I've been tinkering

[Jcalder]

I've been looking at the hornady OAL gauge. Kept studying the concept and looking around on forums at reviews. I finally decided I might could make one. So I rounded up some stuff around the house and made an attempt. It failed. Not miserably but wasn't what I was wanting. So I looked around on the net and found what I was looking for. Got home from church and started over.


I started out with a piece of 308 brass. Used a 30-06 die to knock out the primer with out sizing it. I took a cheap ink pen and broke it down until I had just the tube. I proceeded to drill out the primer pocket so a cleaning rod would fit. The tune from the pen fit snugly in the mouth of case. I drilled a hole on the side of the case and threaded it.


I took another piece of unsized brass and knocked out the primer. Drilled the primer pocket again. This is where I had to think. The tube of the pen had to fit inside the primer pocket hole. I don't a little measuring and decided I could drill my hole but it was gonna be tight. I started drilling and stopped to check progress. I decided if the tube would fit I could stop. Luckily it fit and shoved the pen into the primer pocket.




This is my prototype OAL gauge. I know where I need to improve but it's a start.

 

[MUP]

I'm lost! I just use a set of calipers for OAL.

 

[Jcalder]

The concept behind this it to take a case of the caliber of what you want to find OAL for. The problem with hornady gauge seems to be that case they use is essentially a full length sized case. People would rather use a case to fit their specific gun. The contraption I made will fit into the gun with bolt removed. I take a cleaning rod and insert it. On the case that goes into the chamber I stick a bullet. I push the case in as far as it will go and take the rod to push the bullet into the lands. The screw in the other case acts like a set screw. Tighten it down on the rod. Pull it all out of the chamber and take your measurements. It's a crude start but I think it'll be effective

 

[MUP]

Aha, I see now. Pretty cool.