The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - How to Deal with Headspace Problem in Mauser

Nuts590 · January 21, 2005, 12:32 PM

I don't want to be offensive or the least bit brash about this, however... Do NOT swap out a bolt from another weapon into another without having it checked by a knowledgeable gunsmith first (both before and after the bolt swap!!) If you have a buddy that does gunsmith work (real work, not just things in his basement from time to time) he will know what a headspace gauge is, and how to use it.

Headspace gauge 101: Put the gauge (which looks almost like a shell casing, only solid with some writing on it) into the magazine, push the bolt forward to chamber the gauge. If the bolt closes on the go gauge but doesn't close on a no-go gauge, you're in business, go shoot and have some fun. If the bolt closes on either the No-go or field gauge, get it to a gunsmith for further inspection.

"I don't know anything about rifles or how to use a headspace gauge" isn't a real good excuse for risking your life. A primer that is pushed out is a great foreshadowing of events that may happen.

Consider this: If it *is* the headspacing that's the problem, when you pull the trigger the firing pin is striking the primer, pushing the entire round forward into the chamber until the shoulder of the round meet the chamber, stopping the forward movement of the round allows the firing pin to strike the primer with enough force to cause detonation; Sir Isaac Newton takes over. The force of the round being fired has to go somewhere... It pushes the bullet out one hole in the case and the primer out another hole in the case. With normal headspacing the bolt face is strong enough to hold that primer in place. With bad headspacing it pushes the primer back out until it reaches the boltface... If that continues to happen sooner or later you're going to have a primer that doesn't stop at the bolt. It will blow out the primer pocket and quite literally the force of that 7mm mauser round will (if you're lucky) only blow the receiver of your rifle apart. If you're not so lucky, you won't have a chance to post about it. We might send flowers to your next of kin...

This is not just some stupid made up stuff to scare you away from shooting what sounds like an interesting piece of history. I'm just trying to keep you in one piece while doing it.

January 21, 2005, 12:32 PM	#6
Nuts590 Member Join Date: January 16, 2005 Posts: 28	I don't want to be offensive or the least bit brash about this, however... Do NOT swap out a bolt from another weapon into another without having it checked by a knowledgeable gunsmith first (both before and after the bolt swap!!) If you have a buddy that does gunsmith work (real work, not just things in his basement from time to time) he will know what a headspace gauge is, and how to use it. Headspace gauge 101: Put the gauge (which looks almost like a shell casing, only solid with some writing on it) into the magazine, push the bolt forward to chamber the gauge. If the bolt closes on the go gauge but doesn't close on a no-go gauge, you're in business, go shoot and have some fun. If the bolt closes on either the No-go or field gauge, get it to a gunsmith for further inspection. "I don't know anything about rifles or how to use a headspace gauge" isn't a real good excuse for risking your life. A primer that is pushed out is a great foreshadowing of events that may happen. Consider this: If it is the headspacing that's the problem, when you pull the trigger the firing pin is striking the primer, pushing the entire round forward into the chamber until the shoulder of the round meet the chamber, stopping the forward movement of the round allows the firing pin to strike the primer with enough force to cause detonation; Sir Isaac Newton takes over. The force of the round being fired has to go somewhere... It pushes the bullet out one hole in the case and the primer out another hole in the case. With normal headspacing the bolt face is strong enough to hold that primer in place. With bad headspacing it pushes the primer back out until it reaches the boltface... If that continues to happen sooner or later you're going to have a primer that doesn't stop at the bolt. It will blow out the primer pocket and quite literally the force of that 7mm mauser round will (if you're lucky) only blow the receiver of your rifle apart. If you're not so lucky, you won't have a chance to post about it. We might send flowers to your next of kin... This is not just some stupid made up stuff to scare you away from shooting what sounds like an interesting piece of history. I'm just trying to keep you in one piece while doing it.