Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

What is headspace?

SilentKnight
Can you direct me to a website or a book that can explain
in a basic way what headspace is.
I have no Idea what it is.
Thanks for your help.

Bad spellers of the world

"UNTIE!"
0

Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • SilentKnight
    What exactly is "headspace" refering to in gun terms???
    0
  • D@D
    http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=84642&SearchTerms=headspace

    Heres a link to your question.
    0
  • bobski
    its the distance between the inside of the skull wall and the actual brain matter of a democrats head. many democrats have excessive headspace, making them unservicable and they should be scrapped.
    0
  • Tailgunner1954
    It's the distance between what stops the case from forward (case mouth, shoulder, rim, belt depending on the case design) and what stops it from moving backwards (bolt face, revolver frame etc depending on the firearm). To short and the action won't close, to long and the case may seperate on firing.
    A GO gauge is at the Minimum specified dimention, a NO-GO is at the Maximum specified dimention. There is a "Field" gauge that is used by the military (in times of heavy conflict there may be no time/personal/parts to make the repair) for those rifles that fail the NO-GO test but can still be used safely until they reach "Field" spec, but it has no practial usage in the civilian world.
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
    0
  • geneinnc
    I have a new wildcat load that is HEAD spaced. It's called the Clinton Tallywhacker Intern Express. It makes a ton of noise, sounds great, but produces sub par groups, unless the target is a red dress.[:D]
    0
  • TRAP55
    C'mon guys, the man asked a serious question! Is that wildcat loaded with soft lead ?
    0
  • toolman9mm
    well i am no expert but i thought it was the distance between the head of the shell casing and the bolt face when closed..i guess the amount of play between them when closed...i use shims to tell headspace..that gives you a better idea of how much instead of go and no-go guages... this is for rifles.. again i am no expert...tom
    0
  • SilentKnight
    But isnt the headspace in say an AR15 fixed since it is milled into the barrel?
    0
  • toolman9mm
    this is what speer reloading manual says...the distance from that surface of the barrel or chamber that prevents the cartridge from moving further forward into the chamber,to the face of the breech when the action is closed and locked.. tom
    0
  • Tailgunner1954
    I can't answer your question an th AR, as what your wanting to know is "How to set the headspace on a AR-15?" not "What is headspace?"
    The second question has been answered, perhaps asking the first in a new post would be more helpful to you.
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
    0
  • bobski
    yes, its much like the old hi standard bolts with a recessed face. i know a fellow in va beach who builds race guns and milspec ar's for the navy team. go to: www.usnst.org and ask for sam dayton via steve stevens. tell em prc ski sent ya! they wil give you in depth specs on headspacing an ar! that will make up for the silly post i gave you ....thinking the answer was given in previous posts. but it appears you wanted more than a basic answer!

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
    0
  • dakotashooter2
    bobski... You forgot to mention that excessive headspace can be dangerous in both guns and democrates.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity