[Manitou]

I just rebarreled a Swedish Mauser. I put on an original 29" model 96 barrel that I got from Samco Arms. It is a new barrel inside and out that must have been from a Swedish arsenal, and has never been on a gun.
I have a barrel vise and action wrench and did the job right. This is the third job like this I have done with no complaints from the other two.
When I checked the headspace (with a stripped bolt of course) the no go wouldn't go (that's good says I) and the go would also not go. Not by much, mind you, but the bolt would not close the last little bit. It almost goes, but it's just barely being held open.
My question.........
What negative conditions might result from shooting the gun this way?
I could rent a reamer and deepen the chamber a thousandth or two, but would I be asking for big trouble if I shot this gun a few times and rechecked the headspace?
Please understand that I don't want to do anything foolish or unsafe here, and I don't advocate others to do unsafe things, but if for instance, some benchrest shooters routinely start with a slightly tighter than normal chamber with no ill affects, I'd sure like to know.
Thanks for any help.
Manitou

[critter]

I don't think you will have any problems (or be dangerous in any way) if you fire it that way PROVIDED you can get ammo to chamber with only moderate effort. You do NOT want to 'crush' ammo into the chamber AND you DO NOT want a TIGHT throat so that the bullet will not release. Otherwise, ok.

If you reload, you may be able to size the cases a little short by die adjustment so that they fit THAT chamber. A little experimentation might be in order to find out WHERE the chamber is tight. Hopefully, just a little short (head-shoulder) as this would probably be the most likely, the least problem to fix and the least dangerous.

Good luck, just go slow, be careful and find the exact problem if you can. If you fire it, CAREFULLY examine the brass, etc. to determine the effects of the tight (short?) chamber.

[Manitou]

Thanks critter,
I failed to mention that I do reload, and I took a full length sized case and chambered it with no resistance at all. With a stripped bolt (no firing pin, extractor, or bolt shroud) I chambered some of my handloads and the 120 grain bullets chambered, no problem, the 160 grain bullets would not chamber because the ogive was contacting the rifling. But standard full length sized cases will chamber without the slightest resistance.

[HSMITH]

I would seat the heavy bullets a tad deeper, back the charge down a tad and shoot it. A little tight is fine so long as the bullet is not on the rifling when the load was not developed and worked up that way. If the bullets only need to be set .010" deeper to get off the rifling or so I would just shoot them without backing off the powder. If your bolt closes most of the way it is VERY close, within a couple thousandths.

Measure the headspace on the other ones by putting layers of masking tape on the base of the "GO" guage until it won't close and see how much tighter they actually are. It will at least give you a ballpark idea how different they are.

[Manitou]

HSMITH,
That's a great idea. I have Starrett shim stock in .001 increments, and I bet I could get a real good idea how short it is. I'll bet it's only a thousandth or two.
My 120 grain handloads will chamber just fine. It's the 160's that I'd better shoot in my other 6.5. I'll start low and develop a 160 load just for this gun.
Thanks for your help.

[Jim K]

First, let's be clear that headspace gauges are used to be sure the rifle will work with ammo that is within specs.

A GO gauge says that the rifle will accept the LONGEST ammo that is within spec.

A NO-GO gauge says that the rifle will accept the SHORTEST ammo that is within spec without the brass stretching enough to be a problem.

So if you can control the ammunition you use, there is no problem. Only if you got hold of some factory ammo that was on the outer edge of the spec could you find it won't fit or you have to use force to close the bolt.

As you know by now, if you didn't before, new rifle barrels are short chambered, and intended to be reamed to get the right final headspace. But, sometimes, you can get away with a little fudging.

Jim

[C.R.Sam]

Just be sure there is room for the neck to release the bullet.

Sam

[Jim K]

Good point, Sam.

Jim

[Manitou]

I think it's time to cast this chamber with some cerrosafe and measure what I've got.