Topic: head space question (Read 568 times)

archangel · « **on:** January 15, 2012, 07:53:20 AM »

my upper is 90% complete. i have a dpms sass series barrel and dpms upper. i am going to buy a dpms BCG on payday. since everything is from dpms do i need to get it headspaced?

unforgiven · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2012, 08:52:20 AM »

There is a thread in this form speciffically on headspacing.As mention from one of the other bros you are quality control.Be safe.

Tripledeuce · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2012, 01:41:21 PM »

I ALWAYS check the headspace!
Better to have it checked than to try to buy a new eye.
Respectfully
Terry

archangel · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2012, 07:25:10 PM »

is it easy to check yourself or should i just take it to a smith?

edgecrusher · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2012, 07:34:13 AM »

A set of go no-go gauges are easy to use

survivalshop · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2012, 09:52:24 AM »

Quote from: archangel on January 15, 2012, 07:25:10 PM

is it easy to check yourself or should i just take it to a smith?

That would depend on, if you think you can do the head spacing yourself. If you think its above your skill level , take it to a smith .

Its not a hard process ,but can be read incorrectly . Read up on the procedure & make the call , the gages them self's are not overly expensive & can be used in the future.

Cabinetman · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2012, 07:11:06 AM »

I have a complete set of NATO headspace gauges: Go, no go, field reject. IF you'd like to borrow them I'd be happy to send them along. I've lent them out to shooters/builder from all over the USA from Maine to Alaska. Just shoot me an email and I'll send them to you if you'd like to check your headspace with the proper gauges.

Rome

Big Bore · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2012, 06:04:26 PM »

I check the headspace in all my builds, but in the over two dozen builds I have done, 4 of them LR-308s, I have had ONLY ONE barrel/bolt not headspace correctly.
The one, a 5.56 7.5 inch pistol upper I bought from CMMG, the bolt would not close on the GO gauge. However, at the time I tested it I had well over 2K rounds down the pipe and never had a problem, so obviously the headspace was not so tight as to prevent chambering a round, and since a lot of the ammo I shot was milsurp, I am sure some of it would have been on the maximum size of the tolerance range, and I had no problems. However, just because I am anal, I switched out the bolt and found the new bolt headspaced correctly, closing on GO, not closing on NO-GO. Probably a waste of time to have done so but I had extra bolts laying about so why not? Another 3K later, still no problems.
In short, never hurts to check headspace, but I would not lose any sleep over it if I bought the barrel and bolt from the same maker.

98Z5V · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2012, 08:47:58 PM »

Quote from: Cabinetman on January 21, 2012, 07:11:06 AM

I have a complete set of NATO headspace gauges: Go, no go, field reject. IF you'd like to borrow them I'd be happy to send them along. I've lent them out to shooters/builder from all over the USA from Maine to Alaska. Just shoot me an email and I'll send them to you if you'd like to check your headspace with the proper gauges.

Rome

I was the first one you sent them to, Rome, the last time you did that on ARFCOM. Still can't thank you enough, man.

I wish we would have listed our city and state on the instruction card as we passed them on...

Cabinetman · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2012, 03:59:26 AM »

Well now, fancy bumping into you here! They did see most of the country but we almost lost 'em somewhere in Ohio, I think. But, they did resurface and are home again safe and sound. If they are needed by anyone here, just drop me an email and I'll send 'em on their way. Nice seeing you here, too, and in a moderator's seat, too! Nice promotion!

Rome

392heminut · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2012, 04:26:04 PM »

Hey Rome, class act there! Most folks wouldn't do that.

Cabinetman · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2012, 05:20:27 PM »

In all the years that I've been collecting and dealing with other shooters/collectors, I've never ever been shorted or taken advantage of. We are a close-knit community and we all end up with a reputation. I have absolutely no issues sharing out gear like this. It's not something that most people would buy but it does guarantee safety. So, they sit in my tool box until someone needs 'em and forums like this are welcome to them. I estimate that they've been loaned out to about 40 different guys in almost all 50 states including Alaska. No Hawaii, however.

Rome