What's wrong with my Ishapore?

[Brian Dick]

RFI headspace specifications are 1.633 GO and 1.642 NO GO. I forget what the Forster SAAMI gauges are except for the FIELD which is 1.638. If your rifle won't close on the GO gauge, it's over headspaced and should be relieved a bit. However, so many take bolts apart and have no clue whatsoever how to reassemble them properly that I would be hesitant to change it without inspecting it first to see if it's fitted together properly in the first place. Bolt lift and overturn are key. I can tell you from experience with many 2A/2A1 rifles, that yours is the exception to the rule if too tight. They are almost always out of specification. It's important to get them right because the 7.62 round is definitely pushing the limit on pressure with the SMLE body.