Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Which style caliper for me?

You could but ...

Buy a 0" to 6" caliper like this.



or this ...



They're a one size measures all tool for inside and outside measurements with enough accuracy for most tasks - but not all.

I think I will take your advice. Is Starrett still made in the USA. I definately want USA. Will I need to get on ebay and find an older one?

I'd suggest new over ebay used but ... choose whatever you want. The one problem with ebay used is you don't know how much it's been used or how well it's been cared for.

I have a 0" to 6" NSK (made in japan) that's worked perfect for the last 25 or so years.

Starrett is good but no better than B&S, Etalon, Mitutoyo and several others.

I do 99% of what I need to do with my 6" B&S CALIPER. It will measure from .000" up to 6.000". I think the average guy has very little use for a micrometer bigger than 1". I use the "mike" for measuring bullet diameters, loaded round neck diameters and checking tooling. With a little practice, you will be amazed at how repeatable a good caliper is.

My uncle has two or three cheap Chinese digital calipers. They are forever slipping or resetting or just plain giving the wrong measurement.

I would prefer an inexpensive Lyaman, RCBS or whatever brand DIAL caliper over anything but the most expensive of the digital calipers.

Good advice Dennis.

I have a 0" to 1" Brown and Sharpe outside micrometer and a set of joe blocks that when used in combination will accurately measure to the nearest .0001" (ten thousanth of an inch). I find it's more of a novelty than a requirement in most every situation.

Are NEW Starrets made in USA?

I dunno.

I believe so. I like the swiss stuff myself. But I do have a Mitutoyo micrometer that resolves to .00005". It comes in handy sometimes but it mostly overkill.

Starret has a plant in China but don't know exactly what comes from there. They used to all be made in Athol,Mass.

We've been using the Franfort Arsenal digital calipers for years in the shop. They've held up as well as the Brown & Sharpe's so far as I can see. Midway has them on sale from time to time for 20 bucks or less.

Not Butch but we use them as well. After using them to find the size bushing we need on our reamers we leave them in the bore to indicate the barrels before chambering. We chamber in the headstock.

I have Digital B&S 6" for measuring molded plastic parts on sample day and my good set of 6" Starret's that are as smooth as it gets!!!

But for line scratchin and drill measuring and general day to day quick checks it's el-cheapo's that get replaced now and then after a couple good drops