Understand and Measure Headspace - 5 Methods Compared!

[@benge3x]

I’ve bought the short action custom set as well as the bullet set. Very happy with these. Much nicer than the Hornady stuff which in function is fine, but the SAC set is better by far.

[@orangerider2827]

I already know all this stuff but will still watch the video. My personal suggestion though when I first started reloading and watching a lot of videos on reloading I always avoided anything in the title that said quick and easy or fast or simple. It always felt like a short cut and when it came to reloading I didnt want to blow my face off, some of you will get that. I always prefered long format step by step over explanations as a beginner especially to get me more comfortable. Going slow where I could follow along if needed. Thats just my 2cents as a random internet guy.

[@RMM--uv7uk]

Yep to me all I got out of this video was where to purchase the tools. This was all about a Midway advertising. Which is fine. Cause that's where I buy everything. But he could have gone into much more detail for people just getting started

[@orangerider2827]

@@RMM--uv7uk yeah its alittle dissapointing for sure.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

Honestly nobody is doing long form anymore. Not saying I don’t agree with you just pointing out the truth. All the videos you watched or are watching currently are probably 3 years or older.

[@BoltActionReloading]

HI Orange Rider. I am personally a long form content consumer myself, however I guess I try to keep all the info you need with as little filler time as possible when I put together a video. (trying to respect the viewers time whenever possible) Understanding your position with the title, what did you feel was missing from a content perspective?

[@Mike-we4yp]

GREAT Video - LOVE your Videos, Please KEEP UP the GREAT Content.

[@DesertDweller2023]

I have the SAC comparator. “Two sets” they stay on the calipers. For me, I did need to acquire a feel for them. Being consistent with how much pressure I apply. Once I got that down, they are really handy.

[@beestoe993]

None of this is necessary for basic reloading. This is for competition level accuracy. As long as a rifle has proper headspace, setting up dies to safely reload is easy and requires no extra equipment. Someone just getting started making their own ammo might find that fact useful.

[@DegenGaming]

No... really?

[@mefirst5427]

Yes as a beginner reloader I just follow a simple process, take once fired brass from one rifle, use headspace comparator to measure before/after when setting my full length sizing die, make sure to bump shoulders no more than +/- 0.001"

[@scottpatterson6863]

The lee hand loader only sizes the neck seems simple are they safe

[@50Quid-d3x]

​@@scottpatterson6863I did not see the accuracy I am looking with the Lee Loader. ...and no I do not want to just re-size the neck and not check and re-set the shoulder. I final size my 223 case necks with a Sinclair mandrel die and a 21st Century carbide mandrel on an Forster Co-axe press. (To precision set bullet neck tension). Case neck thickness uniformity is measured with a Sinclair case neck thickness uniformity gauge. Necks are turned on a Forster mini lathe and polished with 000 steel wool. I use the black RCBS headspace gage as shown in this video to set the lock rings on my dies. ... and I have drop in ammo checkers for finished rounds and unloaded cases.

[@50Quid-d3x]

"Proper head space... ain't in the rifle!" (as you say). "Headspace is the proper fitment of the brass case in the rifle chamber or the space between the case head and the bolt face when the case neck is flush with the front chamber face (The blank space between the case head and the bolt face is the head space on a rifle and somebody just starting out might want to know that!" On pistol cartridges, well... there is no shoulder so the headspace or proper case fitment Is set on the case rim and in the case length and it is set with a case trimmer. We set the headspace on pistol brass with the case trim length. The tools depected in this video were not just developed for precision accuracy... they were also developed for safety.

[@TheLance1971]

I love the South Main Auto jacket!

[@slatsgrobneck7515]

Great channel for sure! :)

[@HeathenHammer80]

Thank you for your very informative videos!

[@jesusfreakster101]

First video of yours that went a tad over my head… I use Hornady and understand the concept but it seemed a bit too short in context. Having stated this still love your expertise.

[@BoltActionReloading]

HI Bert, Thanks for the feedback! I really was just trying to get the point across on how to use the tools rather than concentrating on the drawings (to a reloader, loading for 1 chamber, means basically nothing more than find the correct size datum tool if your using the Hornady tool.) Otherwise its picking an insert and a pair of calipers. I was just trying to show that there were lots of ways so folks could pick the one that suited them best. This was the first time I have used the RCBS mic and it was a lot less fiddly than I expected. Seems that all the viewers are choosing shorter content these days so trying to give all the options in a concise fashion was my goal, maybe I missed the mark a little. If I could understand better what more people really wanted to see I would include it. BAR

[@DLN-ix6vf]

I have both the Hornady & Precision Mic headspace tools and found you cannot compare measurements equally from both but can only compare measurements from each tool separately. Simple terms either use the Hornady headspace tools or use the Precision Mic tool.

[@sf2189]

I have all these tool - the best way is the PMA Quick Case Checkel with a wilson case gage (I dont like their plastic case gage that comes with the tool - the wilson works much better) - trust me - worth the money. It's basically like the LE Wilson one but it has a ProCheck Dial Indicator that pushes up the base of the case. 100% consistent all the time.

[@BoltActionReloading]

I have never ran into that tool at all. I can see why you might like it. In my quick search I didn't see a digital version, (which I understand isn't required) but so many folks cling to these days.

[@sf2189]

@@BoltActionReloading I’ll take a quality analog any day. Especially for .001 measurements. You should try it out. They sell it without the cases and it works with LE Wilson ones. My other tools now just gather dust.

[@BoltActionReloading]

I understand completely, especially for this case I don't think it would affect its general usability, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. I truly don't mind analog, unless its calipers, I will never be as fast with analog calipers.

[@sf2189]

Agreed. I love my digital calipers.

[@mightyarmoryprecision]

Our FLHS die makes head spacing easy. Dies are extremely successful.

[@benjaminnevins5211]

Interesting, I didn't know there was a measurement for the datum. I've seen differences between which diameter headspace gauge you need to use between vendors. Now Im curious which one was right.

[@BoltActionReloading]

Well I guess that's part of what I was trying to get across, if using them as a comparative tool, I don't think it matters that much. All of them measured essentially the same difference. (within the tolerance of the measurement tool anyway)

[@bob_mosavo]

Thanks 👍

[@texpatriot8462]

When I first tried measuring headspace, I used a Hornady headspace comparator. I could not understand why the numbers did not match the SAAMI specs.

[@LucasE269]

If you don't have any of the tools, is there anything wrong with just bottoming out your case in your full length sizing die to try to get saami minimum spec? I imagine that the results would be just as good as factory ammo but maybe I'm wrong.

[@robertchichitano3209]

Whidden case gauge is my choice.

[@mariuscorbu2487]

I tried setting the sizing die, by measuring with two methods in parallel, and since we are looking only at the difference and not absolute value, they should show about the same difference, as it can be seen when measuring the GO gauge. So after using SAC to set the die to bump .0035, when I measured with LE Wilson it showed .009, which would be way too much. I tried to keep my measuring with a constant handling of the gauges, and it always showed about .006 more across multiple cases. Then I tried setting the die based on LE Wilson, and when I reached .0035 bump, the SAC showed 0 bump. At this point I do not know which one to trust.

[@Z1Trader]

So what measurement do I use for 6.5creedmoor? When I measure with hordany gauge what number do I look for?

[@Modine.]

Of all the videos I've watched talking about headspaceing its only rifle cartridges, is headspacing not important when it comes to pistol cartridges?

[@scottpatterson6863]

The lee hand loader only sizes the neck. Should l be concernd about head space for safteys sake or is it just for accuracy

[@gtroxlar8597]

I have the SAC, but my fired .308 case mouth will not fit all the way into the comparator. Works fine after i resize, but i cant get a before sizing shoulde measurement🤔

[@BoltActionReloading]

I would call and see if they have a newer design. They can probably help.

[@jasonwilliams1085]

I found no problems when using case gauges. No brass deformity, & good accuracy

[@eggbert191]

Recently got set up for reloading using hornady dies for 308. I've set my sizing die and locked it in. I'm getting a lot of variance in my shoulder bump measurement. Using hornady headspace guage. What am I doing wrong?

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

Look into annealing. What annealing does is “resets” your brass.

[@BoltActionReloading]

There can be several factors. If you are using multiple brands of brass, if they have different number of firings, etc. all of these things can add up. Also defining what "a lot" means to you is helpful. BAR

[@eggbert191]

@@BoltActionReloading all federal factory load once fired in my rifle. Can vary from no shoulder bump to 5 thousand plus and everywhere in between. Using hornady digital calipers

[@BoltActionReloading]

what is your case lube? are you annealing? What Hornady insert? (.400?) when you measure the same piece of brass 10 times do you get the same answer? are you decapping first? (any primer cratering can cause variance)

[@eggbert191]

@@BoltActionReloading decapped, lanolin alcohol lube, proper insert, not annealing, same measurement multiple times on same piece of brass. Spraying lube exactly the same way every time. 50 at a time in reloading tray 1 downward angle spray from each side

[@luckyshotammunitiongunsllc2369]

I really dislike the caliper clamp opening on the SAC. Option... its not only way to big but because the caliper is not centered exact every time your measurement can very.. Mitutoyo's should be the standerd I feel and all groves should be machined to there spec. For exact fit

[@BoltActionReloading]

Hello, Is there and chance that you have the the thumb screw in the "O" side of the body instead of the side marked "C"? CONFIGURATION “C”: CENTERED With the 10/32 Thumb Screw mounted on the bottom side with a “C” means that the Modular Headspace Comparator Body will be centered on the dial calipers. This is standard for all normal uses. CONFIGURATION “O”: OFFSET With the 10/32 Thumb Screw mounted on the bottom side with a “O” means that the Modular Headspace Comparator Body will be offset on the dial calipers. When using the Hornady COAL measuring tools, the Modular Headspace Comparator body must be offset on the dial calipers in order for the Hornady tool to be properly aligned with the Modular Headspace Comparator assembly.

[@luckyshotammunitiongunsllc2369]

@@BoltActionReloading thanks for the responding. Yes I'm using as SAC suggests. I wish I could add a picture to show you what I'm talking about.. great video bud thanks

[@BoltActionReloading]

Send me a picture if you have one to the email in my channel description.

[@luckyshotammunitiongunsllc2369]

@@BoltActionReloading sorry dude I can't find any email.. of you list it here I'll send it to u

[@jrexchandler1]

It would have been more informative to use the same caliper when showing the measurements on the SAC and Hornady gauges. Remove some variability. Still very informative.

[@BoltActionReloading]

Thanks Rex, I see your point and that may have been the better way to do it. The accuracy on all the calipers regardless of brand is going to be +/- .001" so I didn't think it would be a factor when they all read well within that tolerance Thanks for the feedback.

[@jrexchandler1]

@@BoltActionReloading I have to admit I had a little bit of an ulterior motive I also have the Hornady caliper and I wanted to see how accurate it was in both cases 😀 Your channel has been a blessing to me thank you for everything you do!

[@defender119gonow5]

For starters all you need to start your reload is case gauges and lots of supplies 😂

[@honcho714]

Omce i hear 6.5 creed i quit .

[@garybray3614]

Free? No such thing. You are using tools that cost money.