Headspace question

27 November 2001, 03:17

aHunter

Headspace question

JBelk wrote about headspace. I think we all agree with Mike now, that shooting primers in a rimless case will increase headspace.

My question: if I dry fire the gun, and use no snapcaps, but instead use fired cases, will I increase headspace?

Of course I use an empty case only 2 to 3 times, so the fired primer still cushions the firing pin fall. Also I know that lots of debris are thrown in the bore.

Is it possible, that repeated ( 2 to 5 ) firing pin strikes push the fired = fitted! case enough forward to increase headspace?

Good shooting! H

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27 November 2001, 09:43

Mark

Sounds like this is an experiment for someone with a cartridge headspace guage to try.

My hunch is that it would not make much of a difference with the case. If there were a tiny case, like D. Eppersons 22 Cricket it would show with something like that first. I still doubt that enough energy could be transferred through the primer, then the sides of the case all the way to the shoulder, to increase the headspace any noticeable thousandths of an inch. If you want to have a cheap snap cap just epoxy in a piece of thick string-trimmer line into the primer pocket, let the epoxy set then trim down with a razor blade and a piece of fine sandpaper.

27 November 2001, 15:26

Atkinson

this is an expedition into la la land, Headspace is not involved in these instances and if it were it would not make one bit of difference...If a primer backs out when fired empty of powder and bullet thats allowable head space...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

29 November 2001, 16:03

D Humbarger

No gun out there will stretch its headspace by just poping a primer in it!

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NRA Life member

29 November 2001, 16:07

Major Caliber

quote:
Originally posted by Bear Claw:
No gun out there will stretch its headspace by just poping a primer in it!

I agree with that.

29 November 2001, 17:42

aHunter

Thanks to all! I think I will make a dummy out of a fired case, clean it, something elastic in place of the primer, and then use it.

After some time I might replace a primer, fire it, and see if it comes out of the pocket ( = headspace ).

Good shooting! Hermann

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30 November 2001, 09:58

Eterry

Stated simply, I agree with Bearclaw and all like thinkers; popping a primer can't change headspace. Good luck and good shooting

30 November 2001, 10:22

Cannon

You guys are arguing two totally different points here!

First of all, nobody is claiming that firing a primed case is going to lengthen the chamber. It has been shown, though, that repeatedly shooting light loads in the same case, (the extreme example being the one described here -- primer only), can and will set the shoulders of that particular case back -- resulting in excessive headspace WITH THAT PARTICULAR CASE.

[This message has been edited by Cannon (edited 11-30-2001).]

30 November 2001, 10:39

Recono

Cannon,

Your explanation is fine, although some would say that headspace is a measurement of the firearm, not of its relationship to an abused case.

It is good of you to clear this up, because possibly one or two of the people reading these posts is confused, as evidenced by reference to headspace gauges, which have nothing to do with the relationship to the abused cases which you correctly state most are discussing.

Nevertheless, I feel you are missing the main issue at stake in discussions of headspace and abused cartridge cases. The real issue is how to get free CD's from the very generous and gracious Saeed. Once you grasp that this is the main issue, all the discussion of headspace falls neatly into place.

183 down, 67 to go .

[This message has been edited by Recono (edited 11-30-2001).]

30 November 2001, 13:22

Atkinson

Headspace is the space between the head of the case and the bolt face, thats all there is too that, if you set the shoulder back then you will have headspace, if you fireform a case and the primer is protruding then you didn't have enough bullseye in the case to properly fireform it so you have head space in the amount the primer was sticking out of the case....If you resize a case and set the shoulder back to far you will have headspace, but the bottom line is the rifle does not have head space unless the lugs have been set back or it has a improperly installed barrel....So, you can create headspace, granted but in all likly hood the case will fireform to the chamber enough that the next firing will be fine, in most cases or a lot of beginning handloaders would be toast by now...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com