Comparator

[Bawheed]

Hi all.

I'm looking at getting a comparator. Would it be fine to just buy the body and a .30cal insert as I'm just reloading for the .308 just now?

[Randy Bohannon]

You can do but the Sinclair nut like one and the hornady kit come with multiple calibre capability for nothing.

Reloading always starts small small but like gun cabinets, you will wish you got the proper job to begin with...

[lightning22]

You can buy the inserts as you go so why not?

Alternatively there is the comparator nut that would work out cheaper. There's one on the 'bay, item 191961638936

[lightning22]

You can do but the Sinclair nut like one and the hornady kit come with multiple calibre capability for nothing.

Reloading always starts small small but like gun cabinets, you will wish you got the proper job to begin with...

Beaten to it..

[Bawheed]

The whole set seems to be around £50 but I can pick up the body and insert for £16 then only £3 for any additional inserts that I need going forward so will probably just do that.

[Bawheed]

You can buy the inserts as you go so why not?

Alternatively there is the comparator nut that would work out cheaper. There's one on the 'bay, item 191961638936

I did see the nut but like the comparator as you can connect it to the body rather than having to hold the nut against the calipers which seems would be pretty fiddly

[Randy Bohannon]

50quid?!

i think I paid about half that for mine and I didn't buy it that many years ago...

fwiw I prefer the hornady design to the nut.

[Bawheed]

50quid?!

i think I paid about half that for mine and I didn't buy it that many years ago...

fwiw I prefer the hornady design to the nut.

Yeah seems to be the average price for the set these days. Just bought the body, the insert and a set of hornady dial caliper as don't trust my cheap digital ones. £57 delivered.

[Parabuteo]

Just a thought but instead of worrying about the price, consider the precision.

I have tried several (Hornady/stony point being some) and they are nothing like the Shooting shed offerings for precision.

Dave is worth a look and not as pricey as you may think.

[Bawheed]

Just a thought but instead of worrying about the price, consider the precision.

I have tried several (Hornady/stony point being some) and they are nothing like the Shooting shed offerings for precision.

Dave is worth a look and not as pricey as you may think.

Have never come across his site but now I know I'll have a look in future.

[223AI]

I have a sinclair comparator with .224 import for .22 H and 0.223 and a sinclair nut for 6.5 / .30 cal, the comparator that attaches to the calipre is much easier to use and repeat alignment with, the nut works well with .30 cal bullets but I'm seriously considering a 6.5 insert for the comparator as I struggle to get a consistent reading with the nut.

If you're building up calibres slowly I think that a comparator is a better option as the inserts can be added as you start loading more calibres.

As Chris says think about the accuracy, by all accounts some measure simply to an unspecified point on the ogive (only use the sinclair so can't confirm this), fine as long as you always use the same one and the bullet ogives are consistent across batches; the sinclair is cut with a throat reamer and measures to the base of the ogive which is a fixed point so more repeatable and if you ever lose your comparator your load data doesn't become less than useful.

[Parabuteo]

Sinclair are good as well. I found soem of the RCBS "Precision" stuff anything but.

Redding are pretty hot as well.

The thing about daves comparators is that the case head is held accurately on the caliper jaws and you can adjust the ends a touch so they align 100%. Then, the whole lot is square and only needs the lightest of touches.

Although I have packed in Fart class I still use all his kit for checking out loads for other bits and bats, they work every time.