308 Headspace Gauges

Most gunsmiths will have them...they get them from Brownells and I think you could too(I think they will ship)
 
Not rebarreling, I'm checking my factory Tikka. My handloads after 3 firings leave a ring near the head, looks like the beginning of head separation. My loads are well below maximum, I neck size fire formed brass (which feeds great everytime). I'm using Federal brass from AE rounds which I have fired. I live in the boonies and would like to check my headspace before making the trip to the gunsmith. The rifle is only 5 months old, about 100 rounds through it. My hand loads are 150gr TSX bullets, Federal brass, Federal 210 primers pushed by 43.5gr Varget, seated 0.050" off the lands.

Could I be missing anything else?
 
I would try some different brass like winchester before being concerned with headspace in a new rifle.

Thats just me...
 
You may want to check the length of the brass. If memory serves me right the max SAMMI spec is 2.015. If you measure your brass and your finding that your close you may want to trim it back a .010.
 
I trim my brass back to 2.005" and let it creep to 2.010" before trimming again. I measure every case with calipers before reloading as I am fairly new at this and want to avoid mistakes.

Except I still have ugly looking brass!
 
Watch for thin, shiney rings above the case head. Expansion rings are normal and are wider shiney rings. Rather then get some headspace guages as I doubt they are necessary for your rifle, (you will also have to dissasemble the ejector and extractor from the bolt which can be a pain), get hold of Hungry on here (main battle rifles forum) and he will mic 5 pieces of fired brass for you and tell you your headspace.
You are already neck sizing, so you would be solving any headspace issues the rifle might have. Head seperation happens from over working brass ie. full length sizing every load. I don't think I have one milsurp that is in spec, and neck size only, and have loaded some brass to 15+ times now.
 
Local reloader of 30 years had a look at my brass and said not to worry, just the expansion ring. I showed him the cut open case, he said no problems. He then showed me a 270 case he reloaded 22 times, and finally started to separate. Thanks for the help.
 
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