Timing and headspace.

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Orcon

Orcon

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In a recent series of unfortunate events that were equal parts bad luck and carelessness, I've found I have a headspace issue with a Savage 12. My barrel was actually loose enough to turn by hand in the action. I had a 'smith give her a look-over when I first bought it and he said it's a little on the long side but nothing he would worry about.


The rifle barrel has factory fluting and a factory muzzle break but if set to the proper headspace nothing lines up nicely. When the fluting and break are timed to the axis of the action so it looks nice, it will swallow a NO-GO gauge.The scary part is that even though it accepts the NO-GO I can't chamber my once fired brass.

I'm assuming the prudent thing to do would be to get a FIELD gauge and see how that chambers and go through all my once-fired cases with a fine-tooth comb looking for head-case damage?
 
^^^ What Jim said. Or if you're that picky have a smith face off the barrel and clean up the chamber after you get it timed up the way you want it.
 
When the fluting and break are timed to the axis of the action so it looks nice, it will swallow a NO-GO gauge. The scary part is that even though it accepts the NO-GO I can't chamber my once fired brass.
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I have a rife like that, the bolt closes on a field reject gage by .002”. That means my cases for that rifle are longer than a minimum length/full length sized case from the shoulder to the case head by .016”. The chamber is longer from the shoulder to the bolt face than a go-gage length chamber by .011”.

I form 280 Remington cases to 30/06 plus I add .014” to the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head. I use a .014” thick feeler gage between the top of the shell holder and bottom of the die and then secure the die to the press. I off set the length of the chamber with the length of the case; and the long chamber for this model of rifle was common.

You can’t chamber your once fired brass? That
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That would be expected if you adjusted the barrel.

My favorite cases are cases that have been fired in a rifle with a trashy old chamber. It is impossible for a reloader to stretch a case but if he starts out with stretched cases he can size the case to fit.

F. Guffey

And then I would suggest you learn how to measure the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head.
 
Jim Watson said:
Screw the barrel down on a Go gauge and quit admiring the flutes.
Best to get some fresh brass.
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I'm more concerned about the ports on my brake all facing the 10 o'clock position instead of the 12 o'clock than where the fluting lines up. Wont that make it hard to maintain POA if expansion gases are pushing my muzzle side to side rather than down?

Like Bill said, I might have to have it refaced or remove the brake.
 
I have one barrel with air brakes, by design it is not directional. And then there are the ones that blow hats off of shooters sitting on the right and left of the shooter; when one of those will not alight there is peening/upsetting and or shims.

F. Guffey

Peening
Peening is the process of working a metal's surface to improve its material properties, usually by mechanical means, such as hammer blows, by blasting with shot (shot peening), or blasts of light beams with laser peening. Peening is normally a cold work process (laser peening being a notable exception).
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^^^^ Shim/crush washers work well although they are not as aesthetically pleasing as a comp that turns up against/blends smoothly with the barrel shoulder. AR-16s are done that way.
 
When it is a choice between correct headspace and a pretty muzzle appliance (that I do not like anyhow, but figure the OP must because he bought it) I will have to vote in favor of headspace.

You could throw money at the problem by adjusting headspace and then setting the brake back a turn. That would look better but would run up a gunsmith bill.
 
Or he could find someone that can make a peening tool and then he could decide which side he chooses to peene, for the undicided he could peen both sides. A peening tool is not absolutly necessary. With a little skill peening can be done with hand tools.Believe it or not; there are hammers that are called ball peen hammers. I have a ball peen hammer that is so small it is also refered to as a gasket cutting ball peen hammer. I use the tiny hammer for driving cases into shell holders, the small size makes the hammer more case friendly and if I miss I do not put glupes into places I do do not need one.

F. Guffey
 
There is no excuse for taking shortcuts when fixing a headspace problem. It is not just a minor annoyance. Do the correct thing and have the barrel set back and chamber reamed if necessary.

WM
 
Ever fool with a Savage?
Headspace adjustment is simple. Screw the barrel in against a Go gauge and tighten the nut. That's the way the factory does it, that is the way I have done it.
For a barrel to require reaming would require gross mismanufacture of the barrel.

Apparently the mismanufacture is in the "timing" of the cosmetic flutes and the alignment of the "Loudener" (muzzle brake.)
 
Apparently the mismanufacture is in the "timing" of the cosmetic flutes and the alignment of the "Loudener" (muzzle brake.)
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How is that possible? The OP has options, he must understand the options; there is 'either, or'. He can not do both; I would align the flutes and air brake then adjust the length of the case to off set the length of the chamber. There is a small advantage to adding to the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head. A reloader can reduce pressure and or increase the capacity of the case; be it ever so slightly. By now I would have decided; he could contact the manufacturer and ask the question: "What were you thinking?"

Or he could secure the add on piece and then drill another hole; meaning if the hole clocks at 10 am drill another hole at 2 pm. OR! He could plug the hole and then add another hole at 12 o'clock.

F. Guffey
 
Yes, I understand it is your practice to make your cases match the INDIVIDUAL chamber.

I am not willing to go to that much trouble, I have had all the wildcat and obsolete case forming I care to fool with and do not want to make out of spec .30-06 for an out of spec rifle.

I would fix the gun... if the maker would not.
 
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