I just purchased this to check distance to the lands. I used to do this the old fashion way but thought I'd give this tool a try. I bought the curved one so I could do auto's as well as my bolts. I must say it works real good except when I go to measure the case. You can't get the cartridge to line up straight between the calipers and the ogive bushing. The OAL gauge has a notch in it where the calipers fit in but it doesn't line up with the bushing at the other end.
Measuring OAL with the Hornady LNL chamber tool
- Thread starter jdel
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Re: Measuring OAL with the Hornady LNL chamber tool
I'm not sure that I am following exactly but the notch that you talking about is off set to one side. Did you turn it around and use the it on the other side of the caliper jaw and see if it lines up then?
I'm not sure that I am following exactly but the notch that you talking about is off set to one side. Did you turn it around and use the it on the other side of the caliper jaw and see if it lines up then?
Re: Measuring OAL with the Hornady LNL chamber tool
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-OAL-Gauge-Curved-1-Each/
This is the one I bought. If you look closley you can see a notch in the base of the tool where the caliper jaw fits into. the other side is where the comperator goes around the bullet. When you measure with this the cartridge stays screwed onto the OAL gauge. You then put your calipers over the case with the comperator installed on the calipers. The case doesn't sit square in the calipers, not sure if I was doing something wrong.
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-OAL-Gauge-Curved-1-Each/
This is the one I bought. If you look closley you can see a notch in the base of the tool where the caliper jaw fits into. the other side is where the comperator goes around the bullet. When you measure with this the cartridge stays screwed onto the OAL gauge. You then put your calipers over the case with the comperator installed on the calipers. The case doesn't sit square in the calipers, not sure if I was doing something wrong.
Re: Measuring OAL with the Hornady LNL chamber tool
Have you tried to put the comparator on the caliper jaw the opposite way? I thought you were talking about the notch in the bottom of the comparator where it goes over the the jaw. Try taking the comparator off of the caliper jaw and rotating it 180 degrees and see if it then fits into the grove of the gauge square. In other words, the set screw that holds the comparator on the jaw will be on the other side of the jaw.
The notch in the bottom of the comparator is off set to allow the caliper jaws to line up when used with the OAL gauge. If the comparator is on backwards, the jaws can't line up.
Try that and see if it helps.
I used to put a bullet into a loose fitting case and chamber it and then measure it. What a joke! I was never convinced that it was right. The OAL gauge is so much better. Never a doubt.
Good luck!
Have you tried to put the comparator on the caliper jaw the opposite way? I thought you were talking about the notch in the bottom of the comparator where it goes over the the jaw. Try taking the comparator off of the caliper jaw and rotating it 180 degrees and see if it then fits into the grove of the gauge square. In other words, the set screw that holds the comparator on the jaw will be on the other side of the jaw.
The notch in the bottom of the comparator is off set to allow the caliper jaws to line up when used with the OAL gauge. If the comparator is on backwards, the jaws can't line up.
Try that and see if it helps.
I used to put a bullet into a loose fitting case and chamber it and then measure it. What a joke! I was never convinced that it was right. The OAL gauge is so much better. Never a doubt.
Good luck!
Re: Measuring OAL with the Hornady LNL chamber tool
I am using this and getting numbers showing a shorter length than what i am actually shooting? FGMM 175 7.62x51 w/sierra bullet? against a box of Sierra 175 gr HPBT bullets? 3.195 w/gage w/ bullet 3.220 loaded round w/gage?
I am using this and getting numbers showing a shorter length than what i am actually shooting? FGMM 175 7.62x51 w/sierra bullet? against a box of Sierra 175 gr HPBT bullets? 3.195 w/gage w/ bullet 3.220 loaded round w/gage?
Re: Measuring OAL with the Hornady LNL chamber tool
Yeh they are good tools and i swear by them... just like a caliper they should be in every reloaders tool box
Yeh they are good tools and i swear by them... just like a caliper they should be in every reloaders tool box
Re: Measuring OAL with the Hornady LNL chamber tool
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: duke54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am using this and getting numbers showing a shorter length than what i am actually shooting? FGMM 175 7.62x51 w/sierra bullet? against a box of Sierra 175 gr HPBT bullets? 3.195 w/gage w/ bullet 3.220 loaded round w/gage? </div></div>
This sounds... wrongish.
Did you zero the calipers with the comparator? You're supposed to do this and begin the measurement there.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: duke54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am using this and getting numbers showing a shorter length than what i am actually shooting? FGMM 175 7.62x51 w/sierra bullet? against a box of Sierra 175 gr HPBT bullets? 3.195 w/gage w/ bullet 3.220 loaded round w/gage? </div></div>
This sounds... wrongish.
Did you zero the calipers with the comparator? You're supposed to do this and begin the measurement there.
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