If there is a set of gauges close-by which you can borrow without too much trouble, then go for it. At very least, it will tell you precisely how closely your rifle is fitted.
But one must remember that, even with a rifle measuring MINIMUM and brass measuring MAXIMUM (the ideal situation), there is still 1 thou of clearance there. The gauges allow for an EXTRA 10 thou, plus this 1, which means that your rifle can gauge "okay" when you have 11 thou of head clearance with PERFECT ammunition.
And then you get some ammo with .058 rims, so that gives you another 5 thou to add to the clearance of the rifle AND the theoretical 1 thou, always with perfect ammo, so you now have 16 thousandths clearance. And any Qualified Gunsmith who has read the American magazines will tell you that you are taking your life in your hands with anything more than 3 thou. So you re there, on the range, shooting a rifle/ammunition combination which has 5.333 TIMES the Maximum clearance allowable for safe usage!
Time to buy a new rifle?
Time to buy a new bolt?
Time to go UP 2 numbers on your bolt-head?
Time to slip on an O-ring which will reduce your head clearance to ZERO and thus fireform your brass so that it spaces PERFECTLY from the shoulder. Your rifle will be more accurate, your ammunition will shoot better, your scores will go up and the reloading life of your brass (given that you now neck-size only) has just climbed high enough to induce myocardial infarctions among the entire Boards of Directors at Winchester, Remington and Federal.
In future firings, you don't even need the o-ring because your brass is already perfectly fireformed.
For Lee-Enfield shooters, Ross collectors and others who are relying upon Rimmed or Semi-rimmed ammunition, it really IS the Cat's Meow!
Sounds like a winner to me, anyway.
Hope this helps.
But one must remember that, even with a rifle measuring MINIMUM and brass measuring MAXIMUM (the ideal situation), there is still 1 thou of clearance there. The gauges allow for an EXTRA 10 thou, plus this 1, which means that your rifle can gauge "okay" when you have 11 thou of head clearance with PERFECT ammunition.
And then you get some ammo with .058 rims, so that gives you another 5 thou to add to the clearance of the rifle AND the theoretical 1 thou, always with perfect ammo, so you now have 16 thousandths clearance. And any Qualified Gunsmith who has read the American magazines will tell you that you are taking your life in your hands with anything more than 3 thou. So you re there, on the range, shooting a rifle/ammunition combination which has 5.333 TIMES the Maximum clearance allowable for safe usage!
Time to buy a new rifle?
Time to buy a new bolt?
Time to go UP 2 numbers on your bolt-head?
Time to slip on an O-ring which will reduce your head clearance to ZERO and thus fireform your brass so that it spaces PERFECTLY from the shoulder. Your rifle will be more accurate, your ammunition will shoot better, your scores will go up and the reloading life of your brass (given that you now neck-size only) has just climbed high enough to induce myocardial infarctions among the entire Boards of Directors at Winchester, Remington and Federal.
In future firings, you don't even need the o-ring because your brass is already perfectly fireformed.
For Lee-Enfield shooters, Ross collectors and others who are relying upon Rimmed or Semi-rimmed ammunition, it really IS the Cat's Meow!
Sounds like a winner to me, anyway.
Hope this helps.
