Question about headspace for 1905 Ross rifle

[beastybaconman]

You can try to determine how much the bolt head turns on the NO-GO, relative to the GO Gauge. Even though you can see the bolt head open and close on the 1905 actions, it is still not easy to determine the headspace. To properly check H.S., the cocking piece and firing pin as well as the extractor have to be removed so that just the bolt sleeve and bolt are inserted into battery with the NO-GO Gauge. Even then, a light touch is needed to get a feel for when the bolt is getting snug to the gauge. It is very easy to force the bolt to close and slightly compress the NO-GO Gauge, that is the reason for the light touch! If you use a light touch and the bolt closes completely on the NO-GO, you can still get an idea as to how excessive the H.S. might be by then pushing forward on the back of the bolt body. If the bolt locking lugs move forward during this test, then you have more than .006-.007" H.S.

I decided that since I wouldn't be able to easily fix any Headspace issue anyway, (not having a selection of 1905 Ross bolts to choose from) that I would obtain a small "O" ring, or tiny elastic bands, put these over the rims of each round, then chamber and fire. The "O" ring or elastic would force the rim against the bolt face when chambered and fireform the case to perfect H.S. for the rifle. From then on, you neck size, and reload for that rifle.

Ok I'll try checking it like that, I was always checking with a fully assembled bolt. But if the headspace is bad couldn't a gunsmith just redrill the chamber then thread the barrel in another turn to fix it?

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[browningautorifle]

couldn't a gunsmith just redrill the chamber then thread the barrel in another turn to fix it?

WAAAAAY easier said than done. I doubt you can find a guy to do that.

[M94/14]

If yours is a "True" 1905 Sporter, and an "E" model at that, then you could likely get the barrel set back one turn without a horrendous amount of work. The "E" model Sporter used the same barrel thread as the 1905 MkII** Target rifle, and was very different from the usual left hand 3 t.p.i. that all the other 1905's used.