Check Head Space

Doug Penttinen

Doug Penttinen

"TESTED TEXAS TUFF"
Good Day
Could someone give me a some what a quick run down on the or a proper way to check head space.

Was at the range shooting yesterday for the first time in 2 years. I was thinking I may have had a few bad primers or the spring on the Grizz action needs replaced since it is about 5 years old as well.

Got to the line put the load in tap the trigger and nothing. Lift the handle and put it back down and tap the trigger and off she went. This happened about a half dozen times. This is new fresh brass 6PPC, .263 tight neck.
Any suggestion would be great
 
Doug, you said when you pulled the trigger there was nothing. Did the firing pin hit the primer and nothing happened or did the trigger not hold on the sear. It could be the trigger needs cleaning if it is not holding the sear or the bolt is gunked up if it is not hitting the primer hard enough. Check the length from base to datum on the cartridge and compare unfired to fired to see if the case is to short and creating a "gap" between cartridge and the chamber bolt surfaces which can behave like excess head space. Head space it self has to be checked with head space guages.
 
I find the Stoney Point headspace tool handy for comparing the shoulder to head dimensions of fired and sized cases. It is an attachment for calipers. As the earlier poster asked, when you pulled the trigger the first time, did the firing pin fall?
 
Head Space

Yes the firing pin hit the primer very well. Just NO ignition. I will also try and clean the trigger. It has been in the gun safe for about 2 years with out any rounds or range time on it.
 
Anothe thing you might do is drop your firing pin out & clean it & the bolt with degreaser. Things can gum up & slow down the firing pin fall.
 
I suggest that you do have a headspace issue. It's fairly common that primers can be fairly dented but if the cartridge is moving and absorbing the shock the primers often will not fire.

This is just one of the problems with trying to "fix" excess head clearance by "seating bullets long" in an attempt to "hold the casehead firmly against the boltface"......... it just doesn't work.

An easy way to check YOUR headspace is to place a layer of masking tape or scotch tape onto your casehead, trim off the edges with your pocket knife and try to close the bolt.

If it closes firmly on one layer you've got excessive hedspace but probably not enough to cause ignition problems. Anything over one layer of tape will almost certainly cause erratic ignition.

al
 
Doug, I'm guessing this was brass you were fireforming ?? If so you might have created a bit of excessive h/s if you took a bit of brass off the shoulder/neck junction during neck turning.. Umm, is your barrel screwed on firmly ? I'm betting on the second firing of the ''new'' brass your problems will dissapear unless you're creating excessive h/s by oversizing?
 
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Dougie,
I think that Pat is right. I used to have trouble fireforming with Remington primers. I would seat your bullets real long and tight.
Butch
 
Thanks Pat

Hey Pat
Hope you have been well and things are going well for you. Thanks for the info. Yes the barrel is on tight and it is new brass.I also did get up on the neck some. Using the new sinclair motor driven turner. It is nice but I can see how it is easy to get to far up the neck and into the shoulder. Never thought about the re-sizing issue but that will be my next check when I get back to the range.

Have you been doing any shooting? I hope to get to the matches this coming year and get back to shooting.
Thanks again
 
Hey Doug

Hope you can shoot with us next year. You are a tough competitor. Just remember to not pour H-322 into a V-133 jug again!........GW
 
Next Year

I hope to be out there Gary, found out bygoing tothe range the lastcouple of weekends just how much I have missed pulling the trigger and of course it shows that I have not shot either so as far as being a tough competitor I'm going to settle for just being able to show up and shoot will be a major acomlishment.

Hope you get you a dear this year. Heard from Glenn that opening was pretty warm.
Good luck to ya !!
 
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