Runout Gauge - Anyone use one, and opinion on accuracy affect

[RPRlongshot]

I just purchased a Hornady dial indicator run-out gauge.
What is your opinion on its usefulness.
How much affect does bullet run-out of .003 - .005 have on accuracy?

 

[jbell]

I don't find them useful or needed at all. I have been hand loading for accuracy for many years now and early on I built a runout gauge. Mine was two vee blocks and a dial indicator but all the same. I found that with good quality equipment:
-quality press (Redding or RCBS) with no clop in the ram or linkage & pins
-good dies (I only use Redding micrometer dies, but have found a few others that produce good results)
-good brass fire formed out of a straight chamber (if poss I only shoot Lapua brass)
-good techniques through out the process

You will have zero runout on your brass and loaded ammo...

 

[TripleBull]

I'm a measurement-aholic, so I have one. I believe concentricity is a part of the whole accuracy picture. The magnitude of its effect depends on the specifics of chamber, bullet, jump, etc.

 

[AuburnBLK]

I agree with what jbell said... do it right, with correct equipment and there is no need to measure.

But I also have triplebull's problem, I like shinny toys and measuring things lol. Recently purchased 21st Century's cool runout gauge with the fancy wheel.

I was bored with it in 15 minutes when everything was measuring in 0.0005-0.001 range. With the occasional 0.002

 

[padom]

If you have problem free/quality tools its not necessary. But it is a valuable tool to have to help identify issues with your tools. Example, all manufactures have issues once in a while. I recently had an issue with a seating die from Forster that I could tell was not seating the bullet straight. Put it on my 21st concentricity gauge and runout was .009+. Sent it back to Forster, they sent me a new die and runout is back to .001 or less.

 

[Milo 2.5]

I wouldn't say to buy one, but if a friend has one, check your rds, if an issue, then figure what is causing it. I bought the 21st Century and it ended up costing me a bunch of coin, mistaking TIR for actual runout, I replaced all my Redding type s dies with Whidden, which did cut my runout in half, but was not needed. Almost all my rds were at .0015", Whidden dies cut it to .0007". Did not see an improvement downrange, but I'm happy, lol.

 

[jbell]

I have been meaning to try some of John's dies. A friend has a few of his rifles and they are shooters. John seems to be a real good guy too.