question on headspacing

[swift]

Finally got my first C&R rifle and cleaned the cosmoline off it. The bore looks really good and I'm eager to shoot it, however, I was wondering if I need to take it to a gunsmith and get the headspace checked. What do you do?



Next rifle - a garand!

[Zwingli]

Thats like asking how long will it take to process something "7 to 10 business days" even though it only takes one. The official answer is: Always have the headspace checked by a competent gunsmith. You never know whats up with these, where they've come from and through who's hands they've traveled.

On the other hand. I've never headspace checked a bolt action C&R. Examined bolt and action for obvious problems then just stuck a sand bag over the action, turned my head and fired. Then checked brass. Have never had a problem. These things are tough and have forgiving tolerances. However your eyeballs don't. So its your judgment call.

If you get a Garand from CMP--they do check safety of rifle before they ship it.

Nice Rifle!

[Mssr. Eleganté]

I agree with what Zwingli says. I just turn my head away from the rifle for the first couple of shots and inspect the brass for signs of trouble. No problems yet with over 50 milsurp rifles. But like he said "The official answer is: Always have the headspace checked by a competent gunsmith."

A couple of things to consider while deciding whether or not to take it to a gunsmith first:

Rifles that headspace on the rim, like .303 British Enfields and 7.62x54R Mosin Nagants are very forgiving on headspace issues.

A surprising number of gunsmiths don't know how to properly check the headspace on old milsurp rifles.

[TonyNorCal]

Proper answer is check the headspace.

However, it seems many don't, and I'm one of em.

You could always rig a remote firing device....aka a string....to light off the first round.

It is very important to clean cosmoline and crud out...particularly from around the firing pin of semi-auto firearms. Last thing you want is an SKS on full auto when not expected (someone died this was up near Sac a few years ago). And you don't want a free floating firing pin on something like a Garand stuck...firing while not fully locked up is not a good thing.

[SemiAutoSam]

Or get the gauges and do it yourself.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to check head space.

[five.five-six]

Or get the gauges and do it yourself.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to check head space.

I think you are supposed to remove the extractor to do it properly

[Mssr. Eleganté]

Or get the gauges and do it yourself.

If you decide to go this route then just buy the "FIELD" headspace gauge in each caliber you want to check. Buying the "GO" and "NO-GO" gauges is a waste of money for checking surplus rifles.

[JH2]

Even after getting the Go/No-go gauges, I still do a first shot from the hip and examine the brass.
Jim

[thisismyboomstick]

Or get the gauges and do it yourself.

Problem is that sometimes a complete set of headspace guages costs almost as much as some of the milsurp rifles out there.

[SemiAutoSam]

Well if you cant afford the tools take it to your local gunsmith or dont play with guns.

Problem is that sometimes a complete set of headspace guages costs almost as much as some of the milsurp rifles out there.

[icormba]

Or get the gauges and do it yourself.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to check head space.

I agree with sam's statement... especially if you are buying multiple C&R rifles. One must become their own "competent gunsmith".

If you are only buying 1 or 2 rifles... find a friend who has gauges. Gunsmith fees can be just as bad as buying the gauges. Checking headspace is a very easy thing to do.

p.s. the CLYMER headspace gauges the CMP sells for the Garand have a notch cut so you do not need to remove the firing pin. These work very well.

[swift]

field headspace gauge recommendation?

I checked Midway and Brownell and neither have 7.62x54R field gauges. I found one manufacturer, Yankee Engineering:

http://hometown.aol.com/yankeng/myhomepage/business.html

A business (esp engineering) with an aol domain does not give me much confidence. Can someone recommend a good gauge and a supplier?

[Mssr. Eleganté]

The Yankee Engineering coin type headspace gauges are highly recommended by the owner of Gunboards.com.

[Richie Rich]

I read a tip somewhere about Nagant headspacing. Take a spent round, attach a piece of electrical tape to the base of it and cut around the rim, leaving a little circle of tape on the back of the round. Load the brass into your rifle and try to close the bolt.

If it will not close without forcing the crap out of it then the headspace is ok.

If it closes, take it to a gunsmith for further inspection.

Since I did not have any spent rounds I just made sure the bolt closed securely, held the rifle away from my face and lit off the first round.

[SemiAutoSam]

There is always the little strips that are used for measuring a engines crankshaft bearing clearance.

If your that cheap.

its called Plastigage.