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Bart B. · March 13, 2014, 08:08 PM

obiewannabe, I think you mean head clearance. Head space is the distance from the bolt face to the chamber shoulder. Head clearance is the space between bolt face and case head when the case is fully into the chamber.

I used to think that, too. It is confusing.

A .308 Win standard head space gauge is 1.630" long from its head to its shoulder reference. If it just lets the bolt close on it, head space in that chamber is 1.630".

March 13, 2014, 08:08 PM	#8
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	obiewannabe, I think you mean head clearance. Head space is the distance from the bolt face to the chamber shoulder. Head clearance is the space between bolt face and case head when the case is fully into the chamber. I used to think that, too. It is confusing. A .308 Win standard head space gauge is 1.630" long from its head to its shoulder reference. If it just lets the bolt close on it, head space in that chamber is 1.630". Last edited by Bart B.; March 13, 2014 at 08:33 PM.