Head Space Gauge

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Theycallmejohnnycash

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hey guys !
I have a question that I cant seem to find an answer to, I'm looking for a head space gauge for a Mosin Nagant that I wouldn't have to import from the states, I would prefer a 3 piece set (go - no go - field gauge). I did a search on google, looked at cabelas, wholesale sports. I've checked out various websites and things like that, maybe I've just missed the right one ? any help would be appreciated.

thanks !

Jesse
 
OP gauges for rimmed rifles are as easy as a trip to your local hardware or auto parts store. Get some plastigage and stick it on the end of your cartridge base so that it covers the whole base. Measure the thickness and subtract the thickness of the base and you have measured your headspace. This isn't rocket science and unless you need to measure several rifles buying the gages is a very expensive route to go.

Granted some cartridges have thicker rims than others but it will be plenty close enough for your purposes unless you are planning on building a match rifle.
 
hey guys, just wanted to give you an update, I decided to say screw it and placed an order at brownells, I needed a few other things as well, I was hoping to find it online in Canada so I wouldn't have to pay brokerage fees and things like that. but after a long search I decided that as with anything else, the easiest way was also the more expensive one, to bearhunter, thanks for the advice, but when it comes to guns of any kind I would rather go the expensive route and know for sure then to try plastigauge, I'm sure it would work, but ive always been overcautious, thanks to all for helping out, it is much appreciated :) but like with any other hobby, you gotta pay to play lol.
 
Like the idea of the plastigauge, any one have ideas on the go, no - go numbers? (Aka allowable head space dimentions? )

And ya that's for the mosins I'm referring to
 
First off, I just want to say that I am *not* a gunsmith, nor could even be classified as an armorer, but I am an automotive technician and need to use measuring tools, so I do know how to read them. I also like to research and keep my own firearms maintaned so I love to learn new things. Licensed gunsmiths may totally diagree with my methodology, and they are the ones whose opinions trump mine. But, below is what I've discovered as I am currently saving for more tools after ordering a crowning cutter from Brownells and getting really badly stung with exchange :p
I was hunting around for headspace specs a while back for the Mosins as I got one that was not a collector, was already counterbored, and the stock was beaten badly, so I've been sporterizing it. I wanted to be sure it was safe though, as it also had a damaged bolt head when I got it and I replaced the head with one from a cool guy here on the EE. On one of the US gun boards, there was a gun tech who gave the specifications of .066" as a go gauge, .071" as a no go gauge, and .074" as a "don't even think of firing it" spec. I have some dummy rounds I made up using some empty once fired PRVI brass and so I measured the rim height from top of rim to the cartridge headstamp surface. It was .060". So, I looked around for something I could use as a shim and found a tin can lid in the kitchen recycle bin from a can of corn. It measures at .010". I took one of my dummy rounds, lightly filed a few thousandths from the rim where it would engage the extractor claw, made a circular shim from the can lid, and snapped the dummy cartridge into the bolt face with the bolt out of the rifle. Pushing down on the disconnect/ejector allowed me to slide it all the way in and chamber the round but the bolt would not close but remained at about a 40 degree angle. With the shim, the head surface thickness was .070, it wouldn't go, so I'm continuing with making this rifle a backup hunting gun.
As I said, I am not a gunsmith but I just wanted to be safe with my Mosin and by all mathematical reasoning that should have proved it within headspace spec.
 
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