Head space Gauges.

[Jim London]

Has anyone had an experience with a set of 1891 7.65x53 go/no go gauges? I have re barreled my 1891 with a new/old stock barrel in the same 7.65 caliber. Do I still need these gauges? Jim.

Information

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[ikesdad]

Yes, headspace needs to be checked when rebarreling.

[Sunray]

Better to have 'em and not need 'em than need 'em and have to find 'em again.
Like ikesdad says, head space gauges are 100% required when installing a barrel. The bolt and barrel must be properly fitted. Neither are drop in parts.
You're going to need a barrel vise with bushings and the correct action wrench too. Installing a barrel is not just screwing the thing into the receiver. Fail to use the proper action wrench can leave you with an oddly shaped paperweight when the receiver is twisted.

[USGI]

Spelling and Grammar count!

So does Reading!

[bob q]

To answer the question . If your bolt will not close on a chambered round your headspace is too tight . If your firing pin will not set off a chambered round you have too much headspace . Anything in between you are probably ok . Once your brass has been fired in the rifle , you can just neck size to the extent you want for what ever fit you would like , if you are reloading for it . As a gunsmith who specializes in Mausers I have never found a barrel that just would not screw on and be ok . They were made to be interchangeable . Everyone I ever did was . I also turn , thread and chamber barrel blanks and have never had to use a headspace gauge to set up the barrel . I just measure and I can make my headspace clearance what ever I would like , 0 , +.001 , +.005 , or what ever the application calls for .

[Peter Laidler]

I'd like to come in here BobQ as a sort-of semi trained Armourer, starting as a 5 year apprentice in the 60's and graduate standard experience/courses since. I'd say that your take on headspace and the '.....anything in between you are probably ok.....' take on things is a tad different to mine. But like I always say, I could be wrong - or simply taught to be cautious as they say.

[bob q]

As an armourer , how many barrels did you make from blanks ? I have made a lot , made my own reamers for wildcat cartridges of my own design . Every time my headspace was within a .001 or less of what I wanted , without the use of a headspace gauge . How many time have you taken a used barrel from a Mauser and installed on another with the head space being fine . Like putting small ring Mauser barrels on Gew-88 rifles and they fit fine . All military rifles have extra headspace , they are made that way for a reason . I do not use the same headspacing for a benchrest rifle as I do for a hunting rifle , even if they were in the same cartridge . The guide lines a military will tell you to follow are different than what is used for other applications , they want things done THEIR way . The internet myths about headspacing are blown way out of reason by people who do not even understand headspace , what it does , how to set in and so on . They have never set headspace on a rifle , they are just repeating 5th hand information .

[Sunray]

"...without the use of a head space gauge..." If you do that as a commercial smithy, you'll end up being successfully sued for negligence. And lose your liability insurance, assuming you have any.
"...head space was within a .001..." Speaking on not understanding head space. Head space is a tolerance. There is no measurement.
"...with the head space being fine..." And you know that without using proper head space gauges how?
"...If your bolt will not close on a chambered round your head space is too tight..." Far more likely that the OAL is too long. And "anything in between is a gigantic guess.

[Jim London]

Thanks for the info. I will check it out when I receive my bolt back for bending for scope mounting. Hopefully, it will be o.k. as to head spacing, etc. I know there will be some adjustments to stock and receiver in order to properly close bolt. Jim.

[bob q]

Mr . sun , your statements clearly show you do not understand headspace . How do you know what the "tolerance " is ? Maybe by measuring it ?