Savage headspace issue

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Looking for some technical advise,

I have a 300wsm factory savage barrel that I've always had on the action it came with. Today I installed the barrel on a long action and went through the headspace procedure with the proper go gauge, after setting it up, previously loaded rounds will not chamber. I then used the go gauge with tape applied to the head until a round would chamber, I measure the difference at .012" slop in the factory headspace setting. The question... is this dangerous? should I be concerned with this?
 
Are the loads new, full length sized or neck sized? It sounds like the factory setup was a bit sloppy, I'd headspace the barrel using the gauges and make the ammunition fit not the other way around.
 
If you are trying to match the previous rifle then use a fired case as a headspace gauge.

If you want the headspace to be set within standards use the go gauge and resize your reloads to fit.
 
I'd rather not take apart, resize and reload 60 rounds...

If 12 thou is acceptable...what is cause for concern? Is there a maximum tolerance for headspacing that should be adheared to..
 
12 thou headspace isn't considered acceptable in a commercial rifle. The difference in a go and no go gauge is half of that. I am not concerned. It's a Savage with a barrel nut and it's yours. :)
 
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Although not impossible, it is extremely unlikely the original rifle had excessive headspace. It is likely the reloaded rounds were short in regards to distance from shoulder datum to base. This is common because reloading does not size a case to the dimensions of a chamber. Often relaoders simply adjust until it fits.

If you can measure accurately, the amount of a headspace gauge that sticks out of a savage barrel is 0.125" or very close.
No measure how much of one of those reloads sticks out. Be extremely careful, a loaded round in a barrel IS a loaded gun. It should be the same as the headspace gauge.
 
12thou is a doorway when it comes to headspacing it should be in the 2-3 thou for a plinker, 1/2 that if. Was a target gun, which 300wsm will never be.
I would do. It right or put the old bbl back on untill you have shot your reloads.
Then start again
 
Pei Rob, I don't follow the measuring case protrusion thing. I think measuring off the gauge is showing what the difference is.

Beeson, There's only one barrel, it just got moved to a different action. The reloads were sized in a lee collet neck die after being fired in this barrel.

I had the rifle out today and used up those loads...now I'm leaning towards just continuing to load this brass as always. I figure whatever case stretching that will happen has happened. All the rounds I chambered today had slight resistance as the bolt closed.
 
Why wouldn't you simply set the barrel to the correct headspace and size the ammo accordingly? I thought that was the big thing about a barrel nut... so easy to headspace the barrel...
 
Am I missing something here.
You have the ability to headspace a firearm properly, then run a full length die to resize your brass.
But, you prefer not to?
Are you trying to increase case capacity like the F/TR .308 boys do?
 
It's not that I'm lazy and don't want to resize. I just dont want to start load development all over again if there's no real reason to change how its set up.
 
Yes you are...

Load development in all likely hood would not change any. And any new brass or ammo you may use would all be stretched after firing too... which weakens the case as well...
 
Really guntech....why? I have about 250 cases that are fireformed to the current chamber dimension.

I have three wsm's that I load for they HATE changes in case sizing. Maybe I'll try sizing a few cases back and minimum headspace the rifle and try a test. Might just get lucky, if not I'll leave it alone.
 
I think your idea would be good.. "Maybe I'll try sizing a few cases back and minimum headspace the rifle and try a test..." but obviously you can continue with your over standard fired brass...
 
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