Hornady Concentricity Gage

[roc1]

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First of all I do not have any benchrest rifles. I would like to know if this Hornady Concentricity gage would help enough on standard loads for my rifles to make a difference in moa to justify buying it? I like to get the best out of my rifles but with a standard hunting rifle is this really going to help or not worth the effort? I know I can play with loads and get good groups.I have thought about this and also neck trimmers but did not know the best way to go or even if I should mess with it unless I get or build a truly target style rifle?
Thanks for help
roc1

 

[hornady]

I too toyed with the Idea of a Concentricity Gage. Bullet Concentricity dose play a large part in Accuracy. But if like me Just hunting and shooting paper. I don't think it will pay for its self.. You can buy a bunch of bullets for the price of one. There are a bunch of things you can do to up Accuracy before you get to the New Gage. One thing a lot of guys over look. If loading for one rifle, and bolt action. Switch from FL dies. And try a neck sizer. With fire formed cases.

 

[roc1]

I do neck size some calibers need to do all of them. How do you get fire formed cases? Can you make your FL dies neck size properly?
Thanks
roc1

 

[contender]

I actually have two different concentricity guages. I have used them,, and in general,, for most hunting applications,, haven't shown enough of a differences to warrant owning one.
But,,,,
I use a T/C Contender a lot in deer hunting,, and I make neck shots almost exclusivily. That requires a lot of accuracy. I try & eliminate as many mechanical errors before that loose nut behind the trigger does his thing. I have noticed a small (about 1/4" average) difference in groups when I segregate my cases into batches after using the concentricity guage.
This is after I have done the following; Fireformed my cases, trimmed them to length, I do NOT neck turn any, chamfer the necks, deburr the flash hole from the inside, uniform the primer pockets, and load them to what has been found to be my sweet spot length. Of course I seperate the case manufacturers as well. Since it's hunting ammo,, I do FL resize as I do NOT want a follow-up quick shot on deer #2 to be stopped by a sticky case, something that could happen. My load doesn't have burnback issue where the cases don't seal in the chamber.
Then,, I do run them on my concentricity guage to segregate them into different batches.
I enjoy 1/2" groups at 100 yds from a bench that way.
I know I could do more,, and maybe squeeze out a bit more accuracy,, but I'm happy with that.
Fireforming is easy. It's just loading a case & firing it in one gun,, and keeping the brass seperate for that one gun. And yes,, most FL dies can be adjusted to where they neck size only.

 

[roc1]

Thanks Contender for the info. I guess i have heard what fireforming was just forgot. I will research ow to set dies for neck sizing and try that. I just ordered a Hornady case gage.
roc1

 

[contender]

I bought a Stoney Point OAL guage several years ago to be able to get a handle on seating depth of different calibers & guns. I also bought several modified cases to go along with it. That said,, I can work on different things to assist me in obtaining optimum accuracy out of my reloads. I have found that "little things" can sometimes help a lot.

 

[roc1]

I saw that Stoney is now marketed by Hornady. Does that really help?
I just ordered me a Hornady gage to check runout.
Thanks again
roc1