My first Smith Corona 1903A3

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

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by emmagee1917

...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.

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