DA/ M305 headspace, bolt lug contact and barrel index near GTA?

C

C.308

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Hamilton
Sorry if this topic has been beaten to death. I've been reading what I can find on the topic. I'm looking for someone in or around the GTA (or an hour or 2 driving distance outside) who can perform the following services on my DA socom 18:

-Headspace check/ bolt lug contact check and lapping if required.
-re-index the barrel. Its slightly over indexed i believe (sight adjusted to the right tilted to the left) It has a gas lock front sight. Not the usual flash hider.

These are just a couple things that at this point I don't have the means or knowledge to do myself (although I'd love to learn) I just want to ensure I have a safe rifle that I can sight in properly. Worst case I'll scope it but I'd like to use the irons if i can.

I'm aware of some gunsmiths in the area. One I contacted told me they are unable to take on more work due to volume (which is awesome to see and totally understandable).

Also, what can I expect to pay to have this work performed?

Chris
 
Isn't barney located around the GTA?

I would suggest contacting one of these guys, taking it to a random gunsmith they will probably just put a gauge in there and tell you it's safe to fire.

I have this service done on my rifle by Thomas, I'm not sure if he's offering this anymore.

It's actually not impossible to do by yourself, there is (or was) videos out there that show how to chuck a gauge in the chamber and measure the headspace with one of those shim thingies you use to measure the gap in a spark plug.
 
Rocket Surgery said:
Isn't barney located around the GTA?

I would suggest contacting one of these guys, taking it to a random gunsmith they will probably just put a gauge in there and tell you it's safe to fire.

I have this service done on my rifle by Thomas, I'm not sure if he's offering this anymore.

It's actually not impossible to do by yourself, there is (or was) videos out there that show how to chuck a gauge in the chamber and measure the headspace with one of those shim thingies you use to measure the gap in a spark plug.
Click to expand...

Ya fellas I hung up my m14 smiting tools and went into composites full time , been keepin my head down for the most part hehehe
a quick and dirty lug check is quite easy , all you need is a degreaser to clean any grease from bolt and receiver. Then using a Jiffy marker or machinists blue, coat the surface of the bolt lugs. Insert a magazine stacked with dummy rounds and cycle the action by hand.... do it hard, like you mean it and let that action fly home hard each time it reloads a dummy round. Do it twice , so 10 dummy rounds then pull the bolt and look at the lug surfaces. This can be done with live rounds in a safe place and is even better but can be done on the bench with dummy rounds.
You are looking for even wear across both lugs and 80% of the felt penn rubbed off or more, on both sides, is a pass. Anything less can be lapped to 80% or better..... which is quite easy but for another conversation.

p.s. Good to see ya around Rocket .... ;)
 
Thanks. Im aware of tactical teacher. He as been very helpful to me so far. Im hoping to catch a clinic asap.

Im fairly confident I could check my headspace. I just dont have gauges. Any chance someone could let me know where i might find a decent set for sale in canada? Or should i just try brownells? Go/ no go are fine, but a whole set of specifically sized ones would be great too.

I watched a great video by tony ben on barrel installation, an bolt lapping/ chamber reaming. It made me feel like it is something I could handle with the right tools. I might have a crack at making a clamp for my barrel and some sort of wrench. I have a large adjustble that might work but im going to see what else I can slap together. I dont want to mar my receiver.

I even managed to get my barrel set screw out with little effort. Just a proper sized bit and A LOT of downward pressure on the screw while turning.

45acpking, thanks again for the advice! The method i saw to check lug contact involved a stripped bolt, chambering a sized case cut in half with the trigger hammer spring inside and moving the bolt slightly in place. I never considered just checking it with everything assembled by just cycling the action with snap caps but that makes perfect sense. I want to see what is happening while the action is working. Im going to try this now before i go to work. Hope my action cycling doesnt wake the neighbors haha!!

Thanks everyone!!!
 
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Rocket Surgery,

I think i know what youre saying about headspace. You put a go(?) Gauge in the chamber, close the bolt and use a feeler gauge behind the right lug and adding this measurement to that of the gauge will show actual headspace. Makes sense too and probably saves from needing a whole set of gauges.
 
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C.308 said:
Thanks. Im aware of tactical teacher. He as been very helpful to me so far. Im hoping to catch a clinic asap.

Im fairly confident I could check my headspace. I just dont have gauges. Any chance someone could let me know where i might find a decent set for sale in canada? Or should i just try brownells? Go/ no go are fine, but a whole set of specifically sized ones would be great too.

I watched a great video by tony ben on barrel installation, an bolt lapping/ chamber reaming. It made me feel like it is something I could handle with the right tools. I might have a crack at making a clamp for my barrel and some sort of wrench. I have a large adjustble that might work but im going to see what else I can slap together. I dont want to mar my receiver.

I even managed to get my barrel set screw out with little effort. Just a proper sized bit and A LOT of downward pressure on the screw while turning.

45acpking, thanks again for the advice! The method i saw to check lug contact involved a stripped bolt, chambering a sized case cut in half with the trigger hammer spring inside and moving the bolt slightly in place. I never considered just checking it with everything assembled by just cycling the action with snap caps but that makes perfect sense. I want to see what is happening while the action is working. Im going to try this now before i go to work. Hope my action cycling doesnt wake the neighbors haha!!

Thanks everyone!!!
Click to expand...

What i suggested is just the quick and dirty method to see if there is any immediate problem with lug contact. The split case and spring method is a good one if yer handy at making stuff and brave enough to disassemble your trigger group to use the spring.
For headspace, brownells sells the headspace gauges and i personally prefer the Clymer product. Not sure if any of our canadian dealers carry them but check around (atrs, wolverine, epps..... prehaps others)
hmmmm what else.... those gauges require bolt disassembly to get the extractor and ejector out of the way so that is the only drawback and adds another hurdle but doable with the info in the M14 how to section at top of forum.
 
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