Reddit reviews Lyman 7832323 Reloading 223 Case Length/Headspace Gauge

I looked at going with the hand loader as well but honestly, you can find a single stage press for $50 at a gun show and then spend another $60 on a die set which does what you want. I realize money is probably tight but I feel you'll regret "wasting" the money on the hand loader based on what you're saying.

I'd definitely invest in a headspace gauge. It wasn't until I got one that I discovered my die wasn't doing it's job. It all cycled through my Norinco AR15 no problem but still, if you're reloading for multiple guns you'll want brass that is factory sized not fire formed.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B001RI7A66/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I believe you're probably talking about one of two things:

1 - A cartridge chamber gauge - This is used to make sure your sized brass will chamber correctly. It checks length, seating, etc. Everyone should have one if they reload. Lyman and Wilson make most of them. This is an example.

2 - A cartridge overall length gauge - Never used one, but I'm referring to the tool used to find out the maximum cartridge length for YOUR rifle. This is to help you with seating a bullet so that it is closer to the rifling, potentially making it more accurate. This really only applies to bolt action or single shot rifles. Someone who has used one can expound more.

The term "headspace gauge" refers to special items used to check the chamber of a barrel is cut correctly, and unless you are changing your barrel on something other than an AR platform rifle or a 10/22 (or a true drop-in barrel on common handguns) you aren't likely to ever need one.

I would highly recommend the head space gauge. I use it right after I resize. That way you can sort it before it gets to a complete cartridge. It's much faster than using a caliper and if you are shooting bulk the tolerances are enough to quickly identify a problem without worrying over a thousandth of an inch. I couldn't find many shops around here that actually had them in stock. I went with this. That price is very high and I would look elsewhere.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/RCBS-reg-Rock-Chucker-Supreme-Master-Reloading-Kit/1324071.uts ($50 mail-in rebate on this)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N8JZL4?psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-Small-Base-Die-223/dp/B000N8LIOQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1495571705&sr=1-1&keywords=rcbs+223+dies

https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-01407A-Electronic-Digital-Caliper/dp/B000GSLKIW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495571775&sr=8-3&keywords=digital+calipers

https://www.amazon.com/Lyman-Reloading-Length-Headspace-Gauge/dp/B001RI7A66/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1495572110&sr=1-1&keywords=lyman+headspace+gauge

= $435, leaving $65 for your first round of components.

When your $50 rebate comes, I'd get this stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-Load-Comparator-Inserts/dp/B000PD5VLA/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1495572018&sr=1-1&keywords=hornady+bullet+comparator

https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-836017-Quick-n-EZ-Impact-Bullet/dp/B001B7ZB4Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1495572088&sr=1-2&keywords=bullet+puller

• A load manual from your bullet manufacturer of choice. Since money is an issue, I'd start with Hornady and/or Sierra bullets which are on the affordable side of the spectrum and are good quality. Also, Hodgdon has a lot of free data for their powders (including IMR) on their website.
  
  This is basically my exact setup and I get great results from it.