Quick headspace check

[bigsampson]

Hey guys,
Picked up a used 30-06 recently.
Wanted to do a quick headspace check.
Can eventually get a go no go checker.
But wanted to just get a good idea.
The gun chambers factory ammo fine, slight resistance on bolt closure. Fired brass from another rifle will chamber, but the bolt is really to tight to close all the way.
I also tried an old trick I heard of.
If I.place one thickness of paper between the bolt and the base of a factory round,the bolt closes but is a bit tighter. Two thicknesses of paper are hard to close and it will pretty much not close with three sheets.
Is it worth getting a gauge or should I just rebarrel?
thanks

 

[J E Custom]

Hey guys,
Picked up a used 30-06 recently.
Wanted to do a quick headspace check.
Can eventually get a go no go checker.
But wanted to just get a good idea.
The gun chambers factory ammo fine, slight resistance on bolt closure. Fired brass from another rifle will chamber, but the bolt is really to tight to close all the way.
I also tried an old trick I heard of.
If I.place one thickness of paper between the bolt and the base of a factory round,the bolt closes but is a bit tighter. Two thicknesses of paper are hard to close and it will pretty much not close with three sheets.
Is it worth getting a gauge or should I just rebarrel?
thanks

Head space gauges are $30.00 and well worth the money. you should be able to get one in 4 or
5 days.

I like to use .001 shim stock but you can use scotch tape one layer at a time and get a pretty
good idea of where you stand.

Factory cartriges are sized all over the place and normally well under SAMMI dimensions and
don't make good head space gauges.

J E CUSTOM