Go gauge for shouldered prefit?

[entoptics]

Curious what the hive mind thinks about checking headspace when installing a shouldered prefit?

I've rebarreled Savage actions with barrel nuts 5 or 6 times, and always use a go gauge to set the headspace, then applied a piece of painters tape to the go gauge to function as a no-go, and have had 100% success achieving a consistent minimum headspace.

I now have a Pure Precision Summit Ti and a Preferred Barrel Blanks shouldered prefit on the way, and wondered if it's really necessary to shell out another $50 bucks on a go-gauge for installation.

I'm debating just using a piece of virgin ADG brass, and applying tape layers until it "no-gos" to determine how much brass growth I'll get on first firing. If it's sub 0.010" I figure I'm good to go with the brass I have. It would be nice to know where I sit in "SAAMI space", but the odds of ever feeding the rifle factory ammo or someone else's reloads is pretty minimal.

Since it's a shouldered prefit, I can't adjust the headspace like I could on a barrel nut rifle anyway, so I figure what's the point of messing with go/no. Determine if it's safe to fire the brass I have, and run with it.

What say the peanut gallery?

P.S. If anyone has a 7mm PRC go gauge handy, and the Hornady Comparator with the #13-41 (or #11-37) insert, could you measure the base to shoulder dimension and report it here? That would be very helpful as a reference, so I'd have a better idea where my virgin brass is currently sitting...

 

[FireFlyFishing]

Buy the right equipment and do it right. If I was doing a barrel tomorrow, that's what I'd do. You can always sell the gauges when the project is completed.

 

[FrogFire7]

I've wondered this before too... It will tell you if the barrel is in spec or not, but there will be nothing you can "do" about it. Other than replacement if it isn't in spec

 

[waspocrew]

I do it just for the peace on mind. $40-$50 is cheap compared to my eyes, finger, etc.

 

[ARlife4me]

I've read you can do it with a fired case or might have been a fl sized? I'd rather just get ago and no-go. If you want I might have the guages you need to borrow?

 

[akdad]

Another option is to rent a set. I believe 4d reamers has them

 

[ARlife4me]

if my math is correct the datum should be 408, so does it fall in the same line with the 6.5prc (420) or 400 with 270wsm/6.8west? Then again, I might've forgotten how to figure datum?

 

[ARlife4me]

I think the short version to figure it out is diameter at shoulder divide by 2 then add half the neck od to it?

 

[LuvDog]

I like to use go and no go gauges. For the money it's peace of mind for me

 

[pavementends]

if my math is correct the datum should be 408, so does it fall in the same line with the 6.5prc (420) or 400 with 270wsm/6.8west? Then again, I might've forgotten how to figure datum?

???

 

[Gorill@]

My only experience is fitting a Zermatt Origin to a Proof Research carbon fiber barrel. 300 WM fit perfectly. Wasted $175 on go-no go gauges.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

Here's another way to look at the subject. Let's say you wanted a gunsmith to build your rifle. Would you expect the smith to use gauges, or just fudge it and hand you the rifle?

Let's say you built this rifle and it wasn't to your liking and you wanted to sell it. On the ad you fully disclose you didn't use gauges when building the rifle. How many people do you think you'd turn away from the sale?

 

[wjm1000]

If it's a Remington style action with a recoil lug couldn't you adjust the head space by adjusting the thickness of the recoil lug?

 

[tgsozona]

Rent the Go/No Go gauges from 4D Reamer Rentals or Elk Ridge Reamer Rentals for a minimal fee and know for sure that it was set up right.