Help! I have excessive head space!!

D_w_A

D_w_A

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Well, the title says it all. I've got excessive headspace on my Ishapore No.1 Mk.III. The shells have that ridge about a cm from the rim and the primer is sticking out after being fired. I am planning on reloading so this needs to be fixed. What can I do?... I heard about replacing bolt heads to fix this... I need a crash course lol.

Thanks
 
The thing about the No.1 Bolt heads is they are not numbered like the No.4 heads. On the No.4, they are numbered 0-3. 0 being the tightest and 3 being more loose. On the No.1, they are not numbered, so you will have to get a hand full of them and measure them to get the right headspace. I heard that Marstar has them for 22 bucks or something.
 
Bolt head over-rotation can also be an issue so simply swapping out for a longer bolt head isn't always going to be correct. I believe 15deg as the acceptable, but I'd have to double check. I'd recommend properly checking your headspace first before ordering a couple different heads and make sure it is the problem.
 
I had this issue recently, and when I measured the bolt head on the rifle, I realized I needed one that would measure at least (if I recall correctly) 0.064".

As stated above, having a longer one doesn't mean it'll be ok. You could screw it on and it screws past "12 o'clock" (aligned correctly with respect to the bolt body), that can't work. Or, it fails from reaching 12 o'clock, and you can't put the bolt back in the rifle (although there's something that can be done in this case if it's just shy of reaching 12 o'clock).

Best is to first measure what you need, then find someone with a few bolt heads (gunsmith...) that are of that dimension and try these until one works...

Lou
 
There is no relation to the ring around the case and “headspace”, the ring indicates where the case expanded outward to meet the chamber walls.

Commercial primers will back out because they are not staked or fastened in position and a primer that backs out is usually a sign of “low pressure” and the case head spacing on the primer and not the base or rim of the case.

Below is a fired Privi Partizan and a Greek HXP case both fired from a Enfield rifle, the Greek HXP case has a smaller base diameter than the Privi case and looks much worse for wear but nothing is wrong with the rifle it was fired in.

privihxp.jpg


The reason the Privi case looks so good is because the case is over .010 thicker in the web area and the case was strong enough NOT to bulge outward to meet the chamber walls.

Did I tell you the best cases for reloading are Privi Partizan, they are built FORD tough :D

Comertial cases were designed to shoot in comertial chambers and NOT military chambers that are larger in diameter and longer in headspace.

If you plan to reload American made Winchester or Remington cases then tighten up your headspace or else fine another brand of ammunition like Privi that is thicker in the base web area.
 
Read what I posted in the thread below about checking headspace and fitting boltheads.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337280

This book tells you to set your headspace .003 over your rim thickness.

accurizing.jpg


I have been reloading Remington cases and the rim thickness is .058 and the Enfield below has the headspace set at .061 or .003 tighter than minimum BUT I have the original bolthead to fall back on and it is set at .066.

IMGP1355.jpg
 
If you're going to hand load, don't worry about it. Just neck resize. You will find the 303Brit case quite amenable to neck resizing only. If it's really important to you, set the shoulder back a few thousanths but not much more.

Neck sizing only will also extend brass life greatly on the 303Brit case.

Remember, many lee enfields have oversized chambers, from the factory.

Hand loading will probably be a blessing for your rifle.
 
Thanks for the advice. So whould it still be worth my while to bring it to a GS? If so, Iive in Milton, Bantario (West GTA). I usually use al simmons, but does anyone else have any suggestions, specifically someone specializing in LE's. And as for those PRIVI cases, where can I buy them.
 
Beerhunter

I’ve been reloading for over 40 years and I do worry about it because I do not like abusing and torturing the brass I’m going to use and reload, the Winchester case on the right below lasted 3 reloadings and they WERE only neck sized.

threecases.jpg


The Enfield rifle is unduly blamed for headspace problems the rifle itself does not have, the problem is American made cases that have small base diameters and rims on the thin side that increase the headspace problems.

On top of this American ammunition is downloaded to less than 43,000 CUP to prevent law suits because of all the older SMLE or No.1 still being used. There are five different grades of brass used to manufacture cartridge cases from pistol cases up to magnum rifle cases.

I think another problem we have is our American SAAMI .303 cases are made from the same grade brass as the 30-30 and 30-40 and are at least one grade below cases like the .308 and other cases rated for higher pressure than 43,000 CUP.

I recently cleaned and inspected over 500 Greek HXP cases for reloading and NOT ONE of these HXP cases had ANY stretching or thinning in the web area, military cases are made to a higher standard than commercial cases and can withstand greater headspace settings.

With military cases “headspace” sometimes means absolutely nothing because of their heavier construction.

image006e-1.jpg


762natoin3006.jpg


Now ask yourself why some commercial cases fall apart after just three reloadings.

And Beerhunter I even worry about the headspace in my dishwasher :D

dishwasher_307.jpg
 
biged, it's bearhunter. From the look of the pics, there is a huge amount of difference between new brass and fired. Those shoulders have been pushed ahead further than I've ever seen. I would be worried as well.
The amount of stretch shown isn't that much different from an Ackley or Epps improved case. The Ackley and Epps cases have sharper shoulders and have eliminated a lot of body taper and that helps. I wonder if the action has stopped stretching and is getting to a critical point?
 
bigedp51 said:
Beerhunter

I’ve been reloading for over 40 years and I do worry about it because I do not like abusing and torturing the brass I’m going to use and reload, the Winchester case on the right below lasted 3 reloadings and they WERE only neck sized.

threecases.jpg


The Enfield rifle is unduly blamed for headspace problems the rifle itself does not have, the problem is American made cases that have small base diameters and rims on the thin side that increase the headspace problems.

On top of this American ammunition is downloaded to less than 43,000 CUP to prevent law suits because of all the older SMLE or No.1 still being used. There are five different grades of brass used to manufacture cartridge cases from pistol cases up to magnum rifle cases.

I think another problem we have is our American SAAMI .303 cases are made from the same grade brass as the 30-30 and 30-40 and are at least one grade below cases like the .308 and other cases rated for higher pressure than 43,000 CUP.

I recently cleaned and inspected over 500 Greek HXP cases for reloading and NOT ONE of these HXP cases had ANY stretching or thinning in the web area, military cases are made to a higher standard than commercial cases and can withstand greater headspace settings.

With military cases “headspace” sometimes means absolutely nothing because of their heavier construction.

image006e-1.jpg


762natoin3006.jpg


Now ask yourself why some commercial cases fall apart after just three reloadings.

And Beerhunter I even worry about the headspace in my dishwasher :D

dishwasher_307.jpg
Click to expand...

Hope the wife didn't see that.... lol. So I searched for the Privi cases and I cant seem to find any canadian dealers....
 
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