{"id":452,"date":"2023-07-14T19:20:29","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T19:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=452"},"modified":"2023-07-14T19:20:30","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T19:20:30","slug":"just-checking-why-you-need-a-case-gauge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=452","title":{"rendered":"Just Checking: Why You Need A Case Gauge"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-simple-case-gauge-or-case-check-tool-will-drastically-reduce-ammo-related-stoppages\"><strong>A simple case gauge or case-check tool will drastically reduce ammo-related stoppages.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Some mistakes you make only once.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to practice more, you reload your ammo. If you want the best-possible ammo for a given competition, you reload your ammo. And, sooner or later, when vacuuming up the range, you\u2019ll pick up a piece of brass that won\u2019t chamber after you\u2019ve gone to the trouble of cleaning, sizing, priming and loading it. Usually that happens in a match. Murphy\u2019s Law and such.<\/p>\n<p>That night you\u2019ll be searching out case gauges online. Save yourself the match hassle and do it now. Case checkers are simple\u2014a steel or aluminum block with the chamber reamed to absolute minimum chamber dimensions. These are used in rifle reloading to check the \u201cshoulder bump,\u201d the setting back of the shoulder you check so you have a proper headspacing setup in your reloading. You use them a bit differently for handguns.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"517\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Gauge-feature-EGW-Dillon.jpg\" alt=\"Case-Gauge-feature-EGW-Dillon\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-289920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Gauge-feature-EGW-Dillon.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Gauge-feature-EGW-Dillon-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Gauge-feature-EGW-Dillon-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Gauge-feature-EGW-Dillon-696x450.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Gauge-feature-EGW-Dillon-650x420.jpg 650w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many people make case checkers: Just get the caliber you need \u2026 and use it. These are from EGW and Dillon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After you\u2019ve sorted and cleaned your brass (and checked for cracked ones as well), load your ammo. Once you have a batch or several loaded, simply spend some boring alone time dropping each loaded round into the case gauge. Then, turn the gauge over to let it fall out. If this is your match ammo, you\u2019d be wise to also look at and touch the primer on each one to make sure it\u2019s properly seated (not sideways, upside down or crushed) \u2026 and below flush.<\/p>\n<p>If a round won\u2019t drop completely of its own weight, it fails. If it won\u2019t drop out of its own weight when you turn the case gauge over, it fails. Set the fails aside.<\/p>\n<p>What passes is your good ammo, and you can practice or compete with it with complete confidence. What do you do with the fails? Learn. First, inspect them. Do they appear normal? Good. Keep them. The ones where the bullet caught the case mouth and crumpled the case, slipped sideways and did the same, or other case-mangling errors are discards. You might not be belling the empties enough, or you might be ham-handed in setting bullets or pulling the press handle.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge.jpg\" alt=\"Dillon-Case-Gauge\" class=\"wp-image-289921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge-696x435.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge-672x420.jpg 672w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge.jpg\" alt=\"Dillon-Case-Gauge\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-289921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge-696x435.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dillon-Case-Gauge-672x420.jpg 672w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Case checkers are caliber-specific. There\u2019s no \u201cone size fits all,\u201d so buy the calibers you\u2019ll be loading.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Learn what you\u2019re doing wrong and correct it.<\/p>\n<p>When you practice, take along the box of fails. If you\u2019ve been paying attention, they won\u2019t be many, and they\u2019ll probably be cases that are slightly swelled at the base and won\u2019t pass case-check. Shoot your normal practice session.<\/p>\n<p>Now, pick up all your brass (and whatever else you\u2019re in the habit of hoovering up at the gun club). Load a magazine with the fails and shoot them. If they all work, then you know your case gauge is more discriminating than your chamber. So, unless a checked round sticks halfway out of the case-checker, it\u2019s probably still good to go. (Keep them as practice rounds anyway, not as match rounds.)<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1.jpg\" alt=\"EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1\" class=\"wp-image-289923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1-696x435.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1-672x420.jpg 672w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1.jpg\" alt=\"EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-289923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1-696x435.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1-672x420.jpg 672w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">You have to learn if your chamber and the checker are in agreement. This round is just barely not-passing, but it\u2019ll probably work fine in most pistols. Learn about yours; test-shoot the rejects.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If more than just one or two fail in your handgun, then you know the checker and your chamber are in close agreement, and anything that fails the case gauge is \u201cend of practice\u201d ammo only. In that case, you now pick up those empties and deposit them in the trash. You\u2019re performing a public service to fellow club members by getting oversized brass out of circulation.<\/p>\n<p>Where does this brass come from? Some is just bad brass. A quick search will uncover the names and headstamps of brass to avoid. But some of it comes from one of your own club members, who either has a grossly oversized chamber or is running his pressures too high and over-expanding brass.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t let his situation become your problem. Check your ammo and make your practice good, not just malfunction-clearing afternoons.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Editor&#8217;s Note:<\/strong>\u00a0This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/gundigestservice.com\/customer\/subscribe.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gun Digest the Magazine<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>More On Reloading:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-39\" style=\"margin: 8px 0; clear: both;\">\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Get Started in Reloading:<\/p>\n<h3> <a class=\"aff brownells\" target=\"blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=cl&amp;merchant_id=855e0b56-67a2-40d0-aa2b-a0764ca94489&amp;website_id=0edfd0ee-72b2-4671-8283-812dfe1f1627&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brownells.com%2Freloading%2Fbooks-amp-videos%2Fbooks%2Findex.htm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><button>Reloading Manuals from $19.99 <span>brownells.com<\/span><\/button><\/a> <a class=\"aff brownells\" target=\"blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=el&amp;merchant_id=855e0b56-67a2-40d0-aa2b-a0764ca94489&amp;website_id=0edfd0ee-72b2-4671-8283-812dfe1f1627&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brownells.com%2Freloading%2Freloading-kits%2Fexplorer-reloading-kit-prod60599.aspx&amp;ctc=reloading insert\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><button> Beginners&#8217; RCBS Reloading Kit $342.99 <span>brownells.com<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<div>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/storm-tactical-target-pack?path=5\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-271572\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload alignright size-medium wp-image-271572\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\"\/><\/a>NEXT STEP: Download Your <strong>Free<\/strong> Storm Tactical Printable Target Pack<\/h3>\n<p> <strong>62 Printable MOA Targets with DOT Drills &#8211; Rifle Range in YARDS<\/strong> This impressive target pack from our friends at Storm Tactical contains <a href=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/storm-tactical-target-pack?path=5\"><strong>62 printable targets<\/strong><\/a> for rifle and handgun range use. Target grids and bullseye sizes are in MOA. Ideal for long-range shooting!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter and we&#8217;ll send your print-at-home target pack right away.<\/strong> Just enter your email address below. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n<hr\/>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- AI CONTENT END 1 --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A simple case gauge or case-check tool will drastically reduce ammo-related stoppages. Some mistakes you make only once. If you want to practice more, you reload your ammo. If you want the best-possible ammo for a given competition, you reload your ammo. And, sooner or later, when vacuuming up the range, you\u2019ll pick up a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":453,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tactical-gear"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=452"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":454,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452\/revisions\/454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}