Print Page | Close Window

.303 Head Space

Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Rifles
Forum Description: Anything that has to do with the great Enfield rifles!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=120
Printed Date: March 28 2024 at 8:16am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: .303 Head Space
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Subject: .303 Head Space
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 9:42pm

Can anyone tell me how I can test head space with out the aid of a gunsmith. I know they make a head space gauges that can be used. Both of my .303's shot excellent and have excellent bores. I was wanted to know for in the future when getting another enfield what to look for  

Thanks Cookie Monster




Replies:
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 11:31pm
CM your best off getting a set of headspace guages for your own use  I normaly use the field guage as the best point of referance (drives gun dealers mad when you ask if you can just check the head space)


    Dave 


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: February 23 2006 at 12:49am

Thanks dave will do. Head space gauges have three in a set? go, no go, and field?

Cookie Monster



Posted By: N/I\Z
Date Posted: February 23 2006 at 3:43am

(1) My gunsmith will happily check your headspace for you because he is a fervent supporter of rifle shooting and will do everything to help shooters enjoy their sport.

And he is not stupid. He knows that. if someone comes to him and asks for a rifle to be checked and he tells them to shove off, he is unlikely to see that person ever again. It would be Bad Business Practice.

(2) I have one gauge. It is a .067" No-go gauge. If I have a rifle that will close on this gauge, I take it to my gunsmith who will check it with his full set of gauges and carry out any appropriate maintenance.

Checking headspace with a gauge requires a little care. You do not just drop in the gauge and crank the bolt handle down onto it. You have to insert the gauge carefully, making sure the extractor is over the rim of the gauge. You then push the bolt forward and ease the bolt handle down VERY CAREFULLY. You are looking for resistance. When you encounter the resistance, it would be possible to force the bolt handle all the way down. And what would you have proved, apart from Archimedes' principles about ramps?

I actually strip the bolt fully. This requires a special tool to get the firing pin out and some care to ensure I do not lose some of the small components. Then I assemble the bolt head (no extractor) onto the bolt body (no firing pin) and ease them closed onto the gauge. This means that the spring tensions do not get in the way of my reading the gauge.

Stripping and reassembling a No 4 or No 5 bolt is easy and fun. The SMLE extractor spring is a bit of a bear.

===

Getting back to this service business, there is a car tyre dealer in town who has never charged me for puncture repairs. Guess where I go to buy new tyres?

 



Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: February 23 2006 at 9:48am

N/I\Z,

Thanks I will also heed your advice. I also do business wit those who do business with me works well.

Cooke Monster



Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: February 23 2006 at 10:13am
CM, here is more than you probably want to know...
WWW.jouster.com/cgi-bin/lee-enfield/lee-enfield.pl?read=14 583

Not mine, not an endorsement, but does answer you question.

( how come I can't cut and paste that link in here?)

Ed


Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 5:18am
OK, I thought that last link would start a lot of discussion, what does everyone think?
Does  it seem reasonable that headspace can be correctly checked with feeler guages as claimed?
Ed


Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 5:26am
Ok, I see the link doesn't work. take out the space at the end. 14583.

Ed



Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 7:58am

Ed Hill.

Feeler gauges do work, My gunsmith uses them all you need in te correct tolerances. Thanks!!

Richard "Cookie Monster" Cook



Posted By: Eric
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 9:57am

Ed, the little U-Turn symbol (Icon) will allow you to insert links...

 

Eric



Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 10:00pm

I was chatting with a gunsmith friend of mine he suggested this quick and easy test if you are going to a gun show or looking at buying a rifle and do not have a set of head space gauges. Take a fired empty brass from a known good chamber and try to feed it up into the unknown chamber if it is tight or will not go in all the way more then likely you have a good chamber. But he did EMPHASIZE!! this is only a quick check and you should thoroughly have the gun checked by a competent gunsmith if in doubt or do not have the proper headspace gauges.

Cookie Monster




Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net