Case Head Separation

[divingin]

My bench rifle closes on a nogo gauge with some amount of drag. I assume it's because my smith uses a different gauge than I do. Not a big deal to me, as the brass for that rifle (actually for each of the three barrels for that rifle - they're all kept separate) is fired twice to get it formed, and then shoulder bumped by a thousandth as needed.

One of these days, I need to see if I can compare his gauges to mine. Maybe he just likes longer chambers.

[Scota4570]

Headspace can be created by setting the shoulders back in the size die. Do not blindly set the size die to bear hard on the shell holder.

Real excessive head space in a Remington M700 should be investigated. Did the locking surfaces in the receiver set back. Sometimes the lugs do not bear evenly from the factory. Shooting it a lot can set the lugs back more evenly. IF you feel a hump when rotating the bolt closes, that needs to be addressed.

The M700 has no extractor cut. Once the amount of excessive headspace is determined it can be fixed easily. Simply turn that amount off the shoulder of the barrel and screw it back on. The sights may be slightly canted but, if you use a scope it does not matter. Take the sight off and install plug screws.

Make sure the bolt is not binding on the bolt face with no cartridge or gage present in the chamber.

My bench rifle closes on a no-go gauge with some amount of drag.

That is how it is supposed to be. It will close if you force it. First strip the bolt of everything, including extractors and ejectors. The gauge passes if only a pinky finger of pressure is needed to close the bolt. Any amount of drag is enough. If you are using any significant pressure to close the bolt you are doing it wrong. It is bad for the gun and the gauge.

[bigbossman]

I think that the fact that the brass may have been loaded a dozen times, and in a different gun, might have something to do with it.

[pacrat]

I think that the fact that the brass may have been loaded a dozen times, and in a different gun, might have something to do with it.

Ya Think ???