Will excessive headspace blow up a gun?? Check this video out

[trekvana]

Good day gents-

Just got this vid from the AGI showing how much excessive headspace affects the gun and cartridge case.

AGI Gunsmithing Video Mini lessons

Information

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[usgicollector]

It really depends on many things, but short headspace is likely to cause a problem much faster that to much headspace.

[ChipS]

It really depends on many things, but short headspace is likely to cause a problem much faster that to much headspace.

I agree, sort of. Too much headspace may cause 'problems' more frequently but they are generally failure to discharge and/or extract - a nuisance but not catastrophic. Too little headspace may only result in an rare 'problem' but if the problem is out of battery ignition, which is the most probable result, it could be life changing and not for the better. If I have a choice I will take too much headspace 100% of the time. I'm not a reloader (yet) but I think this is why conventional wisdom seems to be to trim all cases to minimum length specification at every reload. JMHO

[trekvana]

Agreed, short headspace can even be more dangerous I think since you may get out of battery firing

[DaveHH]

That was just a demonstration of how strong a Mauser is. If you read Hatcher's notebook, he essentially says the same thing; it isn't as dangerous as people think.

I don't believe that I've ever seen anything as stupid as these fools. A piece of cardboard? A hammer? If that was a low number 03, it might have gone off like a grenade. In fact, Hatcher has pages of exploding 03s.

[Tired Retired]

Not to bandwagon the "value" of their demostration, but using a bolt action mauser proves little. I really do not think that it translates very well to the potential impact of insufficient/excessive headspace on semi-auto, self loading weapons. Their locking mechanisms and bolts are not as strong. Therefore they would be more sensitive to any escaping gases and extraction issues which would result.

I realize that a bad headspace issue probably won't kill me, but it could POTENTIALLY ruin a weapon and my day. I do believe that is important to ensure that any weapon is materially sound and in good working order prior to its use. Headspace is just one of many things that should be inspected and corrected if it is out of spec.

Just my 1 1/2 cents.... (because I never know what I am talking about)

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Just my 1 1/2 cents.... (because I never know what I am talking about)

You need to be an optimist Ed and think of the glass being half full -
You aren't wrong half of the time - you're correct half of the time.

I thought the guys in the video played down the possible dangers of head space way too much.

I agree with you Ed. The whole thing reminded me something about a monkey and a football

[imarangemaster]

I had a Century L1A1 FAL build. It had excessive head space. Second shot had catastrophic head failure, blew the remaining 18 rounds in the magazine on the ground at my feet, and swelled the magazine body beyond repair. Other than "What the h@ll was that?" when it happened, I suffered no injuries.

[Bill Hollinger]

Interesting. Hardly "scientific".

[painter777]

I wonder if they had to sign a Waiver, releasing the range owner of any liability.
A injury couldn't have been considered Accidental, because their actions were intentional.
I've owned and run a business with + or - 18 employees for 35 years now. My Workers Comp rate is currently @ 27.9%. So for every $100 gross I owe $27.90 to my Comp ins and we've never had a claim.........

When young I watched a older High School kid hold a .22 round with a pair of pliars and hit it with a hammer. It fired and went through the thigh of a by stander a few hundred feet away.

I hate seeing guys do stuff like this intentionally.
Just like on TV when they hold cocked pistols to someones head.
I remember a Michigan State University grad back years ago named Jon Hexum, that ended up in Hollywood. He was in the same class as my sister. Bored while on set he fired a blank pistol round in his head that killed him. He had no experience with guns and knew nothing about the Wad, which is what killed him.
Jon-Erik Hexum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt or killed.
The way they laugh and joke in the video about what their doing rubs me the wrong way.
Kids along with some adults need to learn the right/safe ways to handle firearms.

JMT,
Charlie-painter777