CZ Specific Case Gauge

[PA USPSA]

Are there any CZ specific case gauges that take into account the short throat on the CZ barrels?  A case gauge would be a lot more convenient than taking my pistol apart every time I want to check ammo.

[tdogg]

The case guage doesn't check OAL or bullet fit.  It is checking that the cartridge headspaces and the case fits the chamber properly.  In my Hundo 100rd case guage, I've found that the case gauge is tighter than my CZ barrel chamber.  Ammo that hangs up in the case gauge will pass the plunk test in my barrel.  The case gauge is looking for case lengths too long, case bulges due to out of round bullets/bullets seated crooked/unsupported chamber firings/improper crimp or flare removal/etc...  I check all my competition ammo with my Hundo to ensure it will chamber 100%.  I haven't had any ammo related issues since I've started that quality control check.  I've had gun/magazine issues that have caused feeding issues but the ammo will chamber in the gun.

Occasionally the Hundo gauge will find a bullet that has a thicker coating on it and that will cause it to hang up.  This isn't what your after but it does show that the case gauge is verifying the bullet is seated straight.  I'm pretty sure I could load them 0.1-0.2 inches too long and the Hundo case gauge wouldn't know it.

There are way too many bullet shapes, sizes, and lengths to expect the case gauge to be a universal checker for bullet fit.  Hence the gun barrel has the final say in what works.  I reload so I just ensure I determine the maximum overall length when I get new bullets in my shortest leade gun barrel (SP-01, which may now be my new AccuShadow 2 but I haven't tested it yet).  That sets my usable range of cartridge lengths for all ammo I reload in that caliber with that specific bullet.

Cheers,
Toby

[M1A4ME]

You figure out (plunk test) which OAL length works for your shortest throated CZ barrel for each bullet type you use. 

Measure it for overall length and write it in your reloading logbook to refer back to until/unless you can correctly remember it.

All CZs are not the same.  What chambers fine (specific bullet type/weight) in my CZ75 Compact will not chamber in my P09 9MM.

In case you think CZ's are the shortest throated barrels I can also tell you that what chambers fine in my P01 will not chamber in my M&P 2.0 with the Apex Tactical barrel in it.

Guns are like that.  Different and not always following the knowledge we think we have.

[Wobbly]

Are there any CZ specific case gauges that take into account the short throat on the CZ barrels? A case gauge would be a lot more convenient than taking my pistol apart every time I want to check ammo.

The short answer: NO

• This is for the simple reason that Case Gauges and Cartridge Gauges do not have rifling. Without rifling, there is no way to exhibit chamber throats or freebore. Therefore, gauges do not contain the answer you seek.

• Secondly, in normal situations, most reloaders quickly settle on 2 or 3 bullet suppliers. Then they continue to repeatedly order 1 or 2 bullets from each of those suppliers in bulk. That's a total of 5 or 6 different bullets, which each have a unique Max OAL, which are each recorded in their reloader's log book. So that's a total of 5 or 6 times the barrel needs to come out of the pistol (which could be spread over several years), which is a far cry from the troublesome picture being painted. So it sounds like "big trouble" at the outset, but in actuality it works out to be a very, very minor thing.



And to echo M1A4ME, a lot of modern firearms seem to be following CZ's lead. The Springfield striker-fired series and Gen 5 Glocks seem to also have also significantly reigned in their freebore. So this is something any competent reloader takes on as simply part and parcel of correct reloading procedure. Welcome to reloading done correctly.

Hope this helps. There's a ton of info in our Stickies about this and other reloading issues.

[M1A4ME]

Wobbly, I'd forgotten about the XD .45's.  What works fine in my Colt 1911's won't chamber in the XD pistols.  Got a whole lot of 1911 ammo around here, but not much XD ammo.  Good reminder.

So far, no issues with the M&P Compact .45 (probably just jinxed myself though.)