Milsurp After Hours

Once upon a time I would see posts at different sites with long and sometimes heated strings about the validity of the use of headspace gauges and what is or is not safe to shoot in milsurps.

This is one short assertion from Brownell's that pretty much states the established view regarding whats safe.....but probably thinking of modern factory or hand loads. No mention of spam can Nagant or 60 year old Turk Mauser.

What do you think? This view correct in all cases? What about the view that field gauge tested guns are ok but you shouldn't reload the ammo you shoot in them?

If the bolt handle closes fully on the NO-GO gauge, repeat the test with a FIELD gauge. If the bolt does not close
completely with this gauge, the headspace is on the long side, but the rifle can usually still be used with factory ammo, if
the cases will not be reloaded and there are no other problems present. Never fire a gun that closes on a FIELD gauge. If
it is fired, the chances are extremely high that you will get case ruptures.

The complete text is here:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Genera ... 002025.pdf

Would depend a bit on what specific firearm is up for discussion I suppose.

In regard to SMLE's I don't think it's much of an issue unless the rifle is way out of spec, given the relaxation in standards during WW2.

Can't really speak about other firearms.

I've never used any so I pretty much don't talk about them but I have read alot on other forums and they do get worked up over them.

I have never ever, ever used headspace guages on any military rifles I have owned or own as it is a waste of time and money.

Military firearms are meant to have a little play in them for dirt, mud, snow, water, you name it ... soldiers are notorious for getting weapons dirty and they must function in combat when needed so most chambers are over-wide such as the case with the Japanese Type 38 and 99 which have a tendency to bulge the fired cases. Rimmed cartridges headspace on the RIM of the case and therefore I never worry about them as it controlled by the rim.

I just look at the fired cases of mine and read the results it shows me ... I never worry about it though ... as long as it goes bang and functions it good to go .... I never have had a bad military rifle yet that went bad due to bad headspacing.

Patrick

I have headspaced all of my Mausers and Nagants. I do it out of curiosity as much as the potential headspace safety issue that may or may not be of concern. The field guage is the method of choice.

Only one of my rifles that I have tested failed the Field guage test. And of all things.. it was one of the Finn M39's. It swallowed the Field guage with the lightest of one finger pressure.

Now on mine, I follow the full directions and take off the extracter to be sure of the read. And I use only light one finger pressure to detect contact. Light contact being what I'm looking for as a sign of passing.

As Patrick says, the rim has a lot to do with headspace. I'd guess, that being so, my too much space Nagant would work with the over thick out of spec Nagant spam can ammo. I have some of that crap ammo that my correct headspace rifles won't close on. Never thought of trying it. Although it would seem like a double dose of taking a chance of something I wouldn't like happening.

I'd think, although this is totally open to discussion, that I would caution people not to disregard headspace issues in any firearm and particularly milsurps. Why should anyone trust any number of unknown people who were involved in procurement and production of arms from 60 and 80 and 100 years ago to insure present safety, much less after the elapse of time and unknown use and abuse? Great design isn't a guarantee of continued function. A 36 Ford Coupe was a great design, but when was the last time you saw one riding down the road?

What about the rechambered weapons? How about the M1916 Spanish Mauser that was rechambered by government subscription from 7mm to the Nato version of .308 and for a long time, including now, being sold as .308 to collectors? If that small ring Mauser with unknown steel hardness should start to fail, the headspace would be the only early sign. And, allowing for the best version of speculative failure, what would happen would be the locking up of the bolt. Headspace would be worth keeping an eye on in such a weapon as this for sure.

All the above being said, I have fired any number of guns without headspacing them first.....but I don't know that this is altogether a wise thing to do nor would I suggest anyone else do so without questioning the risk they take.