Question about headspace gauges

[Orlando]

I actually got to thinking, heres another situation about insuffeceint headspace.
If the bolt would be forced closed (bolt gun) and cause the bullet to be shoved into the neck of the case.Couldnt this cause over pressure if the cartridge was fired and possible case rupture?

 

[USSR]

If the bolt would be forced closed (bolt gun) and cause the bullet to be shoved into the neck of the case.Couldnt this cause over pressure if the cartridge was fired and possible case rupture?

Yes, but it has nothing to do with headspace. Chamber headspace deals with the portion of the chamber between the boltface and a datum point where the shoulder portion of the cartridge case resides. Having this space be "tight" would not cause the bullet to be shoved further into the neck. That would be caused by having the bullet seated out too far in a short throated chamber.

Don

 

[Jim K]

If a rifle can fire when not fully locked, that rifle is defective. That is not a headspace problem as such. Nor is the point about the bullet being shoved back in the case. That happens when the barrel throat is too short or the bullet is seated too far out. It has nothing to do with a case not seating.

The GO gauge is very necessary when installing a barrel or swapping bolts, since the gunsmith wants the gun to work with all ammunition that is within tolerances.

As for the NO-GO, why is it needed if one is going to ignore it and go to the Field gauge if the NO-GO test fails? BTW, contrary to some postings, even failing the Field gauge check does not mean the rifle is going to blow up and destroy the world. Ordinarily failing the Field gauge test is like seeing the wear ridges in a tire; they indicate it is time to start checking for tire sales, not a reason to scrap the car.

Jim