumage through the brass and randomly pick out about 10 cases and measure them. If any one is beyond the max case overall lenght then I trim them all. I find that more often then not, all will show trimming back to the trim-to length when trimmed. The effort is not wasted. Keeping the cases the right length makes the crimps a lot more uniform. I crimp my semi-auto ammunition using the Lee Factory Crimp Die, which makes a really good crimp.

I find this approach easier and faster than gaging or mesuring every case and only trimming those that require it. But that's just my way and yours may differ.

LDBennett

LDBennett · 10-31-2008, 02:33 PM

What I failed to say in my earlier post was that I full length size the randomly selected case, then measure them to determind if trimming is going to be necessary for the lot.

Always size first , measure, then trim. The act of sizing changes the Over All Length significantly and the cases must be correct in length AFTER sizing.

Sorry about the mis-statement.

LDBennett

10-29-2008, 10:21 PM	#1
Gene Seward V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Batesville, Arkansas Posts: 477	Case Guage? Just how the heck do you use a case gauge? Do you just put the case in and if it doesn't protrude from the top you are good to go, or what? I am starting to see that in .223 that are shot out of one of my Bushy rifles there is very little growth, but in the 308 it is waaaay more noticeable. If the case gauge will help in speeding up the process of checking the length it will really help. Thanks as always. -->

10-30-2008, 05:47 AM	#2
DoesItMatter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pacific NorthWest Posts: 109	Re: Case Guage? I've got the Lee case gauge/trimmer combo for my 30/30 rounds. 1 side has a shell holder/lock other side has a 4 blade cutter with a threaded middle. You thread in the case gauge length pin that fits thru the primer flash hole and hits the shell holder/lock If the case is within spec, it will free spin, no trimming necessary. If the case is too long, the blades will bite in and allow trimming. That's the Lee version that you throw in a 3/8" drill. One of the cheaper ones I believe. Its good enough if you don't do a whole lot of cartridges, but you may want one of the better ones if you're doing a lot of shooting.

10-30-2008, 07:33 AM	#3
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,710	Re: Case Guage? Gene Seward: I reload and keep my brass together in lots of about 100 to 200. I rumage through the brass and randomly pick out about 10 cases and measure them. If any one is beyond the max case overall lenght then I trim them all. I find that more often then not, all will show trimming back to the trim-to length when trimmed. The effort is not wasted. Keeping the cases the right length makes the crimps a lot more uniform. I crimp my semi-auto ammunition using the Lee Factory Crimp Die, which makes a really good crimp. I find this approach easier and faster than gaging or mesuring every case and only trimming those that require it. But that's just my way and yours may differ. LDBennett

10-31-2008, 02:33 PM	#4
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,710	Re: Case Guage? What I failed to say in my earlier post was that I full length size the randomly selected case, then measure them to determind if trimming is going to be necessary for the lot. Always size first , measure, then trim. The act of sizing changes the Over All Length significantly and the cases must be correct in length AFTER sizing. Sorry about the mis-statement. LDBennett