Comperator or 'mic'

[SporterII]

Which is the better tool, RCBS 'mic'or the Hornady counterparts?
It seems like the comparator which clamps onto a caliper is not ad definate and repeatable as the 'precision mic.
This from looking at photos of the two types.

 

[pmclaine]

Re: Comperator or 'mic'

I have and use an RCBS precision mic. It is a great tool and will tell you +/- thousands from the zero which is Saami standard for your particualr caliber.

I havent used the Hornady tool but it will do the same.

The nice thing about the RCBS is that if you only have one caliper it will be available for other measurements.

If you have two calipers the Hornady tool is probably the faster of the two to get a reading.

I bought my RCBS doubling up on a free shipping offer and a 10% deal at Sinclair so it was a reasonable price. If price alone is the factor I think that the Hornady is cheaper.

Sinclair also makes a comparator that measures off a different point than the Hornady and some prefer it.

Either way you wont go wrong and I think they both will give you information that will help you make better ammo or extend the life of your brass.

Edit - Note I wouldnt consider the bullet seat depth measure gadget for the RCBS a selling point. I havent used it in favor of the stoney point/Hornady tool to measure bullet to lands length.

 

[rg1]

Re: Comperator or 'mic'

I have the RCBS Precision Mic for .223 Rem and another for 30-06 which will also work for 25-06. Also I have the Hornady Headspace gauge set. Both are very useful tools. Nice thing about the Hornady set is that it will measure most all caliber cases. You do really need a separate caliper with the Hornady tool and a digital caliper is nice as you can zero it at whatever length. The RCBS Mic also has the capability to measure bullet touching the lands length but it is very touchy and hard to get a consistent reading. The RCBS tool also has the dial that lets you measure bullet ogives. Just to measure shoulder expansion and to adjust your sizing die to push the shoulder back a measured amount the Hornady tool is faster but the RCBS tool gives you the dial that reads in thousandths and is similiar to reading the dials on micrometers. If I wanted to measure headspace and had mulitple calibers I'd get the Hornady set but if you are focusing on one caliber the Precision Mic is good. Get the Mic for your most used rifle caliber and also get the Hornady set. Both useful and worth the money.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Comperator or 'mic'

I thin both the RCBS case mic's and the Hornady (n.e. Stoney Point) tools are fine instruments for gatherint the data that precision reloaders want. Both are capable of givng better measurements than the guns (at least mine) need, when used with care and dillegence.

 

[capreppy]

Re: Comperator or 'mic'

I went with the Hornady because it comes with multiple collars in one package. The RCBS Mic is great, but covers just that caliber. I load for 223, 308, & 260.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Comperator or 'mic'

Effectively. there's no difference but the Hornady/Sinclair is less costly for mulitpule cartridges. Do a web search for Innovative Technologies and look at their neat device with a dial indicator which is a versatile as those using a dial caliper. (Where we measure off a case shoulder or ogive is largely irrelivant to us, it's just a comparitive thing anyway.)

 

[Ballistic308]

Re: Comperator or 'mic'

Definately the Hornady Comperator set is a far better applicable tool just for the reason of it being multi caliber.

For gaging headspace on a 223 case I used the 30 caliber bushing on a fired case, measure it, then size it and read it again (the number is arbitrary, but it doesn't matter as most chambers aren't the same length).

For headspacing on the 308/300WM the process of course is the same, but I utilize the 375 bushing....it's just that simple.

One tool set does it all!