Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Which Concentricity Gauge?

Looking to buy a Concentricity Gauge. Which one should I get? Leaning toward Sinclair as it looks like a nice simple tool to do the job. Other options I should be looking at?

The Forster tool also measures neck thickness, but for measuring TIR I prefer the Sinclair tool.

I like the Sinclair

I've had a Sinclair runout gauge for a long time. It's probably the least used tool on the bench, but it's of good quality like all Sinclair stuff and is very quick and simple to operate.

Sinclair and you may want to buy a TruAngle gadget to straighten a case.

There will be someone to come along and say if you reload straight to begin with you don't need these gadgets.

You should be loading straight ammo to begin with. If not, there is something wrong with your equipment or process. A concentricity gauge is a very useful tool for checking to be sure what you are producing is nice and straight.

Truth be told, I also followed advice from here and purchased the Sinclair,
I did not care for it, Too many things to hold on to and try to keep in place. I sold it at a loss,

My next one will be a 21st Century, twice the price, 4 times the quality.

buy once, cry once.

Size and seat straight ammo to begin with..........

I have the early Sinclair (without the bumps on the v-blocks), the later Sinclair, and the RCBS. I use the RCBS the most.

I would have thought the bumps on the Sinclair would be easier to spin the case, but it really doesn't seem to make a difference.

Accuracy One Accuracy One

I think this is their new website: Bullet Tipping

it uses a dial test indicator which is the best way to measure for run-out. It is also based on a Universal Punch concentricity gage which costs $1500 and up that machine-shops and manufacturers will buy/use. I bought one a couple years ago, zero complaints

And the handloading game continues to become more sophisticated--and expensive.......

But that is a cool tool that addresses some things about measuring concentricity.

This one is awesome: http://www.xxicsi.com/concentricity-gauge.html

For the average guy the Hornaday is more than adequate. https://www.hornady.com/reloading/p...nd-gauges/lock-n-load-concentricity-tool

Yes most of the tools 21st Century makes are very nice but to me it sounds like you didn't know how to use the Sinclair, it works nicely and no problem with the quality

But for 300 bucks....it isn't too too bad. I also have the Co-Ax concentricity gage and it was a waste of money.

We used the $1500 gages I mentioned at work and this concentricity gage works in the same principle/idea is is very accurate. You don't touch the part/cartridge with your hands/fingers

Buy one that is inexpensive and easy to use. No need to further complicate things. You just need to check the run-out of your loaded ammo. I bought my concentricity gauge second hand at a LGS. Cost $50.00, but was well worth it. After buying it, I found out some of my dies were not set up optimally to produce straight ammo. Its probably one of the best pieces of reloading equipment I've spent my money on:

A means of checking runout is a great diagnostic tool.

Check a piece of fired brass. You'll find out about your chamber.

Size a piece of brass without the expander in place. Check the runout on the neck. You'll know about your size die.

Size a piece of brass with the expander in place, or post expansion by another method. Check the runout on the neck. You'll know what your bullets will be seated into.

Seat a bullet in a piece of straight brass. Check the runout on the bullet. You'll know how well your seater works with the particular bullet you've chosen.

These are all based on the assumption that the brass itself isn't really bad.

The Accuracy One and 21st Century use the ideal type of dial test indicator. The vertical plunger/probe type is not very good for measuring runout because of cosine error.

Also, while the gauges mentioned on this page so far will measure the concentricity of various parts of the brass and the bullet seated in the neck, what is substantially more important in the results is the concentricity of the jacket and core. This cannot be measured with a dial test indicator. Vern Juenke made internal bullet concentricity comparators to detect variations in the thickness of jackets. These machines have been used by competitors, but I believe most people have come to depend on the bullet companies like Berger and Lapua to deliver bullets with sufficient internal concentricity for their intended purpose. Because Berger, for example, does a pretty good job, measuring internal concentricity may not be very important. So while I asserted that this concentricity may be the most important kind, we don't necessarily have to check it or measure it because we can take it for granted if we buy the right bullets. There may still be some advantage to sorting bullets with a Vern Juenke machine, particularly for longer ranges. Winners in King of 2 Miles use lathe-turned solid bullets where there is no chance of the jacket and core being internally lopsided.

Alas, all is futility.

I have been happy with my Sinclair tool. I didn't care for the Bonanza tool.

True