Head space

[6BRCOLE]

Tony Harper's information should be kept in mind by anyone who is thinking about altering headspace.

I have graduated headspace gauges and checked my rifles, including a V22S and several Anschutz single shot match rifles. None are below .043", with four of them closing on .044". These rifles shoot well with good ammo.

If shooters wish better accuracy performance it is to be found with better ammo not by altering headspace to something other than what TKH describes.

I have 2 factory rifles , 40x and 52d they both have .043 head space .

 

[whiddengunworks]

ArtinNC those gauges are much smaller in diameter in the body than a case is. The length should cause you no problem. I'll respond to your email tomorrow and we will be sure to get you squared away. Thank you

 

[ArtinNC]

ArtinNC those gauges are much smaller in diameter in the body than a case is. The length should cause you no problem. I'll respond to your email tomorrow and we will be sure to get you squared away. Thank you

I'll take the gun apart tomorrow and see if I can see what is going on . I though it was the extractors But I striped the bolt still didn't work . Then I'll get back with you . Give me till noon .

 

[dutch14]

You might also contact the manufacturer of the rifle and see what they recommend and will do while it is still under warrantee.

 

[ArtinNC]

Whidden gun works -----I had the gun in my cleaning vice and for some reason the gauges would not go all the way in the chamber . But I just checked and when I stood the gun on end they dropped right in no problem . This is on a Ruger American 22RF that I'm going to re-barrel . And I just bore scoped the chamber and there is no lead on the rifling , That could be the reason I bad trouble with the gauges ?? Sorry I suggested it was your problem .

 

[ArtinNC]

You don't want the bolt face or exstractor or ejector to be putting any kind of pressure on the case. If it does you will have fliers.

TKH

Don't the extractor groves in the barrel , keep the extractor from putting pressure on the case ? And you don't want the bolt face to case ? You say you need a couple thousand between the case head and the chamber ? so .044 should be good ?

 

[Tony K Harper]

I'm not sure I am following you. But the extractor cuts in the barrel simply provide a place for the extractor and ejector to move forward so the bolt face can get up to the case head. When you place a round in the chamber the bullet should engage the rifling and when you close the bolt the closing cams provide the leverage to force the bullet all the way in. If you don't have closing cams then you must push on the back of the bolt to move the bullet in. Either way the case head ends up right against the bolt face. This is why it is critical the the bolt face be in perfect alignment with the action raceway. Although the bolt face is touching the case head there is not pressure because lead is an inert material and has no spring back from being deformed. The spring on the extractor and ejector draws them together around the case head. They must not be allowed to make actual contact with the case because they may setup an unequal and not a repeatable pressure because of the spring.
You may have to study this for a bit to understand what I am trying to say. I am probably doing a poor job of it. But you are right with todays match quality ammo .044 is what you want for headspace. This has changed over the years. At one time it was .042 then .043 now we are at .044. who knows when it may change again?

TKH