Choke Gauge Recommendations

[Mills Morrison]

I am looking to buy a choke gauge and was looking for recommendations. I am leaning toward the Galazan model, but want to see what the group here thinks. Any help appreciated. :bigbye:

[Bill Murphy]

Which Galazan model are you considering?

[Dean Romig]

Ge one with a dial indicator to measure the exact choke constriction as well as bore measurements.

[Mills Morrison]

I am looking at the one that is about $450.

Thanks for the responses

[Dean Romig]

Yup

[charlie cleveland]

mills a dime works pretty good for a 12 ga a penny for a 10 ga and anichol for a 8 ga... thats almostheh 16 cents...charlie

[Jerry Harlow]

This works well for me. $190

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/shotgun-tools/bore-gauges/universal-shotgun-bore-gauge-set-prod12737.aspx

[Fred Verry]

Mills, I got to try the new Hosford Gauge at the Spring Southern. It is really nice and requires no arbor or head changes for different guages from 28 through 10. For me the layout of its analog dial and its range give it advantages in ease of use (especially if doing multiple barrels). It is more expensive than the other tools mentioned but I really like not having to do the extra arithmetic and remember dial revolutions, etc.. HTH

http://www.hosfordco.com/sporting-shotgun/products/tools-measuring/bore-gauge.html

[Mills Morrison]

Thanks for the recommendations.

[Bill Murphy]

Mills, if you select the Skeet's gauge, buy two of them for about $90 apiece rather than one gauge with two heads for twice that price. I have used these gauges for many years quite successfully. However, not long ago, I bought the Galazan gauge that you are considering. It measures everything from 28 to 10 gauge in one package. The Skeet's gauge will not measure larger ten gauge bores, where the Galazan gauge will. For a serious collector, I would prefer the Galazan gauge.

[Mills Morrison]

Thanks Bill.

[edgarspencer]

I have the Galazan analog dial indicator gauge, and had to return the first one I received for Christmas. The design is excellent; it is a Chinese copy of the Chubbs gauge. I had a Chubbs many years ago, and sold it thinking "Why do I need this anymore, since I've measured all my guns?"
The Galazan gauge is not nearly so well machined as the original Chubbs, and can be very jerky as the wedge spreads the fingers, in both the inward, and outward direction. This can be a pain as you're withdrawing the gauge when the dial stops moving only to jump down 20 thous a 1/4" down the tube.
The Skeets gauge has a great reputation, and while the digital model is versatile because of the "floating zero" The price difference is ridiculous since the electronic dial indicator is $39.95 at Harbor Freight. (I know as I just bought one for my barrel wall thickness gauge.)

[Mills Morrison]

Thanks Edgar. How hard are the Chubbs gauges to find?

[edgarspencer]

I am unsure whether they are even made anymore, but they turn up. Check the UK ebay site. Prepare yourself for the usual English sticker shock,

[Mills Morrison]

Thanks. I checked Ebay and Gunbroker but no hits.

[Brian Dudley]

Any drop in guage is only a quick check and is not worth anything if you are checking a gun with oversized bores like most pre 1900 Parkers.

The Brownells guage that Mr. Harlow mentioned above is a good buy for the money. I have one myself. But it does have limitations.

[Mills Morrison]

Yes. I need one that measures oversized bores.

[James L. Martin]

I have a Stan Baker set that's great but hard to find, it has a 10/12 probe, a 16/20/28 probe and a 410 probe and a dial that screws onto each one, I got it 40 years ago and it still works great . Plus you can measure the entire barrel by going in from each end. It comes in a wood box ,if you see one grab it.

[Bill Murphy]

Back to my original post, Mills. I have used the Skeet's type of gauge for decades. I bought my first one from Tony. I am still using it. However, the $450 gauge he sells is far superior because it measures from 28 to 10, where the larger Skeet's gauge will not measure a large ten. I have not had the negative experience with this gauge that Edgar had. In addition, Edgar didn't say that the replacement Tony sent had any problems. I have figured out how to make the $450 Galazan gauge measure 8 gauge bores, but I haven't made the modifications yet. It should only involve replacing the cone with a slightly larger cone, a simple job for a skilled machinist, which I am not. Buy the $450 Galazan gauge and you will be happy.