Is a Field Gauge the right tool for my needs?

yorgi

yorgi

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I collect Greek Mannlicher Schoenauer rifles -in 6.5X54MS- both carbines and full length rifles. I'm not a very organized person, so, over the years I've lost track of which bolt matches which receiver...

I've only actually reloaded for and shot one of them, absolutely no issues with headspace. Once all this pandemic craziness is done and over with, I plan to shoot with all of them, at the range.

Would a Field Gauge be the right tool for me to check the headspacing for every bolt and receiver combination? I have no immediate plans to rebarrel any of them and even if I did, I would get a professional to do it for me. My reloads are on the light-pressure side, I'm just trying to make sure that they are safe to shoot, before I actually shoot them.

I contacted Manson reamers, very nice people to answer me back, under the circumstances. They do not stock 6.5X54MS field gauges as a regular item but they can make them on a special order basis, 70 USD plus shipping.

Is a Field Gauge the right tool for my needs? Thanks.
 
As I understand it, the GO gauge is absolute minimum for bolt to close on standard SAAMI ammo. When installing a new barrel, mandatory to have bolt close on GO (i.e. - is long enough) and to NOT close on NOGO gauge (i.e. - not too long, for new). The FIELD gauge was absolute longest, allowing for wear and stretch, that would safely fire a standard round. All good when dealing with SAAMI stuff - not sure European, Greek, etc. gave two hoots about SAAMI, but I believe each military did have and use their own gauges. Issue becomes if you want to use modern SAAMI standard ammo - need your chamber between SAAMI GO and FIELD.
I have swapped and changed bolts on many mausers - does bring up a European thing though - the proof testing was done with that bolt in that receiver and with that barrel. Change any out in Europe and I believe re-proofing is required before "consumer" gets it - USA and Canada do not seem to have any similar requirements.
Chamber size is one part. So is bolt lug bearing on it's recesses. Most references seem to like more than 50% bearing - 100% is perfect, but not many "perfect" production rifles. As above, appears to be main reason most bolts got serial number or partial serial number to keep it with it's "proofed" receiver.
 
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Have a bit of experience with M1903 6.5x54 sporting rifles.
Headspace, close tolerances may be generous. That is, a fine, unaltered factory rifle would swallow gauges, and fired cases were not reloadable because of incipient separation. If cases were to be retained reloaded, it was necessary to fire form them on first firing. Another, which I rebarrelled, would not allow fired cases to be rechambered because the face of the bolt was not perpendicular to the bore axis. Before I finalized barrel fitting and chambering, I set the bolt head up in a collet and proceeded to take light passes across the bolt face to true it up. By the time I had enough of the face cleaned up to support the case head evenly, I had removed .007".
If you do get a Field gauge, specify CIP. There is a chance it might be more appropriate.
 
I know its too late now, but this is a good reason to keep your bolts and rifles together.

OP because you have numerous rifles with numerous bolts, I would be looking to get a GO and a Field gauge. With any luck, you'll be able to swap bolts between rifles until you find the right combination where all bolts will close on the GO gauge, but not the Field gauge. Of course, this is assuming your rifles didn't have poor headspace to begin with, which is not uncommon with old military rifles.
 
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Not 6.5x54, but the Swedish Mauser 6.5x55 rifles are very well made.
The only Scandinavian 6.5x55 military rifle that I've handled that would not accept a SAAMI NO GO is one of the Danish rebarrelled M98 target rifles. Every Swedish M96 & M38 rifle I've tested would accept the SAAMI NO GO.
I do not know to what specification the Steyr and Breda Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifles were made, but would suggest that a CIP NO GO might be useful, and a CIP Field even more so.
 
Gentlemen, thank you for your informed recommendations, you had me Googling there for a while...

I chanced upon this page from Pacific Tool and Gauge, they sell a set of Go and No-Go gauges for the same price as a single Field Gauge. I think it fits the parameters you advised on, I will be ordering it.

Thanks again for your time!
 
Make sure PTG has it in stock, or can guarantee you a completion date before you order. I was highly disappointed with the time it took for my last order. Way over what they listed on their website.
 
So long as you understand that the NOGO is used when chambering a new barrel - it is for maximum length of new, before any use. The FIELD gauge is the one that tells you when you are too long for continued service. A perfectly serviceable used rifle may close on a NOGO gauge, but must never close on a FIELD gauge. And, as pointed out above, nothing says the European CIP sets the same dimensions as does American SAAMI - they operate separately. No clue, who, if anyone, was setting those standards for Greece in 1903... SAAMI compliant ammunition will work in SAAMI compliant chambers; CIP ammo works the same way with CIP chambering. Have to actually look up the specs to know if one can be used with the other. Tiriaq's story above about the crooked bolt face is almost "scary" - that .007" is more difference than normally found between GO and NOGO!
But all military rifles are meant to fire a new case, once, and then extract and eject it - on to the next new one - nobody ever "re-loaded" that I have read about.
 
yorgi said:
Gentlemen, thank you for your informed recommendations, you had me Googling there for a while...

I chanced upon this page from Pacific Tool and Gauge, they sell a set of Go and No-Go gauges for the same price as a single Field Gauge. I think it fits the parameters you advised on, I will be ordering it.

Thanks again for your time!
Click to expand...

There has been some poor quality control at PTG. I would much prefer Manson, JGS or Clymer.
 
Found a posting on Dutchman's website from a few years ago - I was trying to find actual FIELD gauge length for 6.5x55. He has an original set of Swede military Regimental armourer gauges for their military 6.5x55 and a 1948 document about their standards. The Swede military GO gauge is longer than a SAAMI FIELD gauge. So he says many Swede ex-military rifles were sent to be "fixed" when they arrived in North America, because they would not pass a SAAMI gauge test. Even a brand new one direct from CG or Husqvarna would fail SAAMI NOGO. A Swede military "reject" gauge was actually .0631" longer than a SAAMI GO gauge.
 
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