head space question

[AC89]

So I made a stupid rookie mistake and didnt check my headspace before reloading about 120 rounds.

Here is my question, if i can get the round to chamber by letting the bolt slam home what are the risks of leaving the head space off?

I am reloading .223 and 5.56 brass in a 5.56 chambered barrel. Coal lengths are correct.

[joelogic]

Headspace is the relationship between the bolt and the barrel.

If your rounds chamber they are GTG.

[AC89]

the only thing that worries me is the fact that they wont chamber unless the bolt is slammed home.

[joelogic]

Sounds like you didn't push the shoulder back enough. Do they fit in a case gauge?

Maybe time to break out the impact puller.

[AC89]

... a case gauge would be nice, got one on order but hasn't come in yet. and no the shoulder wasn't far enough back. I did adjust for another batch i made and those chamber like factory rounds.

Been checking head space the poor mans way put it in the chamber and ride the bolt home till it feels like factory ammo. once i remembered to grab bring my rifle to my friends house ware all the reloading stuff is.

I was afraid i would need to pull them.. so much for not messing up some nice bullets.

[30Cal]

... a case gauge would be nice, got one on order but hasn't come in yet. and no the shoulder wasn't far enough back. I did adjust for another batch i made and those chamber like factory rounds.

Been checking head space the poor mans way put it in the chamber and ride the bolt home till it feels like factory ammo. once i remembered to grab bring my rifle to my friends house ware all the reloading stuff is.

The bolt is supposed to be stripped when you do that.



Also, you don't have a headspace issue. There's a potential for slamfire if the shoulder is too long; I've fired them that way, but the correct thing to do is pull the bullets.

The pulled bullets won't be any worse for the wear. If when you slam the tips and flatten them badly, they go to the same place.

[Coyotegunner]

I ran into a issue with some 300 Win mag stuff recently.I size with a Rockchuker/Full length where it cams down solid.My Tikka would close like factory brass.The 2 Winchesters have to have the bolt closed with some undo effort.I sent some once fired brass and the size die to RCBS.They are going to customize the die for the Winchesters.Some folks like the tight chamber.I want the ammo generic.These 3 rifles are all accurate with factory size brass.Now I take the first 2 or 3 sized/empty brass and run it through the guns.Otherwise I may have another 250 rounds for the Tikka or whatever is going on.

[rsrocket1]

Chambering too long of a cartridge will work. It puts a slightly added extra wear on your components, but a hundred at that rate won't matter much. If the case is too long, your AR simply won't lock closed. That should prevent any out of battery firing unless you are using soft Federal Primers which may go off when the firing pin slams against it. If that happens, you risk a kaboom.

I would pull the bullets, save the powder, then full length resize any cases that are too long in the shoulder then reload. Just think of it as pennance and what a pain it is to skip a step only to have to perform 5 more to make up for it. You won't do that again.

Be sure to check case size too incase you stretch any to the point of needing trimming.

[zfields]

You should always "Push check" a dummy cartridge in a gun before you start loading for it.

Looks like you learned the hard way