The Accurate Reloading Forums
I need a new dial caliper. Have a suggestion?
25 September 2006, 19:07
SpringI need a new dial caliper. Have a suggestion?
Who makes the best dial caliper? Any thoughts on the electronic ones?
25 September 2006, 19:32
MarkI hate to sound like a heretic but a $20 electronic caliper works just as good as anything else for what you use a caliper for. The nice thing about electronic ones is you can push a button and presto get a metric reading.
Now micrometers are a different story, but that is my suggestion regarding calipers. You can take the money you save and stock up on the #357 batteries though, they go through those little buggars every couple of months if you don't take them out between uses. (just so you know I'm not BS'ing you, why do you think I know that number off the top of my head!)
for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside
25 September 2006, 19:59
Ol` JoeFor reloading the ones sold by Midway work as well as any. If I was useing one for bussiness or was working with extreemly small tolerance that had to be exact I would look at something like a Brown & Sharpes or high end tool.
The Midway one I had -dog jumped on me & knocked the tool out of my hand bending the slide on the floor. I replaced it with a cheaper Starret- checked out exact on .250" and .500" machine blocks for accuracy.
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25 September 2006, 20:03
duikermanquote:
Originally posted by Ol` Joe:
For reloading the ones sold by Midway work as well as any.
Yup, that is a great tool and IMO it's as good as a Starrett or B&S!
25 September 2006, 20:13
Springquote:
Originally posted by Ol` Joe:
For reloading the ones sold by Midway work as well as any.
Midway sells several, including different models by Frankford, Hornaday, Lyman, and RCBS. Which of the ones "sold by Midway" did you have in mind? Are they all about the same?
25 September 2006, 21:46
Ol` JoeMine was the "old" Midway brand before they went to the Frankford name. I suspect they are all made oversea by generally the same guys.
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The trouble with the Internet is that it's replacing masturbation as a leisure activity. ~Patrick Murray
"Why shouldn`t truth be stranger then fiction?
Fiction after all has to make sense." (Samual Clemens)
"Saepe errans, numquam dubitans --Frequently in error, never in doubt".
26 September 2006, 01:03
StonecreekHarbor Freight & Tool has a six inch electronic model that regularly goes on sale for about $16. My experience with it indicates that is is as accurate as you can get in caliper configuration. And yes, ALWAYS make sure it is "off" or remove the battery if you want it to work the next time you take it out of the cabinet.
26 September 2006, 01:14
b beyerThe most inexpensive one they have will suit your purposes as well as any, barring droping it on a cement floor.
Bob
26 September 2006, 01:17
mhoquote:
Originally posted by Spring:
Who makes the best dial caliper?
Starrets are pretty nice, as are Brown & Sharpe.
I also have a Mitutoyo, and found it nothing special. In reality, a cheapo caliper does 99.99% of what a more expensive model does - at least for reloading purposes. You really only buy a better model for the "feel" of quality in operation, measurements are likely to be the same as with the cheapo model...
http://longislandindicator.com/calipers.html has a pretty good introduction to the various brands.
- mike
*********************
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26 September 2006, 01:24
SpringI think I'm going to go with a Starrett. Thanks!
26 September 2006, 01:55
DobleTrobleFor reloading spending more is like lighting your cigars with $20 bills.
______________________________
DT
26 September 2006, 02:32
ZekeI have a set of spendy Mititoyo dial calipers and a set of el-cheapo Harbor Freight dial calipers. The el-cheapo calipers work just fine for reloading. The only difference between the cheap calipers and the Mititoyo calipers is the Mititoyo's action is much smoother. Accuracy is the same.
I have two sets of cheap electronic calipers. Both work fine. If I was limited to one set, I'd get the Harbor Freight cheapie digital calipers. They work just as good as the spendy ones for handloading.
ZM
26 September 2006, 05:02
djpaintlesI have used Brown & Sharpe, Starret, Mitutoyo. I now use the inexpensive harbor freight digital model. A cheapy digital is easier to use than a dial high end model.
If you can afford a Digital Starret or other great, but I'd be sure and buy a digital model................DJ
....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!..................
26 September 2006, 09:06
STINGERquote:
Originally posted by b beyer:
The most inexpensive one they have will suit your purposes as well as any, barring droping it on a cement floor.
have to agree. i had two that hit the floor. kaput. i never have been known for my style and grace.
you don't need one millionth of an inch accuracy for loading tasks.
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HANDLOADS ARE LIKE UNDERWEAR....BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SWAP WITH.
BILL
26 September 2006, 11:24
wrongtargetI bought one of the Sinclair digital calipers, works very well.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?catego...em=MIC-10&type=store26 September 2006, 11:48
Zekequote:
Originally posted by wrongtarget:
I bought one of the Sinclair digital calipers, works very well.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?catego...em=MIC-10&type=store
That set looks a lot like the set I just bought for my wife at Harbor Freight for $15.99.
ZM
26 September 2006, 21:47
wrongtargetFor that matter, most digital calipers look a lot alike! My grand dad taught me that you get what you pay for in tools, cheap tools aren't really cheap when you need to replace them. The Sinclair caliper isn't the most expensive nor the cheapest, but they've got an excellent reputation and I prefer to use a tool that gives me reliable accurate readings when reloading, I didn't have any confidence in a $20 tool, so I spent more money on a tool that performed was well as one that cost considerably more.
Tim
26 September 2006, 23:08
Stonecreekquote:
Originally posted by wrongtarget:
you get what you pay for in tools . . . so I spent more money on a tool that performed as well as one that cost considerably more.
Tim
So which is it? "You get what you pay for", or you can buy a tool that "performed as well as one that cost considerably more"?
Sounds like Bush explaining tax give-aways and the deficit.
26 September 2006, 23:41
wrongtargetquote:
Originally posted by Stonecreek:
So which is it? "You get what you pay for", or you can buy a tool that "performed as well as one that cost considerably more"?
If you've priced calipers, there are several levels of cost, just like optics, pick one you can live with. I've never been stung with a mid priced product, but have been trying to go cheap, and that certainly doesn't help on a retiree's income!
The Mitutoyo digital calipers that Sinclair compared the MIC-10 to sell for $120-$130.
Tim
27 September 2006, 00:28
LongshotHorable Freight:
has 4" calipers for $14.00 and 6" calibpers for $15.99. They are as good as those sold by midway.
Rustystud
27 September 2006, 02:52
AZ PeteHarbor Freight $15.99 electronic works. Can't beat the price.
NRA Patron Life Member
27 September 2006, 03:24
RustyFowler Calipers make a great dial caliber.
I have their 6 inch dial caliper. Works like a charm!
Calipers
Rusty
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27 September 2006, 03:28
grizz007I have been using my Lyman digital with "auto power-off", it was not a cheap seeing these other 15 dollar models. Spent 60 bucks or something like that yrs back, would be nice to have a smoother running one but what the hay.
regards,
27 September 2006, 04:07
djpaintlesCalipers are a situation where the $159 ones don't really work that much better than the $15.99 ones. I've used the Harbor Freight, Mitutoyo, Starret, Brown and Sharp etc. and the only huge difference in usability is having the digital one.
Your pride of ownership in a Starret or B&S is greatly diminished the first time you drop it. You then realize you should have bought the less expensive one................DJ
....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!..................
27 September 2006, 04:19
FireformI use a Lyman dial caliper. Works fine and the battery never goes dead.
27 September 2006, 05:27
brasskeeperMitutoyo, Starrett, or Browne and Sharpe
27 September 2006, 10:13
BeliniI have used Mitutoyo and the inexpensive Cabelas brand calipers. Ifind they are both as accurate and I have never had any problems with the Cabelas.