Characterization of various materials is generally carried out using servo-hydraulic machines, which are conventional for generating static loads; however, these face limitations in generating blast or high-impact loading due to inertia effects and oscillations. In contrast, the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) has emerged as an ideal device for characterizing materials at high strain rates (101–104/s). To address geotechnical aspects, especially for brittle materials like rocks, researchers have extended SHPB setups with longer and larger diameter bars. This study focuses on the calibration of an SHPB device and high-precision strain gauges for rocks, presenting a setup with incident and transmission bars, each 48 mm in diameter and 3000 mm in length, and varying striker bar length (100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm, and 400 mm) having the same diameter. The calibration shots are recorded at varying striker bar velocities at 18.21 m/s, 17.21 m/s, 15.33 m/s, and 13.45 m/s. Calibration tests reveal that the bars exhibit purely elastic properties, validating the 1-D stress wave propagation theory. Experimental results closely align with analytical predictions, affirming the successful calibration of the device. Additionally, the study describes an autocalibration method for strain gauges using a shunt calibration method. The comprehensive calibration of both the SHPB device and strain gauges contributes valuable insights toward the development of standardized procedures for SHPB setups used in rock dynamic characterization. This research forms a crucial step in advancing the reliability and reproducibility of experimental results in the study of rocks under dynamic loading conditions.