Headspacing a m1917

Hi all, sorry if we're going over old ground but, I've just bought an M1917 in 7.62(an old range rifle), the barrel is excellent but when I check the headspace(with the bolt body stripped) the bolt won't close completely but it will close far enough for the rifle to discharge (even on the field gauge). So does this mean the rifle has excessive headspace? The rifle is registered as a .308 winchester and those are the gauges I'm using, but here in Australia 7.62 Nato and .308 Win are generally considered synonymous. Would the possible difference in chambering perhaps be the culprit, or is the headspace just excessive?
Is the only simple rectification a selectively fitted bolt body, or relief of the barrel tennon and shoulder and screwing the barrel in a little more(possible quite easily due to the lack of fixed sights on the barrel).
Thanks and sorry for my ignorance, it's my first 1917.

your rifle is headpacing fine,..if it closed all the way, then you might have an issue..
your best bet with 17,s is to look at a fired case, and look for issues, plits, stretch ect...

Look like this one?

The rifle I mean. ;)

The gent doing the shooting is so ugly he must a Brit.;)

Out of curiosity,, what is his full name and is it ever used? Like on legal papers, birth, divorce???

45B20

What do you think the 2 smaller straps are for around his elbow?
john

The small straps are for a rubber elbow pad. When I learned to shoot, they were the only extras used. No "padded cell" jackets, no shoulder pads, no gloves. It looks like the lad is wearing a Norfolk shooting jacket, so it probably has some shoulder and elbow padding integrated. And whoever sporterized the rifle really should have taken the trouble to match in the handguard.

Patrick

id bet thats a P14, and not a 17...

That looks like Prince Charles to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doug Rammel

That looks like Prince Charles to me.

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I trust we can assume the previous posters noticed that, :D but yes, it is. In the early 70s I imagine, at Bisley - where else?

Enfield hammer forged barrel and AJ Parker Matchmaker foresight and I wouldn't be surprised if Colin Moon did the handguard(?)

Target types didn't care a hoot about cosmetics most of them, though a darker one would have reflected less light.

Given the finger groove in the forend it could be a P14 couldn't it?

Sorry to pull the thread off track, but I thought that was likely to be the rifle configuration referred to.