Installing Remage barrel: left go gauge in while tightening nut?

[SpookyPistolero]

Good evening-

After six months of waiting for my Remage barrel I tried to get my barrel installed this evening. I placed the go gauge into the action, tightened the barrel as much as I could by hand, then did the scotch tape trick on the go gauge to see if it would chamber (it wouldn't). My questions are three fold:

1) I, being an idiot, left the go gauge in the chamber while tightening the barrel nut. How likely is it that I damaged the gauge by doing this?

2) How tight do you guys want the go gauge to be? At first it was so tight it took quite a lot of force to close the bolt. I ended up backing it up (maybe 4mm circumference) so it wouldn't be as difficult (but of course such that the 'no go' still wouldn't chamber).

3) How tightly do you guys tighten the nut once you've found the right depth? I don't have a torque wrench, I used a rubber mallet and gave it two hard smacks. Pretty scientific. Once 'finished', I went back and put the go gauge in again and it worked fine.

Thanks much for any thoughts-

Will

 

[KRP]

1. Not likely. Tightening the nut increases headspace so you took pressure off the gauge. The gauge isn't what I'd be worried about damaging though.

2. I don't want the go gauge tight.

3. Two smacks with a rubber mallet sounds fine, I don't measure. Is it tight enough that it doesn't shoot loose?

 

[savagedasher]

1. Not likely. Tightening the nut increases headspace so you took pressure off the gauge. The gauge isn't what I'd be worried about damaging though.

2. I don't want the go gauge tight.

3. Two smacks with a rubber mallet sounds fine, I don't measure. Is it tight enough that it doesn't shoot loose?

I put piece of blue painters on the gauge tighten the barrel till the bolt lift is snug but not tight. Turn the nut is hand tight holding the barrel and the action tighten the nut to 50 foot lb . The bolt should work free . Add another's piece of tape the bolt shouldn't close . Depending on the tape thickness the head space should be good . Larry

 

[Ggmac]

Stop using tape , buy a no go gauge .

 

[RonS]

I must agree with Cgmac, use both gauges. With my Savages/Remages I remove the ejector and tighten the action to the barrel with the go gauge in the chamber until the bolt contacts the go gauge and the bolt operates effortlessly. Then tighten the barrel nut snuggly, then insert the no-go gauge and test the bolt again and if all is good, torque the nut to 25 foot pounds. I've not had a barreled action come loose using this method.