My first Smith Corona 1903A3

[mustanggt]

thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it. Rick, I'll work on my picture takin skills.

[mustanggt]

Emmagee, I tried your quick and dirty method and it looks like it is within the 3 tape thicknesses. However I don't want to chance ruining me or a good rifle so I ordered headspace gauges for it to leave no questions. Let you know how that works. Thanks again.

[sakorick]

...the start of the rifling has nothing to do with headspace. Headspace is from the bolt face to the midpoint of the shoulder taper. If you don't have the gauges , have a gunsmith check it. If you have no gunsmith , here is a down and dirty way. Remove your bolt guts ( don't want an AD ! ) . Chamber a round you'll be shooting. Place a small piece of scotch tape on the rear of the cartrige base and try it again ( finger-tip preasure only on the handle). Repeat with two thicknesses. Repeat with three , etc. etc. If it becomes real hard to close with 1-2-or 3 , you're OK. Four is starting to be excessive , five or more is gunsmith checking time. Repete this with several cartriges. If it passes, it is safe , headspace wise , to shoot. Examine your case after the first shot and look for any problems. If problems , stop. If none , your good to go.
Chris

And.....do not do this with brass(reloads) you have fired in this rifle. Your bolt doesn't have an X on the top by any chance? If it has an X or nothing, it's most likely a Smith Corona. Regards, Rick.

[mustanggt]

It has nothing on top of the bolt. I checked the headspace with a new unfired dummy cartridge. Thanks for the help. Mike