GW Hunter
Well-Known Member
Looking to buy a gauge to determine run out. Which gauge do you like best? Any opinions appreciated. Thanks
Best concentricity gauge?
- Thread starter GW Hunter
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I like the Sinclair just fine. I can't say it is the best because I have never used all of them. I can say that it suits my needs and I have had no reason to change. A concentricity gauge and a bore scope will give you a education for sure. They helped me up my game by a lot.
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
For checking loaded rounds, fire formed cases and bullet run out, I prefer the Sinclair concentricity gauge. for straightening loaded or factory loads, I prefer the Hornady Lock n Load.
https://www.sinclairintl.com/search/index.htm?k=concentricity+gauge&ksubmit=y
I use both and find that they both have there merits. I am sure there are other brands that work well but these work very well the way I use them.
Brownells has both.
J E CUSTOM
kiwikid
Well-Known Member
After looking at the Hornady and the RCBS gauges I went with the Sinclair concentricity gauge which works extremely well. One piece of advise I was given is to get the dial gauge rather than the digital gauge. It is much easier to watch the needle move rather than watch LCD numbers go up and down. 21 Century also make a nice unit.
That's the one I have liked the best. Was a friends that let me borrow it. Will be the one I order if I get a new one . Have the sinclair right now. I would choose the 21 Century over the Sinclair.
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dok7mm
Well-Known Member
Yep, the 21 Century unit.
The Oregonian
Well-Known Member
Haven't seen or used the 21st century but it looks pretty slick. Any complaints with it?
Sinclair here as well but 21st Century makes very nice equipment. The Sinclair unit has served me well. No complaints.
Deputy819
Well-Known Member
I use the Forster Co-Ax Case Inspector and find it works great for my applications, but I'm just a simple "back-yard" enthusiast. The aforementioned gauges I'm sure are great examples of precision instruments. I own a couple little gadgets from 21st Century and John really knows his stuff and has top-notch customer service.
bigedp51
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I have the RCBS and the Hornady gauges below.
Below the Hornady gauge supports the base of the case and the bullet like the top illustration. This would be like a chambered full length resized case and the body of the case not touching the chamber walls.
The bottom illustration spins on the case body and if the case is not perfectly round it will add to the measured runout. If the case is thinner on one side when fired it will become egg shaped. So when checking runout it could be caused by the case body. This holds the case more like a neck sized case where the case body has a guiding effect on the bullet and the bore. And this type gauge will give twice the runout reading than the Hornady gauge.
Below the Hornady gauge supports the base of the case and the bullet like the top illustration. This would be like a chambered full length resized case and the body of the case not touching the chamber walls.
The bottom illustration spins on the case body and if the case is not perfectly round it will add to the measured runout. If the case is thinner on one side when fired it will become egg shaped. So when checking runout it could be caused by the case body. This holds the case more like a neck sized case where the case body has a guiding effect on the bullet and the bore. And this type gauge will give twice the runout reading than the Hornady gauge.
Trickymissfit
Well-Known Member
buy a Neco gauge, and then get a good indicator. The ones in the photos are junk
gary
gary
GW Hunter
Well-Known Member
Lol. That about covers all of them... Pretty much what I expected though. It seems as if everyone basically like the ones that they have. So maybe if we approach it from the other end... anyone use one that they didn't like and ended up replacing?
GW Hunter
Well-Known Member
So many tough decisions in this hobby....
bigedp51
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- Joined
- Dec 10, 2010
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If I had to do it over I would have bought the Sinclair concentricity gauge. The RCBS gauge has painted aluminum V-blocks and when the paint wears off the cases become hard to rotate.
The Sinclair gauge has ball bearings that the case rotates on with far less effort.
I would also recommend the Redding neck thickness gauge, and with one twist of the wrist you know how uniform your necks are. I have had Remington .223 cases with over .009 thickness variations so its good for sorting cases. It also helps if your are checking your cases after sizing and checking case neck runout when not neck turning. Meaning you subtract the neck thickness variation from the runout reading for actual runout.
The Sinclair gauge has ball bearings that the case rotates on with far less effort.
I would also recommend the Redding neck thickness gauge, and with one twist of the wrist you know how uniform your necks are. I have had Remington .223 cases with over .009 thickness variations so its good for sorting cases. It also helps if your are checking your cases after sizing and checking case neck runout when not neck turning. Meaning you subtract the neck thickness variation from the runout reading for actual runout.
