All this headspace information

[ireload2]

One Canadian military document for the #4 rifle described the proper headspace for a Lee-Enfield to be .074. If the .074 gauge was accepted the next shortest bolt head that was supposed to be used that would not accept the .074 gauge.

Some of the discussion I have seen on Lee-Enfield forums have recommended setting up Lee-Enfields shorter than .074.

I have purchased a lot of once fired brass over the last 35 years to be be reloaded. Of that brass .303 British is the only brass that I have ran into that has had incipient or partial head separations from being fired with factory ammo. I think it is worthwhile to pay attention to head space on these rifles. I have bought a rifle that did have excess headspace that was not a Lee-Enfield. It was/is a 1898/09 Argentine Mauser. From close examination it appears to have been arsenal overhauled and the worker did an exceptionally poor job. The rifle has about .030 head space over the length of a no-go gauge. The barrel has been replaced, reserialized and refinished and has seen a lot of handling
since the overhaul but little shooting so the bore is still in very nice condition.