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Post by pxranger on Mar 19, 2012 15:05:24 GMT -8
Ok, answers to this question determine if I order a set of headspace gauges for my new build. how important is it to check headspace on a New AR build? I know some companies sell matched bolt/barrel combo's that I assume are checked for headspace at the factory, being as thats not an option here, is it critical to do so? I will most likely be ordering a .264 LBC bolt from tactical ammunition, I assume they sell quality bolts or they would not be listed here as a seller.
if this is one of those "duh! everyone knows that" questions, forgive me, as I have never assembled an AR from scratch before....
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Mar 19, 2012 15:37:08 GMT -8
Ok, answers to this question determine if I order a set of headspace gauges for my new build. how important is it to check headspace on a New AR build? I know some companies sell matched bolt/barrel combo's that I assume are checked for headspace at the factory, being as thats not an option here, is it critical to do so? I will most likely be ordering a .264 LBC bolt from tactical ammunition, I assume they sell quality bolts or they would not be listed here as a seller. if this is one of those "duh! everyone knows that" questions, forgive me, as I have never assembled an AR from scratch before.... Not a dumb question but quality parts added together will be fine. The BHW barrels are dead nuts in spec and you can't change the head space on an AR once it is done any way other than pick up maybe 0.001 or 0.002 by swapping bolts. Trust me get the barrel and bolt, put 'em together and go shoot. Greg |
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Post by pxranger on Mar 19, 2012 19:20:18 GMT -8
Thanks, that is what I thought, but knowing for sure keeps my mind at ease. good to know that they are mostly foolproof for when I start reloading
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Post by oz on Mar 19, 2012 22:24:03 GMT -8
Well, if you're reloading, that's a different issue... you need to make sure you're checking your case length and overall length.
I'm sure you know that the brass will elongate . So you *could* start experiencing issues.
Follow good reloading principles and you'll be fine ;D
Oz
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Post by pxranger on Mar 20, 2012 6:36:41 GMT -8
Full length resize and trim cases as needed, to stay below max case length.
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Post by almostdoc on Feb 17, 2013 17:13:07 GMT -8
Wondered this as well, good to know. Thanks!
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Post by Babaganoush on Feb 21, 2013 16:33:18 GMT -8
It was a friend's first hand experience in this matter that emphasized the importance of checking headspace on a "fresh from scratch" rifle build, in this case, an AR.
He'd had a friend of his build up an AR in .223, and went straight to working up a load for it. Somewhere in the first week or two, he had a catastrophic failure, which resulted in his upper separating into three distinct pieces. It also destroyed his BCG, magazine and optics. Thank God he escaped any serious injury.
Although he initially blamed his hand loads, it never made sense to me that the failure occurred at a relatively low powder charge. It was when he gave his barrel to someone else, who checked, that he found out that the barrel adaptor had been improperly installed and that the headspace was way out. It had only been a matter of time for the thing to fail.
Having said all this, the chances are low that a barrel ordered from a reputable source would have this issue. I submit, however, that it never hurts to check, and that it's always a good idea when the pedigree of a barrel is unknown.
After selling what was salvageable, my friend's experience cost him just over $700, a year ago. At today's prices, a KB could end up costing significantly more, not to mention the risk of personal injuries.
David
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Post by coldzero on Mar 25, 2013 18:15:21 GMT -8
I have pondered this as well and wondered if the task was really worth buying a set of gauges for. turns out you can rent them cheap.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2013 20:46:20 GMT -8
Hi. You don't need them for a quick field check. Form a dummy round in your reloading die using hard brass, no bullet is needed but a bullet will help feed. Put that into the chamber close the bolt. It should close just fine. Extract and measure that case/round.
The add a small piece of tape to the brass head. Measure. Depending on the thickness you might need to add a 2nd layer of tape. The with a box cutter cut all around the head leaving clear of the rim and making sure the tape is well secured and the brass can extract. Measure that round over the limit and will act as a no go gauge. When you put this into the chamber slowly it should not close. Just push it gently but do not ram as this is brass so no need to hammer or ram to find out the bolt doesn't turn and lock all the way. If it closes then you have a headspace problem but I doubt you will find one.
In recent years never seen a chamber out of spec. I mean headspace wise. Other problems like rough unfinished chamber, or out of alignment and even .223R advertised as 5.56 NATO but not headspace or any other issues on a quality AR15 barrel.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2013 20:51:01 GMT -8
Sorry double post.
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