[Drakejake]

If the fired case shows no protrusion of the primer, can one assume that headspace is probably OK? I recently bought a Century FAL and have not checked headspace. The rifle works fine except for some jams on the feedramp, which I am addressing. I retrieved some cases today at the range and saw that there was no movement of the primer out from the bottom of the case. Isn't this a good sign?

Drakejake
rifle novice

[newfalguy101]

Unless I am completely missreading your question:

A "bulged,flattened,loose" primer is generally a symptom of over pressure.

One of the most noticable indicators I am aware of for overly generous headspace would be a ring around the case head, or more accurately just in front of the case head. Look closely at the fired case as compared to an unfired cartridge and inspect the area just in front of the extractor groove, if the headspace is excessive there will likely be a ring present.

If headspace is really bad the case and head will seperate at that point.

One more thing, are you using .308 WIN ammo or 7.62X51 NATO spec ammo???

The WIN may very well show some signs of headspace problems as the rifle is chambered for 7.62X51 NATO

7.62 milsurp ammo will almost always have crimped primers and THEY wont come out regardless of pressure

[Drakejake]

Newfalguy,

There is a slight ring about a quarter of an inch from the case bottom, but it seems to be the result of friction; there is no bulge. I am shooting South African surplus 7.62 by 51.

Drakejake

[Drakejake]

I asked my question in part because a friend who is very knowledgeable about firearms told me that my 1893 Mauser carbine had a bit too much headspace because the primers of the fired cases were slightly pushed out. He told me that this slight bulge did not indicate a dangerous condition. (I have since sold this rifle because the recoil was more than I could tolerate.)

Drakejake

[rbernie]

Protruding primers are usually caused by too much *or* too little pressure.

[Vern Humphrey]

IThere is a slight ring about a quarter of an inch from the case bottom, but it seems to be the result of friction; there is no bulge. I am shooting South African surplus 7.62 by 51.

Take a paperclip and straighten and bend a small "L" at one end. Use this to feel inside the case -- is there a groove inside the case where the ring is? This would be an indication of the case stretching excessively. That is a sign of excessive headspace.

I asked my question in part because a friend who is very knowledgeable about firearms told me that my 1893 Mauser carbine had a bit too much headspace because the primers of the fired cases were slightly pushed out. He told me that this slight bulge did not indicate a dangerous condition. (I have since sold this rifle because the recoil was more than I could tolerate.)

Were these primers squashed or flatened? Primers normally back out -- that's a simple function of the floor of the primer pocket having so much more area than the flash hole. But as the case is forced back against the bolt face, the primers are re-seated. Not re-seating is a sign of low pressure.

Drakejake

[newfalguy101]

Thats the ring I am referring to, the case at that point is stretching to fill the chamber completely.

Find a paperclip and straighten it out, then bend a small hook in the end and run it up and down the INSIDE if the fired case.

If you feel it catch then the ring is a concern as the case is showing signs if impending seperation. If you dont feel the paperclip catch then the case although stretched is NOT starting to seperat, yet.

The FAL rifle is really hard on cases as they tend to get beat to heck while feeding and during extraction.

Unless you plan to reload for your FAL, the ring is not really a problem.

For more info about the FAL , try The FAL Files (http://www.falfiles.com/forums/index.php?s=) there are a host of very knowledgable FAL guys over there

[30Cal]

Early case head separations, backed out primers and frequent misfires can be indicators of excessive headspace. You can have excessive headspace and normal looking primers.

Backed out primers can also be seen with mild loads.

Ty

[Drakejake]

I performed the paper clip test and found everything smooth. Yes, my FAL operates very energetically and puts a dent in the side of the case as it exits.

Drakejake

[Vern Humphrey]

I performed the paper clip test and found everything smooth. Yes, my FAL operates very energetically and puts a dent in the side of the case as it exits.

Drakejake

Everything should be fine, then.

[Jim K]

The paper clip test is OK, but, as I just posted on on another site, you will know that stretched looking ring if you ever see it. It is entirely different from the little shine cause by case friction on extraction.

As for the FAL, I don't know any total solution to the dented case problem, but you can (and should) "turn down the gas" to the minimum needed to function with your ammo. Giving that piston full power will not only help wreck cases, but isn't really good for the rifle.

Jim

[newfalguy101]

Good advice about properly adjusting the gas.

I believe that most of the dented cases are from the case flipping into the top cover on ejection, and can be alleviated somewhat by changing the angle of the extractor, or so I am told.

The dented case mouths are not a real concern for me as I like to think of the "brass kisses" on the top cover as "character marks" :D :D