What You'll Need

All you need is a set of dial or digital calipers — a standard 6-inch pair works perfectly. If you're reloading with any consistency, you've almost certainly already got a pair at the bench. No other tools required.

How to Measure Your Pilot

The measurement process is quick and repeatable. Follow these steps and you'll have your pilot identified in under a minute:

1. 1
   Pick Up the Pilot

   Remove the pilot from your MatchMaster trimmer. You're looking at the shaft — the section that slides down into your case neck during the trimming operation.

2. 2
   Open Your Calipers

   Open the caliper jaws wide enough to straddle the pilot shaft, then bring the jaws together gently across the pilot until they make light contact with the shaft surface.

3. 3
   Measure the Outside Diameter

   Place the caliper jaws across the widest part of the pilot shaft — the section that fits inside your case neck. The measurement you're reading is the pilot's outside diameter, or OD. This number will be approximately .004" smaller than the bullet diameter for that caliber. Write it down.

4. 4
   Match the Measurement to Your Caliber

   Cross-reference that OD against the chart below. For example, if your pilot measures approximately .304", that's your .30 caliber pilot — correct for .308 Winchester, .30-06, .300 Win Mag, and all other .30-caliber cartridges. The pilot is intentionally undersized to fit freely inside the case neck.

5. 5
   Store It in the Labeled Slot

   Once you've confirmed the size, store the pilot in the correctly labeled storage spot on your MatchMaster's base so you'll know what size it is next time. If the slots aren't marked, consider adding a small label or piece of tape with the caliber written on it — a simple step that saves real time when switching between cartridges.

Common MatchMaster Pilot Sizes

The table below covers the most common pilots included with the MatchMaster. Each pilot's outside diameter runs approximately .004" under bullet diameter — small enough to seat freely inside the case neck while still centering the brass on the cutter axis:

Why the Right Pilot Matters

The pilot does more than guide the brass — it holds the case on-axis as the cutter does its work. A properly sized pilot fits snugly inside the case neck and ensures the trimmer cuts square, producing a consistent, flat case mouth every single time. Use the wrong pilot and you risk an angled cut, which defeats the purpose of precision trimming entirely.

The MatchMaster is engineered to deliver consistent, repeatable case length across your entire batch. Getting the pilot right is step one. Once your pilots are correctly identified and stored in a consistent spot, trimming sessions become faster and more reliable — no guessing, no mixing things up mid-session.