Requesting Head Space Guage Advice

[rgamba]

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

Information

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[jrhead75]

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...

[rgamba]

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?

[Peter Laidler]

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

[rgamba]

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

[Peter Laidler]

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

[Amatikulu]

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

[Brian Dick]

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.

[Garandy]

FYI, Forster will/would make you a mil-spec field gauge if you ask them to.

Only costs a few dollars more.

[Bearclaw]

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