Headspace gauge question

July 20, 2021, 04:34 PM

kz1000

Will a headspace gauge work in any rifle of the same caliber? I have an SMLE, P14 & a Ross MK2, all .303 British. I'm sure I'll need a set of gauges eventually, especially since the Ross is having light primer strikes and I've been told headspace issues can cause them.

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July 20, 2021, 05:09 PM

cas

As long as it's the right caliber, yes. But it's not one single gauge that tells you what you need to know. When someone says you need a "set", they mean the two, or three for that one caliber. (not a set for many calibers)

Since you're not cutting the chamber, setting the barrel back etc, you really don't need to check the minimum size. Mostly you need a No-Go gauge to check maximum.

July 20, 2021, 05:33 PM

MikeinNC

A set of comparator heads for your electronic calipers will tell you how long each chamber is in each different gun (using a fired piece of brass)then you just need to know what the max measurement for the .303 is….but they headspace off the rim…

You’re gonna have to reload for each rifle anyway as most .303 have huge chambers.

Once you reload for that particular rifle, you just bump the shoulder back .002 and keep that brass with that rifle and you are GTG

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July 20, 2021, 06:01 PM

M1Garandy

An item of note specifically about .303 Brit field gauges. The SAAMI spec and the Commonwealth mil-spec are different. Most places will sell you a SAAMI spec field gauge which is shorter than the Commonwealth mil-spec gauge.

When I bought .303 Brit gauges, I have to have my field gauge custom made to mil-spec length.

One set of Go/Field gauges will do you for your Ross, P14 and SMLE. Stripped bolt, light finger pressure only.

July 20, 2021, 06:08 PM

lyman

quote:
Originally posted by M1Garandy:
An item of note specifically about .303 Brit field gauges. The SAAMI spec and the Commonwealth mil-spec are different. Most places will sell you a SAAMI spec field gauge which is shorter than the Commonwealth mil-spec gauge.

When I bought .303 Brit gauges, I have to have my field gauge custom made to mil-spec length.

this,

and it is a rim measurement, not a chamber measurment, since .303 is a rimmed cartidge,

an interesting tutorial

http://photos.imageevent.com/b...eadspace%20_CHS_.pdf

from here

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=16948

July 20, 2021, 07:22 PM

357fuzz

quote:
Originally posted by kz1000:
Will a headspace gauge work in any rifle of the same caliber? I have an SMLE, P14 & a Ross MK2, all .303 British. I'm sure I'll need a set of gauges eventually, especially since the Ross is having light primer strikes and I've been told headspace issues can cause them.

Before you go the headspace route w/ your Ross take your bolt apart and clean the ever loving heck out of the inside of it and the parts of the bolt too including the firing pin/striker spring. If that doesn’t fix the light strikes then try a new spring. If that doesn’t work then go the headspace route.