doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Galazan type Wall Thickness or Hosford Type

Thanks Rudy.

While I understand the Clymer/Pool/Manson tool horizontal use, I always need a friend to hold the barrels when using it as I am busy holding the string attached to the tool.

By suspending the tool from above and using it vertically, I can get the same measurements "single-handedly."

But, as I said originally, the tool you can use is the best tool for you.

After reading these posts on the various gages, I went to the basement and modified my Manson/Clymer gage that I used vertically suspended. I drilled a hole now in the aluminum block and tapped it for a 3/8" eyebolt to put my finger in.
To me it was very awkward to use and to try and find a place to put the barrels so they were steady as I couldn't put them on a bench so I used a wood workers vice with soft pine jaws to hold them.
On mine the rod with the indicator on it is 3/4" steel and 36" long and the barrel rod is 5/8" steel zinc plated also 36" long. I had them sticking out of the aluminum block 20". I don't know how long Mike's rods are, but I'm guessing to measure 32" barrels they must be at least 16" long.

This might be a good gage if I got to using it more and cut the rods to a set length and lightened up the aluminum block. You still have to use two hands initially to raise the indicator needle. In moving it into the barrel, you also have to make sure you stay parallel, so it's watching the needle and watching to see if you are parallel.

So far in comparison, I like the vertical suspeneded mounting better. For some that say it is not accurate I don't understand that, the indicator is at one spot all the time and the barrels are being moved, even if they are not exactly parallel the reading is not affected because the spring is keeping that part of the barrel snug against the ball.

I think that the Galazan gage is basically the same as the suspended one, the bottom brass cone keeps the breech or muzzle centered, and the spring keeps the barrel in contact with the ball, you can rotate the barrel on the bottom axis and read from top rib to bottom rib very easily from what I see so far.

The Hosford gage looks like it works great measuring from the muzzle, but not so much as from the breech, the barrels are on a bench loose now, and to me very hard to measure accurately, and that is where my main concerns are.

Montana, if I am at a show or an auction, I enlist the help of a friend to hold the barrels down. At home I use a padded vise. No fuss, no muss. Thanks for the post.

I have only used the pool gauge in the horizontal. It is designed to be hung from thumb and that is the way I use it. No string needed. The thumb acts like a pin inside the hole in the block and swivels without torquing the fork and throwing off the reading.

The Pool gauge is different than the Manson gauge in that it was designed to be used in the horizontal. It comes so that the dial indicator end can be hung in the barrel to zero the gauge and has a large hole in the block so it can be hung from the thumb. The Manson is adapted to horizontal use. I am not familiar with the Clymer.

Best,

Mike

Manson worked for Clymer. I think both gauges are the same. I prefer the rope over the finger, but either works just fine. I hung my Manson for years, but since learning of the horizontal method, I prefer it at home or away from home. Oscar was a friend and I appreciated his spring modification, but the horizontal method makes the spring unneccesary. I am not trying to convert anyone to my method, only want everyone to be aware of it.

I find this thread a little amusing. Last year I asked the very same question: which is the wall thickness gauge that is considered the best?

Overwhelmingly the answers came back: The Hosford.

Someone supplied a link to vintagedoubles.com where Kirby was selling one, another supplied the Hosford phone number (but wasn't sure if it was for Jon or Tom Hosford), another the youtube links to the Hosford demonstration......

The Galazan was basically shat upon, but it might have been the season to crap on ALL things made and sold by Tony Galazan, whether it was RBL, A-10 American, Fox guns or a bore gauge or a wall thickness gauge. EVERYthing out of that Connecticut shop was dismissed out of hand.

This couldn't have been more than 6 months ago, although I do know how time flies. Maybe last summer(?)

So what has happened in the interim between then and now? Are these Manson, Galazan et al gauges brand spanking new?

I think Montana summed it up the best "But, as I said originally, the tool you can use is the best tool for you."

The wall thickness gauge discussions/arguments have been going on for a long time. This one is from 2008:
Wall thickness gauge, 2008 thread


Best,

Mike

Sounds right, JDW.

Mike - I believe there's been many threads on this topic, i wouldn't be surprised if they stretched back to 2002!

I was only referring to the one I started because A. it was pretty recent and B. I remembered it because I started it because I wanted to know which was considered best. I got my answer, I bought the Hosford, and yeah, I DO think it's probably the best, so it all worked out!

I couldn't be happier with getting the one that was recommended on that thread! I'm right with JDW, or rather Montana. The Hosford IS the best tool for me. Still got all my fingers, so the proof is in the pudding, right?

Please don't think that my post here was made out of rancor, bitterness or spite. Not at all. I just couldn't help being curious, that's all.