Headspacing savage model 12

[Jeff6br]

This is my first time headspacing a savage, I’m removing my 6.5-284 barrel and installing a 6 br. My question is all my brass for a 6 br is shot out of another gun and don’t have any unfired cases, would it be ok to use a hornady oal checker dummy case to headspace with? Or should I just resize a piece of 6 br brass back to spec? I know I should probably use a go/ no go gauge but wanted to try brass first. Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[shortgrass]

Why not just use the "search" function,,,,,, this has been discussed to death and then some!

 

[NorCalMikie]

Use a "full length resized" piece of brass. Not much in the way of factory loaded ammo available. You'll probably be rolling your own??
All my rigs are head spaced with resized brass and no chance of loading factory ammo so no problems there. Set it up on resized case, open and close the bolt. If it works, add a piece of scotch tape to the case head face. Bolt won't close? BINGO, you're in business.

 

[Jeff6br]

Thanks for the help

 

[284winner]

Why not just use the "search" function,,,,,, this has been discussed to death and then some!

Pretty new to the forum, may not know enough to realize that fact.

 

[284winner]

Use a "full length resized" piece of brass. Not much in the way of factory loaded ammo available. You'll probably be rolling your own??
All my rigs are head spaced with resized brass and no chance of loading factory ammo so no problems there. Set it up on resized case, open and close the bolt. If it works, add a piece of scotch tape to the case head face. Bolt won't close? BINGO, you're in business.

Just about as easy as it gets. Best part is...It works perfectly.

 

[wholman]

I would use a go gage for this since you don't have brass from this chamber.
edit. If it will chamber in your berral then I would use it but I am not an expert.
hope one chimes in.

 

[NorCalMikie]

The only problem you'll be running into once you swap a barrel? Betcha can't stop with just one.

My .223 went to another barrel in .223 with a brake, then to .221 Fireball. Another barrel in 20 VT then to a 20 VT"short". Didn't like that so I'am now working with a 20 TCM. .308 and 6.8 SPC are on the list.
Had to have another Wildcat so it was a 6.8 BR. And there's a bunch more in between. Once you spin that barrel off and on, YOU"'RE HOOKED!

 

[andrewsben]

If you pay deposit of purchase price and shipping you can borrow my 6 br go/no go gauges. Will return deposit once gauges returned.

 

[andrewsben]

sure shipping would only be a few bucks each way.

 

[Iowa Fox]

The threaded Hornady OAL Dummy cases work just fine to install a Savage barrel or at lease the ones I have do. You will know exactly what your base to datum is when when you start resizing brass for it. I'm surprised more guys don't use them.

 

[NorCalMikie]

For someone not familiar with setting headsapce on a Savage, using a "modified case" wouldn't be my first suggestion. Only takes setting the barrel too tight one time to damage the case or the neck.
Fired/worked brass more than likely would be harder than the modified case. Just thinking ahead.

 

[fguffey]

This is my first time headspacing a savage, I’m removing my 6.5-284 barrel and installing a 6 br. My question is all my brass for a 6 br is shot out of another gun and don’t have any unfired cases, would it be ok to use a hornady oal checker dummy case to headspace with? Or should I just resize a piece of 6 br brass back to spec? I know I should probably use a go/ no go gauge but wanted to try brass first. Thanks in advance for any advice

I believe a reloader should learn to measure the length of a case from the datum to the case head. I believe a reloader should learn to verify the length of the case from the datum to the case head and the length of the go-gage from the datum to the head of the gage. But I do not believe that is possible, they insist on claiming the case had head space and it is impossible for them to understand Hornady has a comparator, they do not have a gage that can verify. The same with L. Willis' Digital head space gage? Makers of fine measurement equipment identify L. Willis' digital head space gage as a stand of dial indicators, at best if the reloader had a head space gage the digital head space gage is a comparator.

Again; my favorite cases are cases that have been fired in trashy old chambers. I like trashy old cases fired in trashy old chambers because the manufacturer of cases do not sell cases for reloaders that know what they are doing. I form 280 Remington cases for 30/06 chambers that are longer from the datum to the bolt face than go-gage length chambers; I form first and then fire.

F. Guffey

 

[wholman]

I agree with f guffey on one thing brass should be longer than Sammy spec.
But I understand why they don't do it that way.
It would have to be trimed before loading it.
every thing els he says does not make sense.
If you have the talent to teach us then teach us not in babble.

 

[Cloudrepair]

I had a 30-06 once that had a head space about .015 bigger then it should of been that could have benefited from 280 brass but I fire formed them like you would an Ackley.

But my measurements
To the datum where with a comparator so was the chamber out or the box of bullets out?
I've also gotten a bag of 300 wsm brass that was .020 short that I didn't measure til I fired one and seen that bright line about .200 up from the base and decided I better compare them to a headspace gauge to see where they are, then pulled the bullets and loaded some long ones for a hard jam.

I know it sounds like I'm telling stories
Edited
This is all ment as a warning to make sure you know what you have, I think a comparitor of some sort should be In everyones tools for reloading and headspace gauges for reference and setting.

 

[NorCalMikie]

If you take an measurement of YOUR chamber, you may find you don't have to trim your brass. Loading long to a jam then fire forming to your chamber should take care of any brass stretching. Once formed, you'll know by measuring if trimming is needed. Most chambers are .020 to .030 longer than the max trim length. I havn't needed to trim my BR brass is a long time.
One more measurement to write down, keep track of and refer to often.

 

[Cloudrepair]

I wasn't refering to brass overall length but base to datum in the shoulder length that was .020 short as you can see from the pic of the brass that stretched in the head because of that .020

If you take an measurement of YOUR chamber, you may find you don't have to trim your brass. Loading long to a jam then fire forming to your chamber should take care of any brass stretching. Once formed, you'll know by measuring if trimming is needed. Most chambers are .020 to .030 longer than the max trim length. I havn't needed to trim my BR brass is a long time.
One more measurement to write down, keep track of and refer to often.

Another firing of that particular case may result in a head separation.
It's still early but I think that what I said makes sense.

 

[6MMsteve]

if you head space a little long you will have issues maybe, dies will not match up with brass rent the gauges from Andrew and be safe

 

[6MMsteve]

you can size a new brass and headspace from there leave it bout .002 or a pc or 2 of scotch tape for no go and you should be good, just use your shoulder gauge and check a new brass bump the shoulder .002 then chamber then add a pc of tape, or use a new brass add 1 pc of tape go gauge, then add another pc of tape no go, make sure you take out the firing pin and extractor to get a good feel, all this equates to bout .0015 which is safe and a good solid headspace

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Again, my cases do not have headspace but some do. I form my belted magnum cases from range pickup rimfire brass with tools reloaders dont know about. One time i had 2 rifles calling me that didnt understand why their deck heights were more than the herters spec from 1948 so i drove 15hrs to straighten that owner out. I picked some more mushrooms so i didnt come down and as i adjusted my rearview mirror i looked at the only hall of fame reloader i know and congratulated him on another case rescued. I see the pager is going off so its off to show another one what i do