So I have always used a combination of feeler gauges, spark plug wire gauges, and the round disk style. I feel I am good getting a reading, I feel my methods of changing the gap can improve. Anyone have a great tool or procedure that they recommend that doesn't break the bank? Pictures or links would be awesome

 

A simple wire gauge is what is recommended.

 

feeler gauge was always the standard in measuring gap in the aircraft industry so i still apply it to cars

Id get something like this:

 

If they’re iridium you need to get one of the specialized gapping tools. They’re brittle, prying against it to open the gap can damage them

 

The center electrode should never be used as a leverage point to adjust the gap.
Any known accurate space checking tool that will slide between the center electrode and the ground strap should be adequate, after gapping has been made.
The >absolute< accuracy of the gap is not all that critical because the gap can change with erosion wear and temperature changes.
The coil has enough spark output to cover a wide range of gaps.
The coil voltage is able to provide as much as 40,000 volts but is usually quenched in the 10,000-volt range. The quench point continuously changes over a short range as Load and throttle changes. This basically sets the acceptable gap range before dynamic operating issues begin to appear.
Quenching is due to the mixture air to fuel ratio that exist in the plug gap at the time of spark application. Or the break-down point of the mixture.
The gap importance is due to the mixture ratio, heat transfer from plug body to head threads and some other parameters.
These parameters are all found and set by engineering for the equipage and applications of the engine.
The plug engineering with different metals is also a factor for life expectancy hence the different types offered for the same engine keeping the heat range within that plug spec.
Lastly, the plug tip design has importance from it's size and shape.
Basically, a sharper edge or small wire point keeps the best overall repeated ignition until erosion takes place burning the area to a rounded surface that begins to spread the ignition over different places on the tip surface.
The ARC actually melts a small portion of the tip away each time.
.
Modified and other applications of the engine may require a different Plug heat range and Gapping.

 

The only plugs I’ve had to gap in years have gone into the 455 in my GTO. I always check the gaps on plugs going into our daily drivers but in recent memory, I don’t recall having to make any adjustments. I used a small pair of needle nose when making adjustments.

 

I just gapped some ruthenium plugs for my 5.0.
I used the wire type feeler “wheel” gauge.
Just pry up the grounding strap with the gap key included on the wheel. I’m within .50-51 on my gaps. Opened them up from .44 shipped.

 

I agree that most of the gapping tool elements included on the average wire or feeler style spark plug gap gauges suck...generally speaking they are very 'soft metal' and aren't strong enough to modify the gap. There are a variety of other tools like the one shown below that work well...

 

All good advice here, just remember.050 is .050 regardless of what tool you use.

 

I took from the O.P. that he is fine with all the various inspection methods, it was the act of changing the gap and the tool to use was the issue...