Case Length Gauge problem

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

Recently purchased a LEE 30/30 Win. Case Length Gauge and have struggled with it through a bag of 50 Winchester cases. I've used Lee case length gauges for years and this is the first one to give such trouble. The pin on the end seems to have been turned down from the original pilot metal rather than the usual inserted hardened steel pin that my 8 other gauges have. The actual length has decreased enough that the last few of the 50 cases that I trimed were a few thousands under the first. The OD of the pilot is also larger than the other .308 caliber gauges.
Here's a picture of the 30/30 gauge between a 30-06 and a .308 showing the difference. Anyone ever seen a LEE gauge like the 30/30 here?

 

Thanx,

Bill

[jgalar]

My guess is it slipped by QC. Contact Lee and they should send you a new one.

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

UPDATE

The following message from LEE concerning the 30/30 Case Length Gauge:

"We recently changed from the press-fit needle bearing to the one piece style of case length gauge.  Thank you for contacting us and letting us know what you have found.  I will pass a copy of your letter along to the quality control department.
How are you using the case trimmer - with a power drill, a drill press, or by hand?"

My reply included an explanation that all the trimming had been done by hand, plus an offer to trade their "new style" for an "old style".

Bill

[jgalar]

Well that stinks. I've always had good luck with the Lee trimmers. I would hate to start having problems with them because of cost cutting measures.

[PA-Joe]

If it is truely one piece and not an insert then how would the length change? Was the end flat or round when you started. The new pine also looks tapered. I would say that the pin is too wide to go into the primer hole all of the way and that the more you use it the more pressure you are using pushing it further down into the primer hole. Did you measure the case cut lengths and are they within specs?

[quickdtoo]

The separate pin is a hardened material and doesn't wear as much as the gage itself, I've cut down gages for use in chamberings that Lee doesn't offer, the body is easy to file, but the pin is hard and requires grinding to shorten the length, a file doesn't work well on it. I'd rather they charged a little more for a gage with a hardened pin than to be concerned about them getting too short to trim to proper length. 

Tim

[stimpylu32]

My guess here would be that the new one peice design will need to be hardend at the pin area , other wise you are going to see wear at the pin end causing the cases to be trimmed shorter and shorter as the pin wears down .

stimpy

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

It is indeed one piece now. I've tried to photo a closeup view of the area on the end of the pin that has actually mushroomed as if peened with a hammer. This if from hand pressure only.
The pin will fit into the flash hole.



Bill

[tc scout]

Quick Fix- put a small weld on tip, quench in water quickly, will be somewhat harder, grind to proper length.  Better fix- cut off tip, redrill pin hole to accept a "needle bearing" pin from an old roller bearing. Made one for my 357 max from a 35 Rem case length gauge, works great. Those pins are harder than factory pins. 

[jgalar]

I would send the piece of $#@% back to Lee for a refund or exchange. If they have to keep replacing faulty tools they may just go back to making them the correct way.

[LaOtto222]

Back in the day the bodies were aluminum. The steel bodies were a step up. The one piece is a step backward.

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

One last update

What a surprise!
First wrote to LEE on the 17th, via email, about the problems with the case length gauge. Today, the 19th, I just got a package in the mail from LEE with a new case length gauge. This one has a much finer finish and the pilot shoulder is the same OD as my other .308 caliber gauges and fits into the cases with ease. It's the "new one piece style" as well.
Stimpy mentioned hardening the pin area. Might not be a bad idea...the pin is definately a lot softer than the old style. I put the edge of a small file on this new one and it is easliy cut.

Anyway, I'm back in business again. Thanks for all the input and suggestions!

Bill

[quickdtoo]

Maybe a little dry lube on the lock stud and tip would be in order to reduce the wear on it. To harden it, I'd heat the tip cherry red with a propane torch on on the kitchen stove and quench it in used motor oil....unless you have some Kasinte.

Tim

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

Funny thing is Tim, I was just out in the garage looking for my can of Casenite (another brand name)! If only I could remember where I put it...(CRS hitting me again) 


Bill