Cartridge Gage vs "plunk test"

Nathan · May 24, 2013, 04:53 PM

I always do the plunk test, but recently, I've been reloading for multiple pistols in each caliber. In this case, I just check one.

Are case gages worth the money, or am I better off doing the "plunk test".

F. Guffey · May 24, 2013, 06:32 PM

I will assume the plunk test is accomplished by dropping a loaded round in the barrel chamber. There are reloaders that do the plunk with a Wilson case gage.

Nathan, I have gages, most are one ended, meaning one end is open, not a problem, there are straight edges, height gages and set up tables. I also use the feeler gage, to some it is know and or called a thickness gage.

F. Guffey

wpsdlrg · May 25, 2013, 05:54 AM

The "plunk test" is great, for what it is. It ONLY tells you if the finished rounds will chamber in that barrel - that's all. It tells NOTHING about function - feeding, extraction, ejection, etc.

So, I much prefer the "cycle test". I test cycle a representative sample from each loaded batch (a dozen or so) in each gun in which they will be used. If they cycle easily in the guns, by HAND operation, then they certainly will in actual use.

WESHOOT2 · May 25, 2013, 06:37 AM

Virtually all production guns have chambers larger than the case gauges available (I use Dillon and Midway and EGW).

But....

....I have one custom-barreled 9x19 with chamber so tight that none of my gauges can tell me if ammo will fit.

boxing21 · May 25, 2013, 09:51 AM

The "plunk" test is better than nothing, but for the price of a gauge I have one for every caliber I reload. This is more important if you have multiple firearms in the same caliber that you will be shooting your loads in. As mentioned, I also do a "cycle" test each time I make a new batch. Using the gauge, and the cycle test, I've never encountered any problems. Plus, I'm lazy (not really but..) so it's easier to grab the gauge from my bench, than it is to go into the safe, and field strip the weapon.

boondocker385 · May 25, 2013, 10:04 AM

I plunk and cycle test. I wave one lone Wolf barrel that is tight compared to others in the same caliber and use it.

DennRN · May 25, 2013, 10:39 AM

I'm a noob compared to you, but here is my take:
A case gauge will only help you get into the ballpark.
Using the barrel of the gun you are reloading for will tell you a little bit more since it is exactly the specs you are trying to match.
That being said I use a factory round as an initial template in my reloading.
I use my barrel to modify a few uncharged and unprimed rounds until it is to spec with a comfortable margin of error, then use my case gauge and calipers to keep me in that ballpark for the duration of an ammo run.
Before going to the range I barrel plunk each bullet since I like to oil my barrels for storage and have to clean them prior to heading out anyway.

-Dennis

CrustyFN · May 25, 2013, 01:44 PM

A case gage won't tell you if the OAL is good. Only the barrel will do that. For example if I seat a 124 grain JHP to an OAL of 1.12 and everything else is good the round will pass the case gage test. It will chamber and work in my Glock fine but if I want it to work in my CZ the bullet has to be seated to an OAL of 1.036. If I want the same ammo to work in both guns then it all has to be seated to the shorter OAL. The case gage dosen't do me much good.

57K · May 25, 2013, 07:14 PM

The best cartridge gauge is your pistol's chamber. If you own and load for multiple pistols in the same caliber, you can load for each pistol individually, or load for the pistol with the shortest throat/tightest chamber as the worst case scenario.

hodaka · May 25, 2013, 07:16 PM

I use the barrels for 9mm and .45 but a case gage is needed for .223 because cycling is too difficult and dangerous.

357gp · May 26, 2013, 08:47 AM

Don't forget to do a magazine fit check as well. I've had some pass the plunk test & then fail to fit in my mags. All were made to published COL's.

603Country · May 26, 2013, 09:07 AM

I 'plunk' em and then shoot a few.

McDAccountant · May 26, 2013, 03:20 PM

Quote:

The "plunk test" is great, for what it is. It ONLY tells you if the finished rounds will chamber in that barrel - that's all. It tells NOTHING about function - feeding, extraction, ejection, etc.

So, I much prefer the "cycle test". I test cycle a representative sample from each loaded batch (a dozen or so) in each gun in which they will be used. If they cycle easily in the guns, by HAND operation, then they certainly will in actual use.

I do the "plunk test". I do the "cycle test". After the cycle test, I go a step further and check the COAL for any possible bullet setback. If the COAL is different from what I started with, I know I have a potential problem.

Edward429451 · May 27, 2013, 02:01 AM

The cycle test is a given, but when reloading I prefer the plunk test for handgun cartridges and case gauges for rifle rounds.

Though when I first began reloading, it was for 45acp and my colt 1911 and I merely did a magazine test and it never steered me wrong. If they fit in the mag it would work in the gun.

May 24, 2013, 04:53 PM	#1
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,328	Cartridge Gage vs "plunk test" I always do the plunk test, but recently, I've been reloading for multiple pistols in each caliber. In this case, I just check one. Are case gages worth the money, or am I better off doing the "plunk test".

May 24, 2013, 06:32 PM	#2
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	I will assume the plunk test is accomplished by dropping a loaded round in the barrel chamber. There are reloaders that do the plunk with a Wilson case gage. Nathan, I have gages, most are one ended, meaning one end is open, not a problem, there are straight edges, height gages and set up tables. I also use the feeler gage, to some it is know and or called a thickness gage. F. Guffey Last edited by Brian Pfleuger; May 24, 2013 at 06:48 PM.

May 25, 2013, 06:37 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	gauge vs chamber Virtually all production guns have chambers larger than the case gauges available (I use Dillon and Midway and EGW). But.... ....I have one custom-barreled 9x19 with chamber so tight that none of my gauges can tell me if ammo will fit. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

May 25, 2013, 01:44 PM	#8
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	A case gage won't tell you if the OAL is good. Only the barrel will do that. For example if I seat a 124 grain JHP to an OAL of 1.12 and everything else is good the round will pass the case gage test. It will chamber and work in my Glock fine but if I want it to work in my CZ the bullet has to be seated to an OAL of 1.036. If I want the same ammo to work in both guns then it all has to be seated to the shorter OAL. The case gage dosen't do me much good. __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

May 25, 2013, 05:54 AM	#3
wpsdlrg Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2009 Posts: 826	The "plunk test" is great, for what it is. It ONLY tells you if the finished rounds will chamber in that barrel - that's all. It tells NOTHING about function - feeding, extraction, ejection, etc. So, I much prefer the "cycle test". I test cycle a representative sample from each loaded batch (a dozen or so) in each gun in which they will be used. If they cycle easily in the guns, by HAND operation, then they certainly will in actual use.

May 25, 2013, 09:51 AM	#5
boxing21 Member Join Date: March 22, 2006 Posts: 41	The "plunk" test is better than nothing, but for the price of a gauge I have one for every caliber I reload. This is more important if you have multiple firearms in the same caliber that you will be shooting your loads in. As mentioned, I also do a "cycle" test each time I make a new batch. Using the gauge, and the cycle test, I've never encountered any problems. Plus, I'm lazy (not really but..) so it's easier to grab the gauge from my bench, than it is to go into the safe, and field strip the weapon.

May 25, 2013, 10:04 AM	#6
boondocker385 Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 640	I plunk and cycle test. I wave one lone Wolf barrel that is tight compared to others in the same caliber and use it.

May 25, 2013, 10:39 AM	#7
DennRN Member Join Date: April 10, 2013 Posts: 96	I'm a noob compared to you, but here is my take: A case gauge will only help you get into the ballpark. Using the barrel of the gun you are reloading for will tell you a little bit more since it is exactly the specs you are trying to match. That being said I use a factory round as an initial template in my reloading. I use my barrel to modify a few uncharged and unprimed rounds until it is to spec with a comfortable margin of error, then use my case gauge and calipers to keep me in that ballpark for the duration of an ammo run. Before going to the range I barrel plunk each bullet since I like to oil my barrels for storage and have to clean them prior to heading out anyway. -Dennis

May 25, 2013, 07:14 PM	#9
57K Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2013 Location: Heart of Texas Posts: 788	The best cartridge gauge is your pistol's chamber. If you own and load for multiple pistols in the same caliber, you can load for each pistol individually, or load for the pistol with the shortest throat/tightest chamber as the worst case scenario.

May 25, 2013, 07:16 PM	#10
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I use the barrels for 9mm and .45 but a case gage is needed for .223 because cycling is too difficult and dangerous.

May 26, 2013, 08:47 AM	#11
357gp Member Join Date: April 22, 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 20	Don't forget to do a magazine fit check as well. I've had some pass the plunk test & then fail to fit in my mags. All were made to published COL's.

May 26, 2013, 09:07 AM	#12
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I 'plunk' em and then shoot a few.

May 27, 2013, 02:01 AM	#14
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	The cycle test is a given, but when reloading I prefer the plunk test for handgun cartridges and case gauges for rifle rounds. Though when I first began reloading, it was for 45acp and my colt 1911 and I merely did a magazine test and it never steered me wrong. If they fit in the mag it would work in the gun.