hi all,
I am just in the process of re-barrelling my Ruger no1 in 6.5-06 ackley, this is a new barrel so not trying to convert an old chamber to an improved..
My question is this: how do I calculate the headspace, I do have an 06 go gauge, but not a no go gauge.
Does it really matter on a falling block how deep the chamber is, as there no issues with bolt closure.
I understand if its too long there are case issues but if its a few thou short then does it matter?

regards
Griff

As you probably know, Ackley chambers are designed to be about .005” shorter than their parent cartridge, providing a “crush” fit when fireing standard factory ammunition, but with a Ruger No 1 you don’t have much, if any, cramming force to crush a cartridge. In that case reaming until the go-gauge is just flush with the breach would be fine.

You did mean flush with breech block face, correct?

Yes, thank you.

This is a reply I got several years ago regarding setting up an AI chamber;

"On the AI chamber...
The go guage for the parent cartrige becomes the no-go guage for the improved chamber. An Ackley go guage is then used to actually set up the chamber. It will be shorter than the parent-cartridge go guage".

Hi,
thanks for the replies, I would like to to just confirm when you mean, flush with the breech block you mean the the falling block itself and not the the back of the barrel..
I have been looking at reamer specs and the ackley is 9 thou shorter from the base to the base of the neck than the standard ie: 6.5-06 2.173" base to base of neck and 2.164" for the ackley so if it left the standard go gauge 9 thou short that would work?

regards
Griff

Just make it flush with the breach block; doesn’t matter what the measurement is. If you try to make chamber .009” shorter than standard cartridge it will likely stick out too far and you most likely will not be able to close the breach block because falling-block actions can’t force or crush the cartridge the way a bolt action can. I just don’t know how to explain it any simpler than that.

Hi John,
thankyou for the info..

regards
Griff