Headspace opinions

[Lucky Shooter]

I'm working on a new 220 Beggs barrel and am looking for opinions on how to proceed
with setting headspace.

There is a difference of .009"----using a HS comparator---between the GO GAGE and
new Lapua brass.

I realize that one way to approach this is to fire form with the bullet into the lands but
have never forced cases to take up this much slack.

Comparisons with 221 FB and 222 cases/GO GAGES show differences of .002" max.
A no-brainer to use the gage for it's intended purpose.

If I headspace on a gage that's .009" longer than the new case, will this overstretch
the cases ?

I'd appreciate any replies.

A. Weldy

 

[Walt Krafft]

With a bullet in the lands to hold the base of the case to the bolt, the case will blow out just fine. Many cartridges blow out a lot more than that at first firing.

 

[ShaunBrady]

If the gun was already chambered, I'd use an expander to open the neck up a half mm and then leave a false shoulder when sizing it back down. I had a batch of Peterson 300 Norma brass that was between 0.008" and 0.016" shorter than my Go gauge. I necked it up to 338 and then back down to 30 leaving a false shoulder.

If it's a wildcat and there is no possibility of somebody needing to use factory ammo, I'd short chamber the barrel. If later batches of brass are longer at the shoulder, they can be sized back. You may need to shorten the sizing die to make this work, but that is a quick job if you're set up to chamber. It'll take a carbide tool.

If you decide to go with the false shoulder and chamber it to the Go gauge you have, set up the sizing die while the barrel is still in the lathe by comparing the case projection from the barrel with the Go gauge before you install the action. Making a chamber gauge from a barrel stub will let you do the same thing on future batches of brass.

If you're neck turning, that'll need to be done before you finalize the sizing die setting for the false shoulder.

 

[jackieschmidt]

If you choose, you can over complicate anything.

Your sizing dies are probably designed to work with the dimensions off of the headspace gage. So what comes out of the chamber that corresponds with the gage will be correct for your dies.

Seat your bullets long so you insure that the case head is against the bolt face. Use a light coat of sizing wax on the cases so they will push back as the shoulder is blown forward.

It’s really that simple.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

Thanks for all the posted replies and to Boyd for his PM.

I have to agree with Jackie, nothing so simple should
get so complicated.

I've been reaming these chambers a little short but will
use the gage on this one-----nothing difficult either way,

A. Weldy

 

[dakor]

If its for yourself I would set it to blow the brass out .002 and adjust my dies. If it was for someone else I would set it to the gauge.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

I'm making an attempt to join the world, especially with bumping the
shoulder further back and eliminating bolt click. I now realize some
of my older ways don't produce the best results.

I changed the HS on this one so that the stripped bolt will lightly drag on
the gage from it's own weight.

Looking forward to trying something new.

A, Weldy