Caliper Question HELP!!!!

pdt1793db · January 24, 2007, 10:10 PM

Ok this might seem like a dumb question but I just got a Caliper from Frankford Arsenal that is digital and measures mm/inches. I measure a Winchester FMJ 230gr at 20.07mm and .003 inches my Lyman Reloading manual says that same round should be OAL of 1.275''. Second item measured a Winchester .45ACP casing -0.374 inches and 0.06mm my Lyman manual says case lenth should be .898. I then drew out my caliper to those lengths and cannot figure out what .45ACP round is that long. My question is did I buy the wrong caliper? Is there a formula I am not using? What am I doing wrong? Thanks

kkb · January 24, 2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

... Second item measured a Winchester .45ACP casing -0.374 inches ...

Do you need to "zero" the caliper?

XD-Guy · January 25, 2007, 07:19 AM

kkb is right it needs to be zeroed in. Just push the button that says zero

arkie2 · January 25, 2007, 07:21 AM

+1 on what KKB said. My digital calipers have a zero button. Yours should also. Close them up all the way then hold the zero button til it says 0 and see if that doesn't help.

JohnLizCas · January 25, 2007, 07:41 AM

Perhaps you used the wrong part of the dial on the calipers. Mine has two sets of numbers (one metric), the inner circle in English measurements

JohnLizCas · January 25, 2007, 07:43 AM

Never mind. I just reread the post and saw the word digital

Zippy06 · January 25, 2007, 12:43 PM

OAL indicates Over all length.
That is "bullet seated" in the brass.
Oh. And reset to zero.
Er. What the other guys said.

James A. Mullins · January 25, 2007, 11:40 PM

The 1.275 is the overall length the loaded case should be. Yes you need to rezero the calipers. Most load books give you the max case length in both mm and inch.
James

January 24, 2007, 10:10 PM	#1
pdt1793db Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2005 Posts: 170	Caliper Question HELP!!!! Ok this might seem like a dumb question but I just got a Caliper from Frankford Arsenal that is digital and measures mm/inches. I measure a Winchester FMJ 230gr at 20.07mm and .003 inches my Lyman Reloading manual says that same round should be OAL of 1.275''. Second item measured a Winchester .45ACP casing -0.374 inches and 0.06mm my Lyman manual says case lenth should be .898. I then drew out my caliper to those lengths and cannot figure out what .45ACP round is that long. My question is did I buy the wrong caliper? Is there a formula I am not using? What am I doing wrong? Thanks

January 25, 2007, 07:41 AM	#5
JohnLizCas Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 162	calipers Perhaps you used the wrong part of the dial on the calipers. Mine has two sets of numbers (one metric), the inner circle in English measurements __________________ For those who have had to fight for it, life holds a special meaning that the protected will never know.

January 25, 2007, 07:43 AM	#6
JohnLizCas Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 162	calipers Never mind. I just reread the post and saw the word digital __________________ For those who have had to fight for it, life holds a special meaning that the protected will never know.

January 25, 2007, 12:43 PM	#7
Zippy06 Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: S.E. MI Posts: 117	OAL indicates Over all length. That is "bullet seated" in the brass. Oh. And reset to zero. Er. What the other guys said. __________________ Zippy06. U.S.N. Vet. NRA. Lee Turret(circa 1986). 9mm, .357 Mag., .40 S&W, .223 Rem., .30-30 Win., .308 Win. G17, S&W 686, G22C, Colt H-Bar, Marlin, Savage 10FP. Be safe. Be happy

January 25, 2007, 07:19 AM	#3
XD-Guy Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Posts: 102	kkb is right it needs to be zeroed in. Just push the button that says zero

January 25, 2007, 07:21 AM	#4
arkie2 Senior Member Join Date: September 3, 2006 Posts: 475	+1 on what KKB said. My digital calipers have a zero button. Yours should also. Close them up all the way then hold the zero button til it says 0 and see if that doesn't help.

January 25, 2007, 11:40 PM	#8
James A. Mullins Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2006 Location: Vancouver Washington Posts: 124	The 1.275 is the overall length the loaded case should be. Yes you need to rezero the calipers. Most load books give you the max case length in both mm and inch. James