Muddyboots
Well-Known Member
My 50 year old Savage 110C .270 Win got a new barrel put on by local gunsmith but there is a question that he could not answer readily so here it goes.
I set the headspace of my brass using Stoney Point headspace gauges and also verify by removing firing pin assembly to validate case will cycle without any resistance. So after getting through 60 rounds of barrel break in, I was at bench sizing brass utilizing measurement and cycling method.
Here's the issue; when I cycled my bolt without firing pin with sized brass, I felt some resistance of the bolt when it was cammed over. I removed the brass and there was still same amount of resistance in bolt in the camming over of the bolt. All my other rifles never had any amount of resistance when the firing pin was removed so this was new territory for me. All my bolts were "floppy free" without the firing pin assembly. I put the "go gauge" in and there was same resistance in the camming over of the bolt without the firing pin assembly in the bolt.
I had also noticed there was some resistance in the bolt lift during break in and tried some factory and verified the bolt lift resistance even with factory rounds. I know my loads were in the middle of the pack loads just to get some rounds through the barrel.
I am thinking the "go gauge" is on the tight side of headspacing and the added bolt lift resistance is from insufficient headspace for normal brass expansion.
The barrel is shooting very well so not concerned over its accuracy but have some concern there is insufficient headspace for normal brass expansion which can affect reloading to a certain extent.
Do I have enough info here for someone to comment on next steps? I am thinking it needs just a couple thousands of tweak headspace adjustment. I know there is a wealth of knowledge here so appreciate any and all comments.
Thanks,
Muddy
I set the headspace of my brass using Stoney Point headspace gauges and also verify by removing firing pin assembly to validate case will cycle without any resistance. So after getting through 60 rounds of barrel break in, I was at bench sizing brass utilizing measurement and cycling method.
Here's the issue; when I cycled my bolt without firing pin with sized brass, I felt some resistance of the bolt when it was cammed over. I removed the brass and there was still same amount of resistance in bolt in the camming over of the bolt. All my other rifles never had any amount of resistance when the firing pin was removed so this was new territory for me. All my bolts were "floppy free" without the firing pin assembly. I put the "go gauge" in and there was same resistance in the camming over of the bolt without the firing pin assembly in the bolt.
I had also noticed there was some resistance in the bolt lift during break in and tried some factory and verified the bolt lift resistance even with factory rounds. I know my loads were in the middle of the pack loads just to get some rounds through the barrel.
I am thinking the "go gauge" is on the tight side of headspacing and the added bolt lift resistance is from insufficient headspace for normal brass expansion.
The barrel is shooting very well so not concerned over its accuracy but have some concern there is insufficient headspace for normal brass expansion which can affect reloading to a certain extent.
Do I have enough info here for someone to comment on next steps? I am thinking it needs just a couple thousands of tweak headspace adjustment. I know there is a wealth of knowledge here so appreciate any and all comments.
Thanks,
Muddy