AR Sponsor
Posted: 10/28/2005 9:42:10 PM EDT
| I have decided to do my first build. I am concerned about having head space problems with the upper I build. I have read a lot of posts about head space. The posts I have read say that if there is a problem switch out bolts until the head space is ok. I dont have the money to by a bunch of bolts to get the head space right if there is a problem. I would like to know what your experiences have been with barreling an upper and headspace. Is it really nothing to worry about?Thanks Ardozer |
| While most sa its a "good idea", the majority of the builds from members of this board I doubt have headspaced the rifle. Bolts and barrel extensions are built to very exacting tollerances, making headspacing a problem only after many thousands of rounds through a weapon. |
|
Do you think the manufacturers could build the rifles in a reasonable amount of time if the parts were not accurately made to begin with? The time it would take to try a number of bolts to hopefully get the right headspace would be ridiculous. And the problems with replacement parts, too. No, the parts are made to spec to begin with. It is very rare to encounter a problem. Many guys who do this for a living have never found a problem when assembling new parts. I'll give you a headspace check right here, no special tools needed. (1) Load up a mag with commercial (not handload) ammo that you intend to use in your rifle. Cycle the rounds through by hand. Do this with the rifle pointed safely downrange. Do the rounds chamber and eject smoothly? If so, you have sufficient headspace. (2) At range, fire one round. Examine the ejected case. Look just above the extractor groove, is there a series of shiny rings around the circumference? This would indicate the case stretching at that point. If not, then you don't have excessive headspace. Repeat for a full mag, examine each spent case. If all look OK, then headspace is OK. Now enjoy your new rifle. |
Good advice. If you did have an upper that would not headspace with a new bolt... you DONT keep swapping bolts. The only way this would "fix" the problem is you would have to keep trying bolts until you found a bolt that was out of spec! Aint gonna happen. The barrel extension was either set correctly at the factory or it wasnt. Extremely rare to hear about, and I dont bother. |
AR Sponsor