Lee Enfield headspace gauges

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crusoe

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Is it still possible to buy original armourers' Lee Enfield headspace gauges? There must surely be plenty of them floating around in the UK, Canada and other Commonwealth places but I don't seem to have seen any for sale, only the modern US-made gauges with the different specs, from Brownells etc. I'm looking for the original service spec 3-guage set. Thanks!
 
They exist and do come up for sale now & then. They typically are sold individually. I have seen sets C Broad arrow marked

Pete
 
crusoe said:
Is it still possible to buy original armourers' Lee Enfield headspace gauges? There must surely be plenty of them floating around in the UK, Canada and other Commonwealth places but I don't seem to have seen any for sale, only the modern US-made gauges with the different specs, from Brownells etc. I'm looking for the original service spec 3-guage set. Thanks!
Click to expand...


I have both the US made Forster Field at .070" and a repro Canadian military Field at .074". The Forster is the only one I use, why? Because every rifle I've checked with it has passed, meaning they're better than the military spec. Use of a SAAMI spec gauge doesn't contaminate an Enfield, it means if it passes it considerably exceeds acceptable military wear specs.

I've seen the military gauges on ebay from time to time, they don't go cheap. User Gairlochian on CGNTZ makes repro military gauges, I miked the rim and it was exactly .074".
 
I couldn't find the link at the time of my last post. But I found it now; ht tp://www.arrowmark.com.au/gauges.aspx

He makes repro gauges and a few other items you might be interested in. Prices are posted, not original but available. ".064 "Go", .067 " No go", and the important .074 "Field Gauge"

Regards

Pete
 
cantom said:
I have both the US made Forster Field at .070" and a repro Canadian military Field at .074". The Forster is the only one I use, why? Because every rifle I've checked with it has passed, meaning they're better than the military spec. Use of a SAAMI spec gauge doesn't contaminate an Enfield, it means if it passes it considerably exceeds acceptable military wear specs.

I've seen the military gauges on ebay from time to time, they don't go cheap. User Gairlochian on CGNTZ makes repro military gauges, I miked the rim and it was exactly .074".
Click to expand...

I was just checking something and re read your post. It's probably not wise to check your headspace with a field gauge. The Go gauge is the one which corresponds to minimum chamber dimensions, and your bolt should close on it. The No-Go gauge corresponds to maximum dimensions, and your bolt should not close on it. The Field gauge measures the largest safe dimensions, and any bolt that closes on it should be immediately tended to.

Mil spec ".064 "Go", .067 " No go", .074 "Field Gauge"
SAAMI .064 "Go, .067" "No Go", .070 "Field Gauge"

If you Lee Enfield closes on a No Go gauge, time to buy a new bolt head. Believe me the accuracy will improve and so will the case life.

BTW SAAMI gauges are not superior, they are built with a tighter spec. The mil spec gauges (Field) were made to max the life of the rifle serviceability. Keep on shooting the enemy.

Regards

Pete
 
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I've even read that in wartime they increased the fail spec to .084"...now that's loose! :eek: It was all about keeping the rifles out in the field when they were needed...
 
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