Gunsmithing Headspace and Barrel nut Assembly

[SporterII]

I have a Remage built using a Remington 700 and a barrel nut set up ALA Savage.
I used Go and No go gauges. With the bolt closing on the go guage without bind, my new Remington brass would not chamber. I made an index mark and inserted the no go guage. Now I have timing marks for the no go and the go gauges. Split the difference and my brass allows the bolt to close, just. Deciding that to be O.K., I FL sized my brass and pushed them back .003 at that time. The brass fits fine, and looks better too [ case mouths].
Can I use the standard brass as a guage. I want to take it apart and have a brake installed. The gauges need to be returned to their owner.

 

[SporterII]

No replies-
If anyone is looking to see if a reply comes;
I believe this is going to be a sound plan.
I am going to fire a round and measure the case. It should [re] chamber and leave a case that gets set back .0015 or 2 when FL sized for re use.
Re assemble with my virgin case as the guage and check again with my sized case. Fire it, and dimensions should repeat.
Part of the fun.

 

[chipsfan]

I don't see why that wouldn't work. I like my chambers tight, but SAAMI gives you .010" to play with in most calibers. Depending on who made the gauges, you either have a .004 or .006" to play with. Field is normally .008" above minimum, so even if it closes on a field, it may be within spec.

Personally, I would just bump the shoulder back on my brass and leave the barrel set back tight, but that's just me.

 

[stockdoc]

You should not use a brass case as a headspace gauge. Brass is soft and will give a false reading. There's a reason headspace gauges are made of steel.

Good luck

 

[jsthntn247]

Put 2 pieces of blue tape on the back of the go gauge to use as a no go. Make sure the go will go and will not go with tape on and your there.

 

[mallrat]

Put 2 pieces of blue tape on the back of the go gauge to use as a no go. Make sure the go will go and will not go with tape on and your there.

Game changer! I guess it was the Gunsmoke shop's show I saw that on. About the same credibility either way, if I'm a customer paying for a job to be done, I'd rather see the proper tool being used. Your own project, do as you see fit.

 

[SporterII]

Getting back to the brass which I have verified for size, These can be used in my chamber with confidence. Not rocket science. Not commerce.

 

[EXTREMEPREJUDICE]

You should not use a brass case as a headspace gauge. Brass is soft and will give a false reading. There's a reason headspace gauges are made of steel.

Good luck

I agree with Stockdoc...............................................but it's your rifle headspace it any way you want.

 

[SporterII]

I have a Remage built using a Remington 700 and a barrel nut set up ALA Savage.
I used Go and No go gauges. With the bolt closing on the go guage without bind, my new Remington brass would not chamber. I made an index mark and inserted the no go guage. Now I have timing marks for the no go and the go gauges. Split the difference and my brass allows the bolt to close, just. Deciding that to be O.K., I FL sized my brass and pushed them back .003 at that time. The brass fits fine, and looks better too [ case mouths].
Can I use the standard brass as a guage. I want to take it apart and have a brake installed. The gauges need to be returned to their owner.

In my case, no pun intended, I am using a manufactured head space guage. I do not reccommend not using one. Using a comperator, is what a head space guage actually is. They are not all created equall. Knowing how to use them makes them good tools.
I have answered my own question. Part of the fun. I have learned how to use them.

 

[pyplynr]

Here's how I do all mine. Buy a go gauge for intended caliber, use it as the go gauge, put 2 layers of clear scotch tape on the case head and use that as the no go gauge. From my experience that is usually .004 larger. If you can get it to work that way great, if not add 1 more layer. That should put you up to .006" on the no go.

 

[SporterII]

Performed another 'test'.
I can close the bolt on a tight by .001" piece of brass. I can tell it. It did not damage anything. I have a sound measurement of my own for this chamber with my brass , confirmed by store bought gauges. The dimension is what it is.