Stoney Point or Siclair OAL tool?

18 September 2006, 08:13

jb177

I've been using the old wooden dowel trick to get my OAL for touching the lands. Seems I can do it with so-so accuracy as my measurements change the more times I repeat the test, so I just average them.

Anyways, I would like to get another tool to help me be more confident in my measurements. Seems like Stoney point or the Sinclair tool are the most popular. The stoney point seems more popular, but I don't like having to send a fired casing off or tapping my own to get the best results. The sinclair seems easy to use but haven't read about a lot of people using it.

So, which one are you guys using and why? I appreciate the input.

18 September 2006, 08:44

woods

The Sinclair tool I have would not fit in all guns and the little knurl knob was difficult to lock down. The plastic knob eventually came loose and I quit using it.

http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?catego...em=09-400&type=store

I do use the Stoney Point along with a tool I bought from R-P Products:

I don't know if they are still in business but their number is 318-424-7867. For $25.00 it was a good buy and it is fool proof. Does the same thing as the cleaning rod in the muzzle but it is easy to set. I use it in conjunction with the Stoney Point which makes an excellent tool for inserting and holding the bullet to the lands.

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18 September 2006, 09:18

smedley

Another vote for Stoney Point!

Never used Sinclair so I can't give a comparison but, have beeen using the SP for years.

I have just bought the cases (from Midway) I need for a caliber. They are about 4 bucks. The way I see it I will have it for ever so the $4 is a wash in the big scheme of things.

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18 September 2006, 21:30

SxS-boy

A friend gave me a Stony Point comparetor and all of his case adapters

because he said it wasn't very accurate.

I have used it for 3 year now and the only problem that I do have with it is sometimes I have to turn down the necks a little on my rifles w/ tight chambers and on my last 2 guns I've made my own carteidge adapters (30-338 & 250 sav. Ack. Imp)

My friend uses the Sinclair tool and I do feel it's more accurate but not-so-much more that it is worth the degree of dificulty

Good Luck, Joe

18 September 2006, 21:41

Jim White

I have been using a Sinclair for about 10 years now and find it to be extremely accurate and easy to use. If you use it with your rifle in a muzzle down orientation it really is simple to use. Jim

99% of the democrats give the rest a bad name.

"O" = zero

NRA life member

18 September 2006, 22:20

hvy barrel

Stoney Point, I like mine very much. It is easy to use. I have never used the Sinclair tool so I don't have an opinion on it. Sinclair seems to make some quality products though.

19 September 2006, 02:39

jb177

Thanks for the info, need to look for the off-sized tap so that I can do my own casings. I want to use a fired casing from my rifle, seems like it would be much better that way.

19 September 2006, 05:44

Jim White

quote:
Originally posted by jb177:
Thanks for the info, need to look for the off-sized tap so that I can do my own casings. I want to use a fired casing from my rifle, seems like it would be much better that way.

Thats the way you do it with the Sinclair only you don't need to ruin a case by tapping it.
Either one works just fine when properly employed. Just a matter of which one you prefer. Jim

99% of the democrats give the rest a bad name.

"O" = zero

NRA life member

19 September 2006, 22:58

belaw

I approach this in a slightly different manner. I take a fired (unsized) case from the rifle I'm loading for, slightly flatten one side of the neck to provide a loose friction fit for a bullet then put a few dabs of epoxy on the INSIDE of the neck; insert a bullet sticking out as far as possible and then chamber and leave it until the epoxy dries. The result is a perfect reference round for your rifle.

20 September 2006, 22:28

VarmintGuy

Jb177: I have been using the wonderful Sinclair Tool for about 12 years now.
I think it is the best tool on the market for determining precise OAL for a particular Rifle.
I sold my Stoney Point stuff and have never looked back!
I find the Sinclair Tool rather easy to use BUT even though I use it 6 to 10 times a year for my new Rifles and when changing bullets etc, I still need to follow the directions (with the directions in front of me!). I think there are 8 or 9 steps in the illustrated instructions.
Simple (almost!) and precise - this tool is!
I finally wore the price tag off of the container that my Sinclair Tool came in (and that I use to store it in) but I think the price I paid back then was #17.00 - that was the best $17.00 I ever spent on a reloading aid!
Best of luck with whichever tool you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

21 September 2006, 05:23

Old Cane

quote:
Originally posted by hvy barrel:
Stoney Point, I like mine very much. It is easy to use. I have never used the Sinclair tool so I don't have an opinion on it. Sinclair seems to make some quality products though.

Ditto.

21 September 2006, 23:47

Norwester

I'v use the Sinclair tool for years, and have been happy with the results. The only thing I'v had to buy for it was another Delrin guide to fit my .308 as the one that came with the tool was too large. only a few $s IIRC. I asked the same question back on the old "Shooters" board before I bought and most of the BR shooters there thought the Sinclair besides being easiest to use & not having to invest time and/or money in cartridge adaptors,was the most accurate and gave more repeatable readings.