Headspace...

So I finally got my headspace gauges in today. The rifle closed on the go gauge as it should. I then tried the no go and it also closed. But it didn't close on the field gauge. Obviously I need to have my headspace reset. But I'm getting ready to deploy for 9 months and would like to be able to get it out a lol bit before I do. Am I really safe to put 20 or 40 rounds through the rifle with it closing on the no go gauge so long as it didn't close on the field gauge, or should I just wait till I get home and get the headspace reset before shooting it?

I think you're worrying about nothing. I think you'll be fine. I wouldn't even worry about the headspace if it didn't take the field gauge. Your brass might not last as long...

Go shows minimum head space, No Go shows go +.005, Field shows minimum +.010 . If it closes on the first 2 but not on the field you have nothing to worry about as far as headspace.

You are fine. Fire away.

There are a few makers of headspace gauges that are making them to saami specs (the spec they made up) but not to .303Brit specs.

The GO gauge is .064", I believe, for all makers I have seen or heard of.
Forster gauges are .064 GO. .067 NO GO and .070 Field.
Milspec is .064 GO, .068 NO GO and .074 Field.

The middle gauge only exists in the factory. It is the spec for setting the bolt head in new rifles after proof firing. Every rifle that has been issued is tested by the .074" Field gauge and passed for service until it fails the .074" gauge.

Check the brand and size of the gauges you are using. Regardless of what they are, passing the field gauge means your rifle likely has many thousands of rounds left in it as is. Even more if they are the false Forster gauges.

Good luck on the deployment, maybe you can drop us a line here and maybe a few pics during...to stay in touch...

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Originally Posted by Son

There are a few makers of headspace gauges that are making them to saami specs (the spec they made up) but not to .303Brit specs.

The GO gauge is .064", I believe, for all makers I have seen or heard of.
Forster gauges are .064 GO. .067 NO GO and .070 Field.
Milspec is .064 GO, .068 NO GO and .074 Field.

The middle gauge only exists in the factory. It is the spec for setting the bolt head in new rifles after proof firing. Every rifle that has been issued is tested by the .074" Field gauge and passed for service until it fails the .074" gauge.

Check the brand and size of the gauges you are using. Regardless of what they are, passing the field gauge means your rifle likely has many thousands of rounds left in it as is. Even more if they are the false Forster gauges.

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That's interesting and good to know... I purchased the Okie gauges and the measure .060 for the Go gauge, .063 for the No Go, and .069 for the field gauge.

I just can't understand for the life of me why the question of Lee Enfield rifle headspace comes up time and time again, month after month, with monotonous regularity........... And every time it does, every Armourer here sits exasperated............ It is .064" GO and .074" NO-GO. Those are the measurements given by the developers, the designers and the manufacturers of the rifles plus the developers, designers and manufacturers of the ammunition. It is recorded FACT and has been for 100 years now. How difficult can it be? Anything else from Oakie or Forster or Uncle Tom Cobbley, Ford, MG or VW et-al is wrong or just a sales ploy to get you to buy their super-dooper 'false' gauges.

Here's a challenge.......... Does anyone disagree with that?

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

I just can't understand for the life of me why the question of Lee Enfield rifle headspace comes up time and time again, month after month, with monotonous regularity........... And every time it does, every Armourer here sits exasperated............ It is .064" GO and .074" NO-GO. Those are the measurements given by the developers, the designers and the manufacturers of the rifles plus the developers, designers and manufacturers of the ammunition. It is recorded FACT and has been for 100 years now. How difficult can it be? Anything else from Oakie or Forster or Uncle Tom Cobbley, Ford, MG or VW et-al is wrong or just a sales ploy to get you to buy their super-dooper 'false' gauges.

Here's a challenge.......... Does anyone disagree with that?

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I apologize... I'll refrain from asking questions or attempting to expand my knowledge about areas I'm lacking in from now on.

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Originally Posted by amadeus76

I'll refrain

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That's not what he meant troop...that wasn't for you.