biglou13 Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) I just acquired a double alpha case gauge. And the tolerances on this are much tighter than Dillon gauge!! I have rounds that fail the DA gauge that pass the Dillon. And chamber and shoot fine. The failure to gauge in the DA gauge us about 8%. While Dillon gauge is approx 2% At this point I have stopped culling brass, and there is no trend with head stamps with the DA failures. My failure rate of rounds that pass case gauge is so low I can't remember last time I had a issue less than 1 in 1500 Do I change my ways to satisfy the DA? Why should I? I really don't like culling brass? But may if I ever compete seriously. I feel like my Dillon 550 and dies are set up well! But I'm questioning if there is room for improvement? And what are the people that use the DA doing that I'm not??? Edited July 22, 2016 by biglou13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglou13 Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Anyone.......anyone...... Beuhler....... Anyone.......??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpaw Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Having never used the Double Alpha gauge, my only suggestion would be to return it and buy a Shock Bottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e4effort Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Having never used the Double Alpha gauge, my only suggestion would be to return it and buy a Shock Bottle This is sound advice. Nothing beats a Hundo at this point in time. Pricier than the rest, but worth every penny if you value your time as well as want an AMAZING case gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TangoShooter Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 I use the 9 mm 20-hole version and it is TIGHT! It even seems tighter than the 4-hole, different caliber version. I'm not the most experienced hand loader (5 years), but couldn't get it to like my rounds with Hornady seat + crimp die . Tried a Lee FCD die. Always seemed to like some brass brands more than other (best was Geco). Now I use a Redding seating die, followed by a Hornady taper crimp die. Thats my best setup so far, almost every round goes full in. I wet tumble my brass and clean the gauge regularly with brake cleaner and Q-tips (collects some case lube from inspecting during loading). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglou13 Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Yep that's the one .... 20 round version..... I got it used I'll try cleaning I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it is tight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge40 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 What kind of heads are you using? I switched heads and it cut down the case gauging issues dramatically. I found my shock bottle to be fairly tight too. Almost everything that fails that will plunk in my barrel fine. I like that tho because if it passes the gauge I know it will run in my gun. Plus it saves so much time with boxing and def beats plunking every round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglou13 Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Heads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GForceLizard Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Having never used the Double Alpha gauge, my only suggestion would be to return it and buy a Shock Bottle This is sound advice. Nothing beats a Hundo at this point in time. Pricier than the rest, but worth every penny if you value your time as well as want an AMAZING case gauge. I third that emotion. Love the Hundo. I have the 20 hole DA it's too tight to be of any use to me. The Lyman single is also good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) Stick the DAA on eBay and buy a Hundo. Yes $100 is a lot for a case gauge. But without exaggeration, you can comfortably have 500 rounds (enough for an entire match) neatly packaged in plastic 100rd ammo boxes in about 10 minutes. Worth. Every. Penny. I actually gauge my local match ammo now, not just majors. About 10% of my ammo fails the Hundo since it's tight, but not ridiculously so. That gets tossed into a bucket labeled "PRACTICE" and perhaps 1/100 will fail to feed while I'm using it for drills. Match ammo is boringly reliable, as long as you do your part checking the primers. Edited July 22, 2016 by MemphisMechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Heads? Bullets. Also, +1 on the shock bottle. Great gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darqusoull13 Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 With the Hundo, I can case gauge practice and match ammo in less than 30 minutes a month. Skip any other gauge. Ben Stoeger Pro Shop has blems in stock sometimes if you want a deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echotango Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 You can get blems, raw aluminum only, direct from shock bottle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglou13 Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 ill keep my eye out for blems.... thing is at what point is loading too tight.... maybe even undersized.. over working brass... etc etc.. to the point of diminishing return??? it doesn't sound like anyone here is using one..... i can appreciate 100% reliability.. im pretty much there with dillon gauge, and barrel gauge. ive shot a range of blue's...... currently sns135 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHAVEGAS Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I have rounds that fail the DA gauge that pass the Dillon. And chamber and shoot fine. I've got the Hundo and about a 3% failure rate with 9mm. I separate the failures and use them for practice & then pitch the brass. About all of the rounds that fail in the gauge chamber and shoot just fine (CZ 75's) , I know I have had some that failed to chamber but I can't remember the last time it happened. I suspect that if I had a different gun then I might be closer in tolerance to what the Hundo will pass and perhaps I would want something as tight as the Alpha. Seems like 9mm revolver guys are pretty particular about brass ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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