I have the brownells gauge and it seems to work just fine for me. I use it horizontally.
I zero the dial by supporting the bar just behind the ball with my finger and then holding the connecting block with my other hand. If you support the bar farther away from the ball, the dial will move.
I clamp the barrels in my padded stock makers vise and then slide the guage down the barrels making sure to keep the bar centered in the bore ( or at least not touching in the open end). That way, the contact of the ball on the bore is just like me supporting it when zeroing it.
This way of measuring only works on the bottom side of the barrel you are measuring, so changing the position of the barrel is required often. My padded vise allows for the barrels to be clamped in almost any orientation.
I usually measure the tips, bottoms and sides of the tubes. But measurements In between these points can be taken as well if I think needed.
Basically this method of use is very similar to the demo of hosford's tool.
Last edited by B. Dudley; 02/15/13 02:12 PM.
