A bump gauge is an insert, used on a caliper, that contacts the case shoulder at a fixed datum diameter and reports a repeatable measurement from the case head to that point. Comparing a fired case to a resized case at the same datum shows exactly how far the sizing die has pushed the shoulder back.

That difference is the shoulder bump, and controlling it is how a handloader manages headspace for a specific chamber. A small, consistent bump lets the case grow on firing and return slightly on sizing, which supports both reliable chambering and long brass life.

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