[Pekin7]

I was wondering if anyone knows of a way to check the headspace on a '03 without a Gage.

[JonM]

you can do a chamber casting which is the most accurate way. but it costs more for the materials and measuring tools than the gage does. after the casting you need specialised tools to take accurate readings of the cast.

gaging only gives a yes/no state and doesnt give exact dimensions. there are three gages go/nogo/field

before gaging any extractors or ejectors must be removed from the bolt to get an accurate reading

it should close on go. if it doesnt it needs to be reemed a very very little.

should not on a nogo if it does it means its outside normal spec and then should be tested with field.

it should not close on a field gage which is only needed if nogo gets closed on. if it closes on field then it is unsafe to shoot and needs rebarrelling or the the barrel removed, chamber end lathed the reemed to fit between go and nogo. if it does not close on field it is safe to fire but should be checked every 250-500 rounds or so with the field gage

[triggerjob]

Make a small ball of clay, put round in chamber, close bolt on clay behind round, open bolt slowly, if the clay doesn't tear you can measure it with a dial caliper.

You can also use masking tape, one layer at a time, tape over rear of bullet, trim with razor. Insert in gun close bolt, repeat until you have layered enoungh tape untill the bolt closes snugly, when it closes snug, peel layers of tape off measure thickness with a dial caliper. The thickness of the tape is your headspace.

I don't rember the max headspace on a 06 but you could google that.

[triggerjob]

If your not having missfires, or bulged cases or deformed cases around the base, your probly ok. But the tape and caliper method will tell you for sure.

Also different rounds have different thickness on the rim which will vary the heaspace some but not more than a few thous.

[triggerjob]

Another way to tell you have excess headspace. Is to take gun to a public range using a case that has been reloaded at least twice, fire gun with bystander on your side. If they scream and grab their face right after you fire, then your gun is in a NO GO condition, and you should leave the range immediately.

[Pekin7]

Thanks Triggerjob for the good advice and a great laugh! I'll try the tape method first..... My '03 is an arsenal rebuild that looks like it hasn't been issued since the rebuild. I expect that the headspace is probably OK.

[triggerjob]

Use a factory, new round, cause the cases stretch when shot. Take out ur firing pin out so you don't accidently kill yourself.

I believe if you have .oo6 play your GTG, if you get passed .008 you should probly have the barrel set back. But that comes from memory, which in mt case ain't to good.

[hiwall]

triggerjob did a good job describing what to do except for" tape over rear of bullet" he meant to say the brass case. Most use clear plastic tape but masking should work fine. Or forget the whole deal and I'll give you $100 for it.