Brithunter
Well-Known Member
I have been fairly quiet on this but no perhaps it's time to ramp it up.
I wonder how many of the "experts" have actually see a rifle fired with real excessive head space and not just what they read somewhere?
I was handed a case to take a look at at Reepham Moor ranges and asked my opinion. The case a .308 Winchester had no neck at all. yet it was not a case separation as one might first suspect but the case was fired in a rifle bought as a .308 Winchester but turned out to be a .308 Norma magnum. The case just fire formed to teh chamber. No dramas, no explosions and the bullet struck the target but low.
It was one of the range owners who happened to be spottign for the chap whilst he sighted in his newly acquired rifle and looked down to tell him the shot went low as the shooter ejected the case. Karl saw no neck and at first thought case separation. On examining the case and comparing the elngth to an unfired factory round from the same box it became obvious that there was something amiss.
Examining the rifle one could just make out 308 on top of the barrel reinforce but the scope and mounts obscured a proper look so they retired to the shelter and removed said scope and mounts and low and behold the chamber marking was "308 Norma Mag". Now that is a serious case of excessive headspace but what happened really ? .............................................. Nothign no dramas not bits blown off NADA.
So much for all the doom and gloom predictions.
The shooter packed up went to see the Firearms licensing to explaining the problem and they altered his ticket to suit the chambering. The rifle was the same calibre after all just chambered for a different cartridge. The fault lied with the vendor whom did not check it properly. The new owner then went to Forest Lodge to try and get some ammunition to suit. That proved to be a bit more of a trial as not many places carry .308 Norma Magnum.
May I suggest those with real experience in case separations through Proven head space issues relate them. Those whom have only read about it in a book read some more books. Once we find out if this was as I suspect an ammunition issue or not then we will duely report good or bad assuming Strats does bring it up here at some point.
Of course I am no Gun Smith or rifle smith but I do have old fashioned City & Guilds in Engineering plus a number of years in workshop practice to fall back upon.
I wonder how many of the "experts" have actually see a rifle fired with real excessive head space and not just what they read somewhere?
I was handed a case to take a look at at Reepham Moor ranges and asked my opinion. The case a .308 Winchester had no neck at all. yet it was not a case separation as one might first suspect but the case was fired in a rifle bought as a .308 Winchester but turned out to be a .308 Norma magnum. The case just fire formed to teh chamber. No dramas, no explosions and the bullet struck the target but low.
It was one of the range owners who happened to be spottign for the chap whilst he sighted in his newly acquired rifle and looked down to tell him the shot went low as the shooter ejected the case. Karl saw no neck and at first thought case separation. On examining the case and comparing the elngth to an unfired factory round from the same box it became obvious that there was something amiss.
Examining the rifle one could just make out 308 on top of the barrel reinforce but the scope and mounts obscured a proper look so they retired to the shelter and removed said scope and mounts and low and behold the chamber marking was "308 Norma Mag". Now that is a serious case of excessive headspace but what happened really ? .............................................. Nothign no dramas not bits blown off NADA.
So much for all the doom and gloom predictions.
The shooter packed up went to see the Firearms licensing to explaining the problem and they altered his ticket to suit the chambering. The rifle was the same calibre after all just chambered for a different cartridge. The fault lied with the vendor whom did not check it properly. The new owner then went to Forest Lodge to try and get some ammunition to suit. That proved to be a bit more of a trial as not many places carry .308 Norma Magnum.
May I suggest those with real experience in case separations through Proven head space issues relate them. Those whom have only read about it in a book read some more books. Once we find out if this was as I suspect an ammunition issue or not then we will duely report good or bad assuming Strats does bring it up here at some point.
Of course I am no Gun Smith or rifle smith but I do have old fashioned City & Guilds in Engineering plus a number of years in workshop practice to fall back upon.
