I have a shouldered prefit for my nucleus that's just came in that I'm wanting to shoot this weekend but was able to get a go gauge for it. Is there anyway to check headspace without the gauge.
Gunsmithing Headspace question
- Thread starter 6cmShooter
- Start date
New piece of brass and packing tape
Try the brass then add layers of the tape.
Each layer adds 2 thou.
That depends on the brass kinda.
Regardless I would be disappointed if it was more than 2-3 pieces.
I set my chamber tight your fighting to close the bolt on 1 piece on a go gauge.
My 260 brass is 2 thou smaller than it’s gauge and my 7 saum is 1 thou less than it’s gauge.
I'm in a similar situation, Terminus Zeus, shouldered hand-tight barrel .308, and no headspace gauge. I don't reload, so my "new brass" would just be a new factory ammo round - FGMM 168gr or Prime 175gr
So if I put 1 piece of electrical tape on the back of the brass, it shouldn't close?
So if I put 1 piece of electrical tape on the back of the brass, it shouldn't close?
In your position, I’d probably use a comparator on a loaded round. Shoot it. Then measure the spent case. If I got the barrel from a smith I trusted I’d probably trust it was done correctly or at least close enough not to KB.
I would have had a gauge before the barrel showed up. They’re what, $40?
I would have had a gauge before the barrel showed up. They’re what, $40?
If it closes that doesnt necessarily mean its out of spec. If it closses on 2 layers then i would be concered. Keep in mind this isnt the most accurate way to do things.
In the end that’s something you’re going to want to do anyways.
this is wrong info a field Gage is .010” that extreme in my book. I set chambers on go plus .002-.003” because of brass variances. A typical go vs no go is anywhere from .004”-.006 depends on the maker and how accurately they are measuring it. .010” is a maximum field gage which is I guess safe and why RCBS tells you to turn your FL doe down a 1/2 turn to bump the shoulder.
If it is a quality barrel maker I would screw it on and run it.
In the last 15+ years I have set headspace 100’s of times and never used a gauge. I either use aluminum foil, which is generally .001” thick, laid into the bolt face if using brass sized on my equipment or a piece of .002”-.0025” thick tape on the back of the case if I am shooting factory ammunition. I will use electrical tape as a no go with both.
For a very, very long time I used paper of various thicknesses punched out using a hole punch. Resume paper was ~.006”. Standard notebook paper was ~.003”. Shotgun news pages were ~.001”. I would drop the paper punch out onto the bolt face, tighten the barrel onto the case then lock it in with the nut. I could use different combinations to set headspace to anything I wanted but generally I kept it at <.002”.
You will not have an issue if the headspace is tighter than SAAMI spec as long as it chambers. Where you run into problems is when the headspace is so loose it does not support the case head. Even if it does support the case head a loose headspace can stretch a case too much leading to premature wear and failure. Ever Savage I owned had the barrel broke loose then the barrel headspace set to the minimum, generally before firing the first shot.
I prefer my headspace to be .001” or below. This keeps brass growth to the bare minimum and helps the brass last longer. You still have to deal with the neck work hardening and primer pockets loosening from hot loads but the case should last a lot longer.
In the last 15+ years I have set headspace 100’s of times and never used a gauge. I either use aluminum foil, which is generally .001” thick, laid into the bolt face if using brass sized on my equipment or a piece of .002”-.0025” thick tape on the back of the case if I am shooting factory ammunition. I will use electrical tape as a no go with both.
For a very, very long time I used paper of various thicknesses punched out using a hole punch. Resume paper was ~.006”. Standard notebook paper was ~.003”. Shotgun news pages were ~.001”. I would drop the paper punch out onto the bolt face, tighten the barrel onto the case then lock it in with the nut. I could use different combinations to set headspace to anything I wanted but generally I kept it at <.002”.
You will not have an issue if the headspace is tighter than SAAMI spec as long as it chambers. Where you run into problems is when the headspace is so loose it does not support the case head. Even if it does support the case head a loose headspace can stretch a case too much leading to premature wear and failure. Ever Savage I owned had the barrel broke loose then the barrel headspace set to the minimum, generally before firing the first shot.
I prefer my headspace to be .001” or below. This keeps brass growth to the bare minimum and helps the brass last longer. You still have to deal with the neck work hardening and primer pockets loosening from hot loads but the case should last a lot longer.
I stand corrected. Its hard to find actual number specs online. So I guess its one black tape for a No-Go and two for a Field then.
SAAMI center fire rifle chamber, cartridge and headspace gauge dimensions are available as downloads in....
Look up the cartridge in the table of contents for the page numbers
