Headspace Gauge Comparisons is a start to understanding the differences between all the gauges.
In actual use, pull out your bolt, remove the ejector.
Hook the gauge under the extractor and slide it into the chamber.
The only real gauge you need to own is a Field gauge and that's so that you know when your barrel/bolt combination is worn past safe limits.
There is little concern about the chamber being too tight.
If it's too tight, it will not chamber the ammo.
This will be readily apearant and in no-way unsafe.
If you want to own all the gauges, then you can check with a Go gauge first.
It SHOULD fit into the chamber and the bolt will lock closed.
Then check with a No-Go, it SHOULD NOT fit into the chamber, but it might and the barrel is still within specs if it does happen to fit.
Lastly, and once a year for sure, check with a field gauge, it SHOULD NOT EVER fit.
If the field gauge fits, then try a new bolt.
If a new bolt and a field gauge still fits, get a new barrel.
You can also check out my
223 vs 5.56 comparison and take special note of the actual differences between the various flavors of reamer.
You can also see the difference is mostly in the headspace length and in the throat diameter.
The biggest tip-off to a 5.56 chamber is to look at the throat and note if the groove diameter is fully cleaned out.
If it is, there's a good likelyhood you have a 5.56 barrel.
This is a really subjective thing to look for and you really have to know what to look for.