Stoney Point Comparitors

[savageT]

I recently was looking into a comparitor for O.A.L. for my 6.5x55mm Swede M38....... also case length??  I've heard that Stoney Point's were very good (best?) choice as it enables various bullets with different ogives rather than a standard fixed sample.  Can anyone give me some more information on how the Stoney Point design compares to others out there and do I need more than an OAL comparitor?  I know I can determine over all length by trial and error, but will a comparitor do it better???  What do I need to know before I buy one of these?  TIA.

Jim

[longwinters]

I have both the bullet comparator and the OAL guage.  I have only used the comparator and think it will help me a lot in saving the guesswork.  Duffy uses both and knows his stuff.  Hopefully he will see your post and respond as I have just gotten mine and have yet to use them for reloading and shooting.  Good luck!

long

[Duffy]

Thanks Long.

Savage;
I have the case length gauge and it really helps setting up the size die on the Encore. I can go through and neck size until they grow too much and then FL. Instead of checking each one in the gun the tool makes it much easier and you can see just how close they are getting to needing FL sizing.
On the bullet OAL gauge I used a Sinclair Nut style. While this works fine the SP system is easier to use as getting everything square in the caliper with the nut took a little finess. For checking the distance to the lands I just took a old fired case, split the neck vertically, squeeze it together enough to hold a bullet and chamber it in the gun I want to check. Remove it and measure it. Once you get the OAL that shoots the best in your rifle then it's just a simple matter of using the tool to set that distance for any bullet you want to use. Remember though that anytime you change bullets (brands and even weights of the same brand) you need to take a Max OAL reading for that bullet because they all vary. I just sat down and measured the Max OAL (touching the lands) of all the bullets on hand and made a chart. Then simply subtract how many thousands back they need to be and write it down. The next time you load that bullet setting the die is much quicker.

The biggest help these tools offer is consistancy, and that's the name of the game.

Midsouth Shooters supply seems to have the best price on the Stoney Point stuff.
With the Case headspace gauge and the OAL gauge you only need one base adapter. Check the ad's closely so you aren't buying more than you need. If you have a good handle on your case sizing and headspace then the OAL gauge would be all that's needed at this time.

Ryan

[bigdaddytacp]

I recently was looking into a comparitor for O.A.L. for my 6.5x55mm Swede M38....... also case length??  I've heard that Stoney Point's were very good (best?) choice as it enables various bullets with different ogives rather than a standard fixed sample.  Can anyone give me some more information on how the Stoney Point design compares to others out there and do I need more than an OAL comparitor?  I know I can determine over all length by trial and error, but will a comparitor do it better???  What do I need to know before I buy one of these?  TIA.

Jim

....For the money the Stoney Point seating depth dummy case tool is good....then add the body tool to use the headspace bushing and the bullet comparator as they use the same "body" to hold the bushings.....just use clean cases that don't get banged up on extraction.....I help catch the cases on actions with spring ejectors..you won't have that problem.......also go to a little extra trouble to make sure the case is straight in the caliper and level.........I also use the Sinclair "hex nut" comparator for quick work and it is good for multi caliber workings.....the Davidson version of the comparator uses a base clamp for the caliper that has three base/head steps in it and then the bullet end also clamps on the other caliper leg and you can align the case easier with that version....I got one just for the speed of alignment and do like that fact but for deliberate use and cost the Stoney Point works well and just as good if you take the extra few seconds to align the case in the tool....... just make sure you get the body of the tool seated square and all the way on the caliper and then you can use measurements from different sessions to keep records and compare seating depths and headspace with "apples to apples" measurements........enjoy the new tools and information they can provide....good luck and good shooting-loading!!!

[Jack Crevalle]

I've got the Stoneypoint OAL guage and the bullet comparator.

The OAL guage is great. I don't know if I'd reload without it. One author compared using the Stoneypoint OAL guage and the old smoke a bullet method by saying that the later was like trying to measure the distance to California using a ruler.

I've got mixed feelings about the Stoneypoint bullet comparator. It is supposed to eliminate error by measuring a bullet on the ogive but I get varying accuracy with it. I can get a different reading by pressing down more on the calipers or rotating the cartridge a little.

One thing about the Stoneypoint OAL tool is that you can get a "bent" model to use in auto or lever action rifles. Also, the instructions say you can optionally use a dowel rod to manipulate the bullet from the muzzle when using the OAL guage. I would call this mandatory myself.

[longwinters]

Jack, how do you know how far to put the dowel down the barrel?  No doubt a rather simplistic question.  Also what size dowel would you use?  

long

[Jack Crevalle]

Jack, how do you know how far to put the dowel down the barrel?  No doubt a rather simplistic question.  Also what size dowel would you use?  

long

You put the dowel in the muzzle as a counterpoise to the OAL guage's sliding rod. You slide the bullet in using the OAL guage's rod and you slide the dowel rod in until it touches the bullet. Then using two hands ( one on the dowel rod and one on the slider of the OAL guage ) you can tell by feel when the bullet just makes contact with the lands. You really need to manipulate the sliding rod of the OAL guage with your thumb and index finger while keeping a couple of fingers on the barrel of the guage itself to be sure it is keeping the case seated.

Any dowel that is sufficently narrow enough to slide between the lands without any noticeable friction will work. Ex. .25" works fine for .30 cal.

Of course you really need to read the instructions that come with the guage or contact Stoneypoint to undersatnd how to use it properly.