Can I use the Hornady 380702 gauge for both .38 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges?

No, this gauge is built strictly for .38 Special ammunition and is not compatible with .357 Magnum cartridges due to the longer casing length of the latter. Hornady manufactures a separate gauge, model 380703, specifically for .357 Magnum.

How do I know if my reloaded round passes the chamber check using this tool?

This is a 100% mechanical, binary pass/fail tool machined to minimum SAAMI chamber tolerances. When you drop a completed .38 Special round or sized brass into the single-round cavity, a round that sits completely flush with the gauge rim meets specification, while any round that binds or protrudes indicates a dimensional defect such as a bulge or improper crimp.

Does this reloading gauge require any electrical certification or permits under Australian regulations?

No electrical compliance or 240V mains power standards apply because the Hornady 380702 is a purely mechanical stainless steel hand tool. Furthermore, reloading measuring accessories are unrestricted items in Australia and do not require firearms licence endorsements to purchase or own.

Will this tool provide exact numeric measurements for casing expansion or bullet runout?

No, this is strictly a go/no-go drop-in gauge designed for rapid quality assurance rather than precise numeric measurement. If you need exact dimensional data in thousandths of an inch, you should use dial calipers, micrometers, or Hornady's dedicated concentricity gauges.

38 Special Cartridge Gauge - Hornady 380702

The Hornady Lock-N-Load Cartridge Gauge (.38 Special) is a precision-machined stainless steel quality assurance tool designed to verify that reloaded ammunition conforms to minimum SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute) chamber tolerances. Operating as a purely mechanical, passive go/no-go gauge, it allows reloaders to check sized brass or completed cartridges prior to firing. Cartridges that seat completely flush with the gauge face confirm correct sizing, crimp, and overall dimensions, while non-flush seating immediately identifies swollen cases, bulges, improper full-length resizing, or defective roll crimps that could cause cylinder binding or chambering failures.

Key Features

SAAMI-Spec Chamber Profiling: Precision-reamed to minimum SAAMI chamber dimensions to check case diameter, length, and crimp uniformity before chambering.
Precision-Machined Stainless Steel: Solid stainless steel construction provides long-term resistance to wear and environmental corrosion during regular benchtop reloading operations.
Passive Go/No-Go Verification: Delivers an immediate visual and tactile pass/fail indication without requiring electrical power or electronic calibration.
Flaw Detection: Exposes case wall bulges, incomplete full-length sizing, and flared or oversized case mouths that prevent smooth chamber entry.

Product Specifications

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 380702
Calibre Compatibility: .38 Special (.357" bullet diameter)
Capacity: 1 round (single-round manual drop-in)
Material: Precision-machined stainless steel
Measurement Type: Binary pass/fail (flush vs. non-flush)
Power Requirements: None (100% mechanical)

Who is the Hornady Cartridge Gauge 38 Spec for?

Handloaders loading .38 Special for revolvers — ensures reliable cylinder rotation by validating that cartridges with a .357" bullet diameter sit fully flush with the chamber face, preventing bulged cases from binding against the recoil shield.
Sport shooters reloading .38 Special for lever-action rifles — provides pre-chambering quality control through a single-round 1-cartridge drop-in capacity to ensure reloaded ammunition feeds smoothly into the chamber without cycling jams.

Less suitable for: Reloaders inspecting longer .357 Magnum cartridges (which require a dedicated .357 chamber gauge), shooters running high-volume batch inspection who need a 50- or 100-hole multi-hole block gauge, or users requiring exact numeric variance down to thousandths of an inch who require a dial caliper or micrometer.

SKU	HN42864LP
Model #	380702
Brand	Hornady
Shipping Weight	1.0000kg

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Hornady 380702 Cartridge Gauge 38 Special Reloading Tool Steel

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