Re: Adequate tool for checking runout?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was planning to just shadow this thread, but nobody's mentioned the Forester tool. Is there a reason for that?</div></div>
It doesn't fit the latest ideas on how to measure 'runout' I guess.
I use a modified version set up to measure 'runout' on the bullet bearing surface just ahead of the case mouth with respect to the case head web diameter, riding in the V-block, which the modified unit allows to be measured as well, kinda like a poor man's NECO but with a far better test indicator.
I also replaced the screws holding the cradle to the arbor with some longer allen head cap screws and stacked sets of opposing Belleville washers (3 total IIRC) on each side to allow the cradle to be rotated relatively easily yet stay in place without having to loosen and tighten it each time. Makes it much easier to level the cartridge.
A Hornady lock ring sits between the back of the 'headstock' and the E-ring on the spring loaded plunger to remove the pressure on the cartridge and provide a reference plane, more or less, for the case head webbing location on the V-block. Also keeps the nose of the bullet from being pressed into the end of the arbor.
The Forster Case Inspector is built along the same lines as the one from H&H as well as the one from Bruno's. A pair of V-blocks with a test indicator on a stand would work just as well as is mentioned here. Not sure if it'd be less expensive and it wouldn't be able to measure neck thickness very easily without a set of plug gages and a V-block clamp (for the plug gage), I think.
Then again I moved the drop indicator that came with the Forster to a cheap granite base comparator stand and use it with the Forster base to measure neck thickness using their pilots set in the arbor. Much easier and more repeatable than as it's delivered. The comparator stand from Enco was forty something bucks. The Bestest test indicator was eighty something bucks on sale. The two swivel clamps were like ten bucks each and the drill rod just a few bucks.
