Measuring headspace

[podunk kennels]

Ive read a lot of different ways to measure headspace in a rifle just wondering how you guys preferred to do it, or if you even deem it necessary.

True headspace is the measure of the chamber of your rifle. And use go/nogo gauges with shims.

But you are probably talking about measuring the shoulders of your fireformed case and setting your seater?

I have stoney point (now hornady) head and shoulders gauge.

I myself will not partial full length. I find it can cause other issues like inconsistent shoulders, and runout. I usually customize the die for the rifle chamber if its that far off.

[podunk kennels]

I have been told that the closer you can get the bullet to the lands of your rifle the more accurate it is, I assumed that you should set your bullet length to your rifles chamber length is this correct?

[gunnermhr]

Each gun is different and different bullets like different seating depths. Headspace has nothing to do with the measuring the distance of the ogive to the rifling in the barrel. Find the right powder charge then start messing with the seating depth. Don't change too many things at once when looking for the perfect load.

[podunk kennels]

I appreciate it guys, ive got a bunch of loads made up at the reloading guides oal, after i find my powder charge ill change oal.

[jeepkid]

Be careful when you start messing with the OAL, if you get them too close or jammed in the lands you can increase pressure pretty quick...

[spaniel]

Originally Posted by podunk kennels

I appreciate it guys, ive got a bunch of loads made up at the reloading guides oal, after i find my powder charge ill change oal.

I think what you are asking is not headspace but how to find the max OAL for your chamber. Assuming this is correct, there are several methods:

1) The tools from Stony Point and the like made for this;
2) Seat a bullet long and progressively seat deeper just a little bit at a time until the bolt barely closes (assuming bolt action)
3) Take a hacksaw and cut the neck of a case down to the shoulder. Insert a bullet, put into chamber and close the action. Assuming the grip is tight enough that the bullet does not stick in the lands, the bullet will be pushed back into the case to the max OAL (measured to ogive, the only point that counts except when fitting into the mag).

From this, decide how much you want to back off. Don't shoot with a bullet touching the lands unless you really know what you are doing as this changes the game.