If you're going to do serious reloading, you need a cartridge overall length gague.
No you don't!
It's important to know where your bullet is in it's relationship to the lands.
This can be accomplished with a fired case,a bullet and a dial caliper,without any special tools.
I put a very small dent in one side of the case neck so that a bullet can barely be started into the case with my fingers.
I then barely start a bullet into the case,and insert this assembly into the chamber and slowly close the bolt.
I then gently open the bolt,carefully remove the assembly,and measure the overall length with my dial calipers.
I repeat this procedure a few times with a few different bullets to make sure the results are consistent.
I now have the overall length to the lands with that particular bullet.
