I finished my first AR build last weekend and just got a 5.56 field gauge (1.4736") in yesterday to check the headspace.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...uges/5-56mm-223-headspace-gauge-prod6646.aspx
I took the ejector and extractor out of the bolt, put everything back together, and put the gauge in the chamber. The bolt stops moving easily long before it is closed, but if I keep pushing with my thumb I can get it to close completely. I have to push hard, but it I do just with my thumb it will close.
I then checked the gauge with my fairly new M&P 15. I didn't take the time to strip the bolt and just tested it with the ejector and extractor still in. Again, I had to push hard, but it would close on the gauge. I had to push even harder, but still just with my thumb. I figure on that one I am fighting the ejector so I would have to really push on it anyway.
So how hard do people usually push to check the headspace? I looked around for a long time and all I can find is to make sure you push it carefully. I have no idea what that means. I also saw on here that some people are testing with the ejector still in so they must really be pushing to overcome that. Did I just get a bad gauge, or am I pushing too hard?
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...uges/5-56mm-223-headspace-gauge-prod6646.aspx
I took the ejector and extractor out of the bolt, put everything back together, and put the gauge in the chamber. The bolt stops moving easily long before it is closed, but if I keep pushing with my thumb I can get it to close completely. I have to push hard, but it I do just with my thumb it will close.
I then checked the gauge with my fairly new M&P 15. I didn't take the time to strip the bolt and just tested it with the ejector and extractor still in. Again, I had to push hard, but it would close on the gauge. I had to push even harder, but still just with my thumb. I figure on that one I am fighting the ejector so I would have to really push on it anyway.
So how hard do people usually push to check the headspace? I looked around for a long time and all I can find is to make sure you push it carefully. I have no idea what that means. I also saw on here that some people are testing with the ejector still in so they must really be pushing to overcome that. Did I just get a bad gauge, or am I pushing too hard?