KneverKnew
Well-known member
In an effort to maintain the utmost safety, I need to make sure I am checking my headspace correctly on my AC44 G43 build. I have a complete bolt/carrier/cover assembly from another G43. I have two sets of flappers.
I have Forster No Go and Field 8mm Mauser gauges.
I use a live 8mm round as my GO gauge. The "green box" Romanian steel cased ammo will not chamber/ bolt with not go all the way forward, by the way.
I have removed extractor from bolt. I am using an allan wrench down in the firing pin carrier slot that the bolt carrier usually rides in to manipulate the flappers.
The bolt closes and locks easily on empty chamber, with bolt face making firm contact on barrel shoulder. The firing pin carrier moves to it's complete forward position in the bolt, slot in pin carrier all the way forward and aligned with forward edge of slot in bolt, thus locking flappers into their recesses in the receiver walls. Same thing happens with the live 8mm round, being completely locked in battery, with no wiggle to the bolt when I manipulate it with my fingers from the rear while holding pin carrier to its forward position.
When I test with the Forster NO GO gauge, the bolt seems to go all the way forward, but the firing pin carrier will only go half way forward. The flappers will press against side of receiver walls making it tight and feels like it has partially locked in the receiver recesses. But if I gently wiggle the bolt from the rear the flappers will release from the receiver. The FIELD gauge does the same thing, only the firing pin carrier will stop its forward travel slightly sooner than the NO GO gauge. It also feels tight in the receiver, but if I pull on the rear of the bolt with some force it will release from the chamber.
So, does it sound like I have excessive headspace, or am I within the outer limits of safe tolerances so that I can test fire this parts shooter build? I do have a shooters kit installed with smallest insert. I have tried a spare set of flappers and get about the same results, just slightly easier for the bolt/flappers to pull from the chamber when using NO GO and Field gauges. I'm hoping I'm withing safe limits, even if at the edge, so I don't have to send rifle off to have barrel reseated.
I have Forster No Go and Field 8mm Mauser gauges.
I use a live 8mm round as my GO gauge. The "green box" Romanian steel cased ammo will not chamber/ bolt with not go all the way forward, by the way.
I have removed extractor from bolt. I am using an allan wrench down in the firing pin carrier slot that the bolt carrier usually rides in to manipulate the flappers.
The bolt closes and locks easily on empty chamber, with bolt face making firm contact on barrel shoulder. The firing pin carrier moves to it's complete forward position in the bolt, slot in pin carrier all the way forward and aligned with forward edge of slot in bolt, thus locking flappers into their recesses in the receiver walls. Same thing happens with the live 8mm round, being completely locked in battery, with no wiggle to the bolt when I manipulate it with my fingers from the rear while holding pin carrier to its forward position.
When I test with the Forster NO GO gauge, the bolt seems to go all the way forward, but the firing pin carrier will only go half way forward. The flappers will press against side of receiver walls making it tight and feels like it has partially locked in the receiver recesses. But if I gently wiggle the bolt from the rear the flappers will release from the receiver. The FIELD gauge does the same thing, only the firing pin carrier will stop its forward travel slightly sooner than the NO GO gauge. It also feels tight in the receiver, but if I pull on the rear of the bolt with some force it will release from the chamber.
So, does it sound like I have excessive headspace, or am I within the outer limits of safe tolerances so that I can test fire this parts shooter build? I do have a shooters kit installed with smallest insert. I have tried a spare set of flappers and get about the same results, just slightly easier for the bolt/flappers to pull from the chamber when using NO GO and Field gauges. I'm hoping I'm withing safe limits, even if at the edge, so I don't have to send rifle off to have barrel reseated.
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