Lithgow SMLE Failed Field Headspace Gauge

[jmoore]

Originally posted by Peter Laidler:

This is where some of the problems lay if truth be known. If the two gauges were recognised as .064" GO and .074" NO-GO instead of the spurious nomenclature of 'field' then it'd make life so much easier and probably eliminate a lot of misunderstanding. Thereafter any other or inbetween gauge could be quietly abandoned - to the good of all

I think the terms are OK, but the users need recalibrating. "Go" and "No-go" are manufacturing limits. "Field" is max USER limit. ("Go" is universal, but shouldn't be required except during component swaps., so it isn't really a gage required by a user, just armorer.)

ETA: The three gage system is well established for U.S. Military firearms, and probably has carried over to Enfields. Surplus military gages of all three types were very common for a long time. So folk are used to them. Even if their real world application remains a bit of a mystery!