L.E. Wilson has been making case gauges longer than anyone- since 1936! So when there’s an update from Wilson related to gauges, that’s NEWS!

L.E. Wilson has made a couple updates to the case gauge lineup that I’ll cover in this article. First, gauges are now offered in a new material: brass. This is great because brass gauges aren’t prone to corrosion, and they look great. There’s also a new type of gauge available: the “Minimum Dimension” gauge which checks two things. First, you can confirm that your ammunition is loaded to SAAMI minimum chamber specifications, and second you can check Cartridge Overall Length (COL). Let’s check out these new gauges!

Brass Construction

The new Wilson Brass gauges are now available at retailers like Midsouth Shooters Supply.

Above, brass gauges, from left: 223 Remington Minimum Dimension Gauge, 223 Remington Case Gauge, 308 Winchester Minimum Dimension Gauge, 308 Winchester Case Gauge.

The following Case Gauges are currently available in brass construction: (check the Wilson product page for the latest list)

• 223 Remington
• 224 Valkyrie
• 243 Winchester
• 260 Remington
• 300 AAC Blackout
• 308 Winchester
• 6/6.5 Creedmoor
• 6.5×47 Lapua

And the following Minimum Dimension gauges are available in brass construction: (check the Wilson product page for the latest list)

• 223 Remington
• 300 AAC Blackout
• 308 Winchester
• 357 SIG
• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 6.5 Grendel
• 6.8 SPC
• 7.62x39mm

NEW! Minimum Dimension (Minimum Chamber) Gauges

From the Wilson Minimum Dimension Gauge product page:

Ever wonder if your reloads meet min chamber dimensions? Then this is the gage for you. Made with the same tight tolerances you have come to expect from all your Wilson Tools. Best used if you are loading ammo to work in multiple gun chambers of the same caliber. We recommend using this in conjunction with the Regular Case Gage to prevent over-sizing. Gage verifies Min Chamber Dimensions and OAL for SAAMI. NOTE: Check with your bullet manufacturer to verify OAL this will vary depending on what grain and style bullet you are using. Min Dimensions Gages are made to SAAMI specifications for Min Chamber. SAAMI Min Chamber specs are slightly LARGER than Max Cartridge. The purpose of this gage is to check your reloaded rounds to see if they meet Min Chamber Specs. Therefore, if your rounds do not enter the Gage, then this is pointing to an issue with your reloaded round against SAAMI specifications. On the other hand, if your rounds DO enter the Gage, but DO NOT chamber in your gun. This points to you having a very tight chambered gun and would assume either an improperly cut reamer or a chamber that was cut below Min Chamber Dimension headspace.

Using the Wilson case gauges and Minimum Dimension gauges together makes for a comprehensive set of checks for your ammunition while and after it is loaded.

It’s as easy as following these steps:

1. Size the case
2. Check the case using the Wilson Case Gauge: both sizing (head to datum) and trim length (see this article for instructions on using the Wilson Case Gauge with Wilson Case Gauge Depth Micrometer)
3. Insert the case into the Minimum Dimension Gauge – check to see that the case is flush with the back of the gauge or slightly below flush (helps to use Case Gauge Depth Micrometer here)
4. Seat bullet
5. Place cartridge on table, slide Minimum Dimension Gauge over the top of the cartridge and let it set down on table. Inspect tip of bullet- if it protrudes from the top of the gauge, bullet is seated too long. Adjust bullet seating depth accordingly

If your case passes these checks you know that:

• Shoulder has been set back properly
• Case length is within spec
• Cartridge meets SAAMI minimum spec dimensions
• Bullet seating depth is within spec

Pretty awesome, huh? If you want to pick up these gauges, check them out at Midsouth Shooters Supply! Look for more features demonstrating these gauges in upcoming stories…

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Thanks,
Gavin