Just got a rifle with bad head space issue

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Spiders

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Hi guys, I’m not exactly a newbie, but thought I’d post here... not sure what I should do. I recently made a trade for a savage 11, took it out, fired one round. The primer blew out of the head and the gas etched the bolt face. So I figured it was the head space. I read some google, and found some tips on setting head space using tape as shims. I ended finding the headspace to be about .007”. I asked the previous owner about it, and he told me he had fired 60 rounds out of it without any issues. Something is obviously not right. What should I do in this scenario? If I take it to a gun smith it’s gonna cost money. No idea how much, but it’s not something I look forward to. I’m sure if I had the tools to do it myself I could, but that’s just more money.
Kinda stumped here. Any help or recommendations would be appreciated!
Al.
 
I am not a Savage guy, nor a gun smith, however I think the model 11 has a floating bolt head similar to that found on a Sportco. I do know that if these are not properly adjusted very poor results may be had. I would definitely bring the rifle, and the ammo you were using to a competent smith.
 
What Caliber ?

.007 is not much ... Just ask any norinco M305 owner

Was it hornady superperformance ammo ?

are you using gauges or ammo to check headspace ?

Ammo is normally under spec
 
It’s in 270wsm. I’m using ammo to check headspace. I took a once fired case and full length resized it. I was using federal fusion, 150gr bullet. A friend of mine mentioned that it could possibly just have been the one bullet I fired. If that’s the case I feel kinda lucky. Should go buy a lottery ticket!
 
What kind of ammo were you using, factory or reloads?

Sounds like a primer pocket issue rather than headspace to me unless there was really excessive pressure and then you'd see other signs. Excessive headspace is rarely an issue with brass in reasonable shape. Even with well-used brass, the worst that should happen would be a separated case.
 
So far as I know, the only way to verify whether the chamber is SAAMI or not, is to use SAAMI headspace gauges. Playing with tape, brass, etc. just tells you about the relative dimensions of those brass and that chamber to each other, but not whether the rifle is to standard or not. Most Savages have that barrel nut - easy enough to change headspace, if you have the gauges.
 
Alright thanks everyone! I’ll put it in the back of the safe til I decide what to do with it. Maybe I’ll buy a barrel but wrench and do it myself. Get the gauges too. Any idea where in Canada I can get them?
 
Let me get this straight...

You're retiring your rifle based on one single round, and just a blown primer?

You're gonna mess with the barrel and headspace based on one single blown primer/primer pocket you have absolutely no idea may have been bad to begin with?
 
Blown out primers are an indication of grossly over pressured ammo, if anything.

Try a different brand or lighter/shorter bullet (maybe the chamber has a short throat?)
 
First of all, a blown primer is not a typical symptom of excessive headspace; something is wrong with the round you fired. Incipient head separation is the normal sign. This can be seen as a thin, bright line near the head of the case and/or a notch around the inside that can be felt using a dental pick or a hook made from a paperclip.

Second, a case is not a headspace gauge. A new or fully resized case should be smaller than "go" by some amount that can be expected to vary. To use the gauges on a rifle with a plunger-type ejector (as on your Savage), your bolt needs to be stripped to remove the ejector, or the gauges need to be notched to clear the ejector (not typically found in calibres like .270 WSM). If the bolt closes on "go" and does not close on "field reject," the headspace is within spec. The actual headspace value can be measured with the "go" gauge and metal shims.
 
Well I mean if you go fire a factory round out of a rifle you just picked up and it went totally sideways, would you wanna shoot it again? I like my eye sight. The reason I come here with this issue is because I don’t actually know what’s going on. At least now I have a better idea, I’m learning. Actually, besides my Jungle Carbine, I have not fired any factory loads out of any of my rifles. And this is my first issue. Always just figured factory loads would be safe, obviously not the case... I’d rather load my own anyway.
If I knew where to find these gauges, I’d pick some up just so I’d know for sure, but all I have found is in the USA. Would somewhere like western gun parts carry these?
 
I have 4 or 5 headspace sets - bought them from Brownell's - added them on to orders of other stuff I was buying. Like the OP, I would be interested to know if there is a Canadian source for them.
 
You can buy gauges from the reamer manufacturers. Give Brownells a call, see if they stock .270WSM gauges.
Proper gauges used correctly are the best way to determine if a firearm's headspace is within standard limits.
Having a gunsmith check the headspace would be cheaper than buying gauges.
 
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