11-01-2021, 04:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-01-2021, 04:07 PM by lazyengineer.)
Pretty much what KLEM said. I'm not going to say it's a bad idea to check headspace. But the reality is that incorrect headspace doesn't Kaboom like people act. It results in a broken shell and jammed gun. THe back portion of the break will swell enough to seal the chamber, and you don't actually get a big pressure release. Too tight a chamber (more common), results in bolt that wont' rotate, and so firing pin that won't reach, and so a "click", and that's it.
Neither is A-OK, and is at best a PITA. And things going wrong, always elevates risk of more things going wrong. So yea, checking with gages is great. But don't think it's some insane crazy cavalier risk to take parts that shoudl be in spec, assemble, and fire. On top of that, I've studied (and once even witnessed), enough AR Kabooms, to realize the system is quite well engineered. AR Kaboms dont' sent huge fragments into the shooters head (unlike say a 1903 or homemade .50 cal Kaboom!). AR15 Kabooms result in minor scratches, hand brueses, and sometimes skin deep minor bleeding. Most AR15 Kabooms are from .300BO in 5.56 guns, and from excessive pressure loads, and from barrel obstructions. Pretty much never seen or read of one due to headspace, that I can tell. As always, wear eye protection for every round fired, regardless!
FWIW, your fired brass well tell you your chamber size as well, especially steel. So if you have calipers and the Hornady headspace test rings that mount on them, that works decent enough too.
Neither is A-OK, and is at best a PITA. And things going wrong, always elevates risk of more things going wrong. So yea, checking with gages is great. But don't think it's some insane crazy cavalier risk to take parts that shoudl be in spec, assemble, and fire. On top of that, I've studied (and once even witnessed), enough AR Kabooms, to realize the system is quite well engineered. AR Kaboms dont' sent huge fragments into the shooters head (unlike say a 1903 or homemade .50 cal Kaboom!). AR15 Kabooms result in minor scratches, hand brueses, and sometimes skin deep minor bleeding. Most AR15 Kabooms are from .300BO in 5.56 guns, and from excessive pressure loads, and from barrel obstructions. Pretty much never seen or read of one due to headspace, that I can tell. As always, wear eye protection for every round fired, regardless!
FWIW, your fired brass well tell you your chamber size as well, especially steel. So if you have calipers and the Hornady headspace test rings that mount on them, that works decent enough too.