Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Go guages, No-Go guages...

Are these tools the standard way to check headspace? What is the difference in length between a GO, and a NO-GO?

Just wondering how many thousandths is the difference between correct headspace, and too much.

Yes they are the std way to check headspace. There is about .003 to .004 differance between the two.

I buy no go gages by Foster. If a chamber takes the no go its still ok for my use. When a chamber will take a piece of beverage can on the gage and still close then its too much headspace in my view.

The can stock runs about .004".

dogcatcher223,

Yes, they are the standard except that there can be differences between gages by the various manufacturers. Slight but measureable.

Here is a list of some of the standard cartridges and the gage measurements:

http://www.forsterproducts.com/Pages/gages.htm

Regards.

Some gauge sets also include one called a field gauge. I know of a couple of AR builders that cut their chambers so that you could force an AR bolt to close on a Go gauge. A lot of the imported 223 ammo wouldn't function if the chamber was cut to spec.

If your bolt closes on a field gauge, stop shooting it.

Ummm Tod
The bolt should close with out any force on a GO gauge, and for the chamber length to be in spec, the bolt should not close on a NO-GO. Forceing it to do so can damage the gauge, the chamber and the bolt.

And their is a reason that he's known a Salvage99


While I agree that a owner that want's to check his rifle dosn't need a GO gauge, the bolt should NOT close on a NO-GO.

Thanks for all the info guys. I will check out the Forster link.

As said above gauges can very by manufacturer, dont mix brands with no-go and go, it can give you false headspace.

I like to buy direct, and request them to double check the gauge set before shipping.

Good thing too. I once got a set from Clymer that were stamped and color-coded BACKWARDS...

They were very apologetic, and a new set was on my bench in 2-3 days..