Wilson Case Gauge

      This type of case gauge allows you to verify that the chamber clearance of your handloads is somewhere in the ball park.   This particular gauge is adjustable, and it allows you to see how handloads might fit.   You can compare your handloads to factory loads to see if they're within industry standards.   However, this type of gauge doesn't give you the actual measurement to accurately set the resizing die height for your particular chamber, and you'll need to have a different gauge for every single caliber that you reload.

      I used to use this type of case gauge when reloading rifle calibers, because it's important to "know" that your handloads will chamber.   Before I came out with our Digital Headspace Gauge, this was the best method to see if your handloads would fit in your chamber.   However, this information by itself is ONLY helpful if you also know the exact size of your particular chamber.

      If you push the shoulder back too far during resizing, it creates excessive shoulder clearance.   This stretches your cases, and it will shorten the life of your brass considerably.   That can also cause case head separations, and put enormous pressure on the face of your bolt.   On the other hand, if the shoulder of your resized case doesn't get set back at all, your handloads can cause a jam-up tight fit in your chamber.

      This particular case gauge is designed for a belted magnum cartridge.   That's why it's adjustable.   Factory belted ammo is designed to headspace on the belt.   However, when reloading you need to headspace on the shoulder.   It's important to always bump the shoulder of your cases back at least .001" - .002" to ensure a reliable fit in your chamber.   There is no accuracy gained by crushing a cartridge into your chamber.   This will only ruin concentric alignment and wear the lugs on your bolt.

      Factory rifle chambers are all made within SAAMI dimensions.   However, due to the required volume of mass production, the acceptable "tolerances" are almost never as tight as a good custom chamber.   Remember, it's important to keep in mind that this type of case gauge does not check the width of most RIFLE handloads.   If it did, you would not be able to tell an excessive case length from an excessive case width problem.   Case width problems often affect handloads - especially belted magnum calibers.   If your handloads are too tight in your chamber and they fit inside this gauge, be sure to use calipers to measure the diameter of your case just above the web.