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Cheers everyone. Just acquired a 1917 SMLE No1 mk3* and need to check the head space to make sure its safe to fire. My questions are:
1) Do I need to invest in all 3 gauges or is it sufficient to pass the field gauge test? I dont plan to shoot reloads, strictly commercial - S&B and Prvi (mostly).
2) Are Fortser gauges any good?
Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions
Best
Robert
Robert
It is sufficient that it pass with a field gauge (that's what they're for). Forster gauges are fine in my experience, but to my knowledge their field gauge is .070", which is .004 less than the British Mil-Spec gauge.
Hope this helps...
Thanks jrhead for the quick reply. By .004 less than Brit mil-spec, do you meant tighter tolerance? So if I fail with the forster the rifle might still be ok to shoot?
Psssssst, get a bit closer RGAMBA as I don't want anyone else to hear. You don't need three gauges at all. The British designed the rifle you have got and they, in their wisdon, decided throughout its loooooong life that two CHS gauges were all that were required. A .064" GO gauge and a .074" NO GO gauge. That stood, right throughout the series, until the trusty old ladies were finally retired several years ago.
We didn't need 'nearly there' gauges or 'it won't be long now' gauges. Just the two. The acid test as to whether they're good gauges or not is whether the rim thickness are .064" and .074" according to your (or your friends) micrometer
Thanks for the info Peter. Will look for a .064 GO and .074 NO GO Gauge. I assume for checking milsurp rifles (when your not replacing a barrel/receiver) the NO GO is more relevant - is this a correct assumption?
Thanks Again
Best
Robert
Personally, I think that they're both relevant in equal measure but to be honest, while we meticulously gauged the rifles every year, if it was my own rifle and I was a bit over I wouldn't worry too much just so long as it was accurate
rgamba,
This site has excellent information available in the Technical Library. The following link deals specifically with the question of headspace in the Lee Enfield .303
https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...#axzz18vqBYo53
The only gauges that are available and manufactured to MoD specification are Arrowmark and made in Australia. They come in sets of three, .064, .067 and .074. I sell them if interested. They're not cheap in the eyes of some but will last a lifetime given a bit of care. Contact me directly at my shop if interested.
FYI, Forster will/would make you a mil-spec field gauge if you ask them to.
Only costs a few dollars more.
Rgamba,
I recomend going with Brian Dick, awesome service and cheaper than getting them from oz, other than that you get a great service.
Myles
Hi
In service during WW11 the head space was allowed to creep over 74 thou to a max of 80. This does increase the recoil, but basically the case on firing shouldn't move back in the chamber by more that 20 thou and the service spec was set as the rim thickness on service ammo can vary.If you get a an unfired case and use some imperial feeler guages and a dab of Araldite or similar you can make your own up.
Hope this helps
H
Thank you for all the information/advice, greatly appreciate it. I decided to go with the Forester Field (for now) which as I understand turns may result in a fail although the rifle may still pass under British milspec. I found the gauge for $20 so not much of an investment. If it fails, I will probably go with a BDL Ltd solution as I have also dealt with Brian Dick and was very impressed with his products/services.
Thanks again and happy holidays to all
Best
Robert