What is "Headspace"?

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Racegun Check

Jammer say:

>So, the upshot is that checking headspace with a live round is okay in a race gun, but not in a weapon?<
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Nah...I think the idea was that some of the builders are using new cases as a gauge to set the chamber depth by carefully reaming it after fitting to hood to a zero-tolerance fit with the breechface That'll work...but only if the case lengths of the loaded ammunition don't exceed the length of the
makeshift gauge. If the cases are exactly the same length to within plus zero/minus .001 inch...they're golden. If they exceed it by even a smidgen, the rounds won't chamber...at least not very reliably. If they're shorter than the case that was used...Headspace! How much depends on how much shorter than the original "gauge" that was used to determine the chamber dimension.

Again...If precision fitting is the object of the exercise...why not just make a
custom gauge with a stop for the reamer to limit the depth? It would be more consistent and repeatable...and a hardened gauge would last a lot longer than a case.

Then all that would be necessary would be to tell the owner to trim all his brass to a length that would allow for reliable chambering. Of course, if the
chamber was shorter than the industry minimum for case length...it would be a handloading proposition for all ammunition. Very precise and very trick...but not very practical for anything except a toy. Ya couldn't run down to Wally-World for a box of ammo.
 
Okay Bill...didn't know you were ex-military, so you get a free pass on the troopie thing. it's like somebody callin' a marine a "Jarhead" having never
paid homage to Iron Mike. No harm, no foul.

Gee, I'm glad it was your day to hand out passes, lucky me that we're still pals.

BB, did you ever wonder why the 9mm/38 Super firing pin hole was 'developed?' Don't think too long on that, I'll give you the answer. It solved a fairly common problem. It also helps with another, but I digress. Now, I must say I do feel undereducated, please tell me about this firing pin fitting, I've never done that before. Would that make a good thread? If you come up with the syllabus, I'll shoot the pic's, maybe we can teach a class on it.

Ken, dunno where you are going with that, have I ever said anything about checking headspace with just the barrel?

Tuner, a hardened gauge instead of a new case? How many barrels we gonna fit and how hard are we gonna be on that case? There's nothing wrong with the case, especially when you check it with a case gauge, and they don't get abused anyways.

We always talk about tolerances, but seems we don't have any for each other. Before anyone gets on their high horse about it, there's an old country saying, 'The hit dog hollars.' ( Nah Tuner', I wouldn't hit a dog, relax.)
 
How many?

I dunno how many, Bill...Some claim to have done'em in the hundreds. :rolleyes:

Anyway...This one's been beat to death for about the third time in as many months. When the members start beggin' for mercy, it's time to put it to bed
and move on to another topic.

Nighty-Nite!
 
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