AR10 headspace

Cs68

Private
Minuteman
Apr 26, 2019
87
6
Livonia, MI
A guy at my local range is selling an 18" krieger barrel that's exactly what I'm looking for to build around, it comes with a headspaced bolt. Do I need to run go/no go gauges if the bolt was headspaced when the barrel was made for him?
I'm leaning towards buying gauges to check, but wonder if it's necessary because the bolt is going in a different carrier?
Thanks for any info
 
If you’re purely trying to establish the accuracy of the cartridge maybe. But if you want to establish the accuracy of your rifle system, you need to introduce heat to the barrel and barrel extension. This is what running it in a comp or fight is going to do. The round getting pre heated inside the barrel extension is going to change the velocity. The barrel heating up is going to cause POI shift. Are we using these things for bench shooting or to fight/compete with?

Not necessary headspace is preset.
Although that is the idea, getting a barrel and bolt from a "guy at the range" could be iffy. If you really know the guy and the guy that he had do the headspace, odds are it won't be a problem.

Of course, having at least a no go gauge on hand is never a bad idea, as is checking headspace.
 
If you’re going to build an AR you need headspace gauges. Go and no go. I have had multiple new barrels/bolts fail no go and fail go. I had a Noveske that failed to chamber GO with its “headspace bolt”. Chamber was retardedly tight. Great way to spike pressures.

If you have to ask whether or not the bolt being in a different carrier affects headspace you need to understand more about this weapon before you build your own. And cause I’m not a dick, the bolt doesn’t care which carrier it is in.

You should buy a set of headspace gauges, a bolt vise, and some roll pin punches. Break down the bolt and check the headspace with your buddy before you buy the barrel.