We don`t use the guage whatsoever,but snap lines every 4th course,and I believe go at higher rates of speed because of it,the bostitch works great ,and also has adjustments for when you want the nails to stick out a bit,like for edge metal,we set it and the nails don`t blast thru the metal,and we just tap the nails in the rest of the way,same for the laps on ice and water shield ;)>>>
If you have a "Senco SCN40R", with the nose cone/beek. Keep it operational and use it to shoot 3/4, 7/8 and 1 inch coil nails as they will seat correctly when using a combo of proper air pressure and depth gauge. The only problem is that the longer the nail, the slower the recoil, also you cannot shoot 1 3/4 coil nails.
To shoot 1 1/4 and up, use the new Bostich. With proper air pressure/depth gauge, you can get a good install on the nails. PROBLEM.....the gun only gauges 5 1/2 instead of the standard 5 5/8 (for the non-carpenters' pattern users). Very difficult to use on 3-tab
Any other coil nail on the market has been manufactured for speed...as this is the demand from majority of the roofers in the country....that is why "SENCO" stopped making the "SCN40R" becuse it was not as fast as it's competitors.
I use these two guns regularly for every roof I do and feel really good about my installation practice when I finish the job.>>>
the supermax uses what 3-400 lb.s of air pressure,and is more expensive--The bostitch RN46 STILL COST LESS THAN $300,AND mANY OF MY BOSTITCHES HAVE LASTED 10-20 YEARS>>>
MAXsuperroofer:2 years and no problems.>>>
Bostitch sets the nails best, hands down,and uses less pressure to do it-Been using them since nailguns arrived on the scene,and they keep getting better>>>