doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help With Manson Wall Thickness Gauge

The Skeet's gage is what you want. It cost $100.00 and will measure 12 ga.and will read to about 12" into bore. You can get one from 100 Straight that measures 4 gauges, but that is $400.00, and measures to about 16". If you go to 100 Straight's web site, they list that you can get the 4 gauge set, with and pick the gauges you want. I believe that Glazan sells the same thing but you take their set of 4 gauges.

Justin and others, the digital gauge pictured is available from Harbor Freight for about 35.00. The reason I went to a vertical bench gauge is that you do not have to deal with deflection of the probe although you do not have the portability of the Manson type gauge, as I don't go to gun shows shows thats not an issue with me A party on the trapshooters forum sells a bore gauge similar to the Skeets gauge that is made of better material for just a little more, it is also offered in an 18" version. The Skeets gauge at one time was offered with a 12-16ga head and 20-28ga head for about 200.00. But you could also buy 2 separate tools for the same price which makes better sense. About 25 years ago I had a Chubb bore gauge that would measure if I remember correctly 12-20 ga. It used a positive system to gauge bores instead of the sticky balls of most gauges you see today. It was made in England of the best material and workmanship, I wouldn't want to guess what it would cost today.

Thanks,James

No, two different tools. The Manson, Truth Tool, and Hosford are wall thickness gauges. Brownells' sells a bore gauge for not too much money - About $90 as I remember.

Best,

Mike

Justin, which gauge is available from Harbor Freight for $35? Is it good to go as a wall thickness gauge?

Rookhawk, the bore and choke gauge to which Amarillo refers is the Skeets. You can get it as either a "universal" set with two heads (one for 10-12-16, the other for 20-28) for $182, or you can buy two separate gauges, one for the big bores and one for the small ones. As someone suggested, the latter choice is better--they're $90 apiece, so you're paying the same money, but you get an extra shaft and dial if you buy the two separately. And if you're carrying them around, like to a gun show or something, you can change heads and recalibrate, so you only have to carry one shaft/dial. But nice to have a spare.

I don't think any of the tools will do both wall thickness and bore/choke. Maybe the Hosford??

I think he is referring just to the digital micrometer. Brownell sells the 12-16 or 20-28 Skeets bore gauge for about $94 each. They also sell the Manson wall thickness gauge for about $100. Galazan sells a bore gauge similar to the Skeets gauge for a little over $100, maybe $125. Although Oscar Gaddy's modification to the Manson gauge was the best option at the time, I was taught by the maker of the best gauge on the market, Jon Hosford, how to use the Manson accurately in the horizontal position. This allows you to utilize the gauge at a gun show or auction house table without worrying about how to suspend it from above. Jon realizes that not everyone can afford his gauge and is generous enough to share his expertise on how to properly operate a $100 gauge.

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your advice and clarifications. Here is what I did:

I bought the Manson Wall Thickness Gauge from Brownells for $100.00.

I bought the skeets 12/16 dial bore diameter gauge from Brownells for $85.00.

I bought the choke / chamber gauge from Galazan for $45.00.

So for $230 I can now understand the state of a 12 or 16 bore gun. For another $85 I could be all set for 20/28 to round out the list.

I'm just thankful I can decide whether to buy or not buy, to hone or not hone.

Thanks for your kind responses to my questions.

The Galazan type choke gauges frequently give incorrect readings as the bore diameters vary 0.020" from one barrel to the next. Often on a double barrel gun one barrel's bore diameter doens't match the other.

Best,

Mike

Mike is correct. I have owned several British guns with one barrel at 12 and the other at 13/1 . So marked.