Garand tools - headspace gage

[ballistic]

Has anyone used the 30-06 Forster headspace gage set?
Are they OK or is there another brand that is better?
There is a set on Gunbroker with a go and a no-go for $44.00.
Is that a fair price?
Is it worth it to also get a Field gage?

Also, I see the CMP has a TE gage (by Badger Ordnance) and ME gage (make unknown), for $62.00 and $35.00.
Can I do better elsewhere?
Thanks.

[ocabj]

The only gauge I have for the .30-06 is a Clymer field gauge. That's all you need when inspecting used guns.

You would only desire a no-go gauge is for rebarreling. A go gauge is nice if you decide to swap bolts on a Garand and want to make sure it can chamber a correctly headspaced round and a field gauge to make sure it's not over operating spec.

$44 is a fair price if you don't have a C&R FFL to get a dealer discount from Brownells. The gauges run $25 each (or $17 with dealer discount).

Whatever brand gauges you get, always make sure your set for a specific cartridge is the same branded. So if you go a go, no-go, and field for .30-06, make sure they are all made by the same company.

As far as a TE and MW gauge, the CMP ones are pretty much as good as it gets. I have a Stone Axe Engineering gauge for the M1 (and one for the 1903) and it only cost $50. It's one tool that measures both TE and MW on an M1.







Unfortunately, the guy who used to make these quit the business a few months ago. So the ones available through the CMP are your primary options. I think there's another manufacturer that makes TE gauges for the M1 and is available on MidwayUSA.

[30Cal]

I bring mine to the local club. One of the guys sticks a gage in it. Costs me $0 ($25/year if you include the club membership). The club membership dues have also paid off in the form of TE/MW measurements, rebarreling, trigger jobs, etc.

[ballistic]

I bring mine to the local club. One of the guys sticks a gage in it. Costs me $0 ($25/year if you include the club membership). The club membership dues have also paid off in the form of TE/MW measurements, rebarreling, trigger jobs, etc.

What city/area is your club in?
I don't know of anything like that in So. Cal.

I just thought it would be nice to have the gages myself so I could change out a bolt at home. I might want to rebarrel a rifle someday, or just have them to check things out on a rifle at a gunshow or gunstore.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

I only use Clymer gauges ( i use all 3 since I do barreling with either GI barrels as well as commercial barrels) as for TE gauges.. I use the one Brownells sells and has an interchangeable center so that I can use the same gauge for Garands, M1A's and 1903's and A3's (oh and 1917's as well.

[ocabj]

What city/area is your club in?
I don't know of anything like that in So. Cal.

There are plenty of clubs with shooting facilities in Southern California. You just need to go one, join, and meet people.

Apple Valley Gun Club
Burbank Rifle and Revolver Club
Desert Marksman Rifle and Pistol Club
Inland Fish and Game Conversation Association
Kern County Gun Club
Santa Margarita Gun Club
West End Gun Club

Those are just a few off the top of my head.

[ballistic]

There are plenty of clubs with shooting facilities in Southern California. You just need to go one, join, and meet people.

Apple Valley Gun Club
Burbank Rifle and Revolver Club
Desert Marksman Rifle and Pistol Club
Inland Fish and Game Conversation Association
Kern County Gun Club
Santa Margarita Gun Club
West End Gun Club

Those are just a few off the top of my head.

Thanks for the info.
I had heard of some of them but not others.
I checked them all and the closest one to me, West End GC, is a little over 61 miles one way. The rest are farther. They want $180.00 for membership plus another $180.00 initiation fee.
When Cal30 mentioned $25.00 for his local club I would be guessing he does not live too close to a big city.
My local indoor pistol range wants $150.00 a one year for membership with no gunsmithing benefits.

Back to Garand tools:
Thanks for sharing, that ME gage that can be used on different rifles sounds good. And thanks for reminding me of another good reason to get a C&R license. Discounts at Brownells, Midway, and many others.

[ccampbell]

I have the forster go and field gauges, they work fine. They are on sale at Midwayusa.com for $17 each (cheaper than their dealer price). You don't need the no-go unless you rechamber your rifle.

The club 30Cal is talking about is in San Jose (www.zouaves.com), I am in the club too.

Has anyone used the 30-06 Forster headspace gage set?
Are they OK or is there another brand that is better?
There is a set on Gunbroker with a go and a no-go for $44.00.
Is that a fair price?
Is it worth it to also get a Field gage?

Also, I see the CMP has a TE gage (by Badger Ordnance) and ME gage (make unknown), for $62.00 and $35.00.
Can I do better elsewhere?
Thanks.

[ocabj]

The club 30Cal is talking about is in San Jose (www.zouaves.com), I am in the club too.

I think you mean www.zouaves.org since the .com url goes to a cybersquatter site.

As far as clubs with gunsmithing services, none of the ones I mentioned have gunsmithing services provided by the actual club (as far as I know). But there should be a decent collective of knowledge, skill, and equipment at each club with all their members.

For instance, over at Inland F&G where I shoot, the regulars are willing to help other shooters, especially novice ones, when they have problems. For example, just a few weeks ago, one guy came out to verify the zero on his wife's hunting rifle and found that for some reason, it was hitting high for 100 yards and ran out of no elevation adjustment. He had no tools whatsoever and said his family was leaving for a hunting trip that week so he didn't have any time to get it fixed except for that day. So I dug out some scope shims in my tool box and another regular helped him uninstall and reinstall the scope system with the shims.

[ar15barrels]

I checked them all and the closest one to me, West End GC, is a little over 61 miles one way. The rest are farther. They want $180.00 for membership plus another $180.00 initiation fee.

It's worth it.
I shoot there several times a month.

The first year is pro-rated so if you join in the middle of the year,
you only pay the $15 per remaining month plus the one-time initiation fee.

[30Cal]

Dear God, $180 is spendy!

Coalinga (1000yds with pits, trap, sillouette, pistol, bathrooms, showers, kitchen, trailer hook-ups) is $25.

[ar15barrels]

Dear God, $180 is spendy!

Coalinga (1000yds with pits, trap, sillouette, pistol, bathrooms, showers, kitchen, trailer hook-ups) is $25.

Who wants to drive to Coalinga?

$180 keeps the membership lower.
We have 1300+ right now.
Don't particularly NEED more members.