For me, the most important part of setting H/S is to ensure the case is fully fire-formed. Quite often this doesn't happen until the 2nd or 3rd firing. Indicated by the point that a fired case shows resistance to chambering and thus, reaching maximum growth in your particular chamber. Adding H/S by bumping a shoulder back on a case that had a less than max powder charge only adds to work hardening and increases actual H/S needlessly. Using a F/L sizing die will push your shoulder forward and can be used to get the shoulder set to that "just right" feel when chambering an empty cartridge. Any shoulder measuring method that gives you a before and after reading will do the trick. Like GEARGRINDER I've used sockets and I've used empty, de-primed pistol cases as H/S gauges before todays tools were commonly available........ Ingenuity is the mother of invention :)