A question about the Stoney Point/Hornady headspace gauge.

R

Roy Allain

Guest
I have a 6.5x47 Lapua Rem 700 and want to check my cartridge oal with this. However, I seem to have to buy a complete set of the inserts if I want to use the .350 as was told to me by the supplier.

I have a .375 an a .400. Can I use the .400? I don't really need to be exact as it is already over an inch longer than actual.

I will not be headspacing, just want to keep track of oal.

Thanks,

Roy
 
ok so more wrong terminology...started by the maker....it is not a headspace gauge.
it can be used to determine head clearance...but not cartridge oal.

the reference dia is based on the headspace reference dia.

oal is seldom of any use except for making sure you are under mag length.
uniform length is based on where the bullet meets the rifling.
this requires a caliber adapter, not a "headspace" adapter.

actual cartridge lengths will vary, as most bullets vary in length, but hopefully the base to bore dia should be consistant.

mike in co
 
yes you are doing something wrong.
this is the SAAMI definition :
HEAD CLEARANCE
The distance between the head of a fully seated cartridge or shell and the face of the breech bolt when the action is in the closed position. Commonly confused with headspace.

HEADSPACE
The distance from the face of the closed breech of a firearm to the surface in the chamber on which the cartridge case seats.

what you are doing is sizing brass, not adjusting headspace. gunsmiths adjust/create headspace when they chamber a rifle; shooters adjust head clearance by sizing brass.
just because you learned a term wrong, does not make you correct.

XBBR Shooter said:
Well... whatever you want to call it, I use it to measure headspace and set FL and form dies for head space all the time.


I must be doing something wrong :( :(
Click to expand...
 
mike in co said:
yes you are doing something wrong.
this is the SAAMI definition :
HEAD CLEARANCE
The distance between the head of a fully seated cartridge or shell and the face of the breech bolt when the action is in the closed position. Commonly confused with headspace.

HEADSPACE
The distance from the face of the closed breech of a firearm to the surface in the chamber on which the cartridge case seats.

what you are doing is sizing brass, not adjusting headspace. gunsmiths adjust/create headspace when they chamber a rifle; shooters adjust head clearance by sizing brass.
just because you learned a term wrong, does not make you correct.
Click to expand...

Actually, you don't know what I am doing... I am head of production and ballistics at a small ammunition company and I have more gauges than you can count. I am a subscriber to SAAMI and have the full set of documents from them.

Probably been loading since you before you got your first tricycle too.

Come on down and breath the same air as the rest of the world.
 
There is a better way for handloaders ...

Headspace (chamber clearance) is explained best here:
http://www.larrywillis.com/headspace.html​

A barrel installer needs to measure headspace "between the head and the breach" with Go/No-go headspace gauges.

However, handloaders need to control chamber clearance (at the shoulder) to avoid stretching their brass. In order to get meaningful information, they also need to know the size of their particular chamber.

The Digital Headspace Gauge does this without special bushings or fittings, and it's a lot easier to use. It works on ALL different calibers, and it gives shooters the information they need most - whether they're loading rimmed, belted or non-rimmed calibers.

- Larry Willis

.
 
Roy Allain said:
I have a 6.5x47 Lapua Rem 700 and want to check my cartridge oal with this. However, I seem to have to buy a complete set of the inserts if I want to use the .350 as was told to me by the supplier.

I have a .375 an a .400. Can I use the .400? I don't really need to be exact as it is already over an inch longer than actual.

I will not be headspacing, just want to keep track of oal.

OK, a re-definition. As stated above, I am NOT headspacing, I just want to know the length of my cartridges from the cartridge to the datum point.

As also stated above, I have a .375 and a .400 insert. I need to know if one of these will work or should I get the whole set (which I don't want nor need) to get the .350 insert.
Sorta overkill.

Thanks,ic

Roy
Click to expand...
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Last edited by a moderator:
NHK I think you are right. I used a .420" on my 6.5X47 to set the FL die to push the shoulder back .001" and it shoots some really nice groups. Your using it as a comparator I don't think the size matters, it just needs to be between .291" and .456".
 
David Sengelaub said:
NHK I think you are right. I used a .420" on my 6.5X47 to set the FL die to push the shoulder back .001" and it shoots some really nice groups. Your using it as a comparartor I don't think the size matters, it just needs to be between .291" and .456".
Click to expand...

My thinking exactly David.

nhk. Hornady may sell individual inserts, I don't know. Sinclair certainly does not. But I think I'll try the .375 and see what developes.

Thanks

Roy
 
roy...you still have me confused( some would say that is easy)
you say "cartidge oal" not case........
you are just trying to establish some head clearance ?? the brass at the shoulder a bit shorter than the chamber with the bolt closed ??
so not cartridge length...right ??

mike in co
 
Mike ......


It looks like Roy intended to say that he wants to use his Hornady tool as a "comparator" (like the Digital Headspace Gauge) to measure chamber clearance at the shoulder.

There is no need to locate the datum line when doing this, because the shoulder angle in your chamber is exactly the same as your fired cases. He can use either bushing that will sit on the shoulder. Yes, it will work. However, balancing your case on the blade of calipers is a bit more rickety that I would like.
 
Either insert will work, but they are not interchangeable. The number you develope with one will be different from numbers
developed by the other. Always use the same one and write it down. Before measuring a fired case, push the fired primer
back down to the bottom of the pocket. It will give you false readings. As cases work harden, they may need bumped a
little more.
 
You know what they say by "assume". I thought my question was pretty plain, but then again, what the hell do I know.

I am trying to measure the brass length from the datum line to the base. That's about as plain as I can be. As Larry described.

Bob, I always deprime before measuring any brass. I've been reloading since the early 50's. Precision reloading that is.

Thanks
 
Been there Done that

Roy, I read with some frustration the thread......

The individual inserts are available from Hornady, Grafs or Sinclair.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Bullet-Comparators/

http://www.hornady.com/store/Bullet-Comparator-Inserts/

LNL_Insert.jpg


The base is sold separately, also.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Comparator-Body-1-Each/

Hope that helps. :rolleyes:
 
i find it strange that a person in such a lofty position does not ues the CORRECT TERMINOLGY for his position nor the field he is in....
even stranger for a person that is a subscriber to SAAMI.....
maybe you should try breathing some air.....
as a reference point i started shooting in the 50's......
mike in co

XBBR Shooter said:
Actually, you don't know what I am doing... I am head of production and ballistics at a small ammunition company and I have more gauges than you can count. I am a subscriber to SAAMI and have the full set of documents from them.

Probably been loading since you before you got your first tricycle too.

Come on down and breath the same air as the rest of the world.
Click to expand...
 
Flouncer said:
Roy, I read with some frustration the thread......

The individual inserts are available from Hornady, Grafs or Sinclair.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Bullet-Comparators/

http://www.hornady.com/store/Bullet-Comparator-Inserts/

LNL_Insert.jpg


The base is sold separately, also.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Comparator-Body-1-Each/
Hope that helps. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Flouncer, Sinclair said they DO NOT sell the individual inserts. You must purchase the whole set. No matter, I did about 40 pcs. last night and it told me just what I wanted to know.

Roy
 
Roy .....

Just curious. What does a set of 40 inserts cost?
 
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