Chamber gauge question

[raljr1]

So for reloading 30.06, what gauge should i get. Go, no go, field.

Do i really need more than one?

Last time i just chambered one in my rifle, then someone posted a comment that made me think how exciting a slam fire would be in my office, and I thought ok... look for a chamber gauge..

Thanks

 

[rockquarry]

So for reloading 30.06, what gauge should i get. Go, no go, field.

Do i really need more than one?

Last time i just chambered one in my rifle, then someone posted a comment that made me think how exciting a slam fire would be in my office, and I thought ok... look for a chamber gauge..

Thanks

Confusing post. What is the specific problem?

 

[toad67]

Go, no-go gauges are for checking the chamber tolerances. Is it possible that you are trying to figure out headspace on your reloads to fit in the chamber?

 

[NewLiberty]

It sounds like you want a cartridge gauge to make sure your reloads are in spec.

Headspace gauges are for verifying that the firearm's chamber is within spec.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

1)You buy a pre chambered barrel or chamber a blank.

2) when you fit the barrel, you set it based on a GO gauge or some Match people use a tight cartridge.

3) No GO is to check someone else's work.

Ivan

 

[Durango Slim]

It sounds like you want a cartridge gauge to make sure your reloads are in spec.

Headspace gauges are for verifying that the firearm's chamber is within spec.

I bet you are correct since he is talking about reloading.

I don't think they are necessary for rifle since you are likely not loading a lot each session.

They are nice to have but there have been so many different .30-06s made, it's best to find the length that works best for your chamber and use that measurement.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I load and shoot 5 30/06's.....Semi-autos and Lever guns. Never owned or wanted a chamber gauge. My ammo fits and functions in my guns.

 

[WR Moore]

You seem to be talking about a case gauge. However, slam fires are most often caused by high primers. All you need to spot those are your eyeballs-or maybe a straight edge. One does allow you to spot cases that need trimmed if you don't have a calipher.

Being picky, the GO gauge is used to make sure the chamber will accept standard ammunition. The NO GO gauge is to make sure headspace will still be acceptable after some wear to the locking lugs has taken place. (Bolt shouldn't close on it) It's usually 0.003-0.004 in longer than the GO gauge and a chunk of feeler gauge stuck on a Go gauge with a dab of grease has been used as the economy replacement. The FIELD gauge is used to determine if things are worn to the point of being dangerous.

When I was first figuring out how to cut rifle chambers, I reamed a chamber per the published instructions from "an authoritative source". Which I won't repeat. The bolt closed easily on a NO GO gauge. (It wasn't the new barrel-not that dumb.) One of many stupid things that have found their way into print because editors often aren't technically competent. Or they just need more filler between the ads.

 

[nps7077]

Cartridge gage, it has a cut on case mouth end that shows if brass is too long. If brass is not properly sized the base will protrude. It will not indicate bullet seating depth issues. Because there are many semi auto 30-06's it is a very worth while tool for loading that cartridge in my opinion. My semi auto rifles (Rem 740 & 742, BAR) tend to stretch my brass more than my bolts.

 

[2152hq]

added

A bolt that closes on a NO-GO is still 'in spec'
It's still in-spec if it partially closes on a FIELD gauge as well.
It's out of spec if it closes fully on the FIELD gauge.

The 3 HS gauges are just meant to be used to get a reading as a progression runs from the GO to NO-GO to Field.
The handy bolt action's bolt handle serves as a nice visual indicator of such.
Not as simple when using the same gauges in a semiauto, pump or even most single shots.

We like to see them only partially close on a No-Go. That tells you that there is plenty of room for future wear to the mechanism.,,a tight lock up.
But closing on a No-GO is not the Kiss of Death. Neather is partial closing on a Field gauge.

Military caliber spec/ gauge lengths are more generous than commercial specs in most instances.

Even if your rifle closes on a FIELD, there are simple ways to by-pass the excess headspace issue through reloading using sizing/resizing the neck of the case. Then neck sizing only and segregating the cases for that rifle.
Make the brass fit the particular chamber for zero headspace.

A case length gauge is just that, an simple OAL length slip fit gauge to tell you if the case itself is longer than recommended spec.
It used to be a common reloaders bench accessory but hardly used anymore. The caliber seems to do the job now.
Recommended max OAL case length is usually listed with the cartidge info in reloading manuals along with the recommended Trim-to-Length spec.


Added..
A slam fire,,closing the bolt causing the primer to be ignited by pinching it in a closed action...would more likely occur in a 22RimFire chambered gun than a CF.
Some RF Match guns are chambered with extremely tight tolerances. An over thick RF cart rim in one of these can and has on occasion fired with simply closing and locking the bolt.
A CF cartridge would need a primer that was seated too high and then either a very agressive bolt closure (like in a semiauto) or no where for the primer to go to be seated correctly when bolt is closed if less than Armstrong methods are used.
A firing pin that is broken and or stuck in the forward position can fire by a real SlamFire method as the STEN gun does when the bolt is closed on a live round.
But you never know, so always kept them pointed in a safe direction.