mosin headspace issue

[Brickman301]

Ok, I posted earlier that I picked up a M39, at the MACA show. I just got a chance to really look over this rifle last night. I have a set of headspace gauges, and it closed on the field gauge.....NO!

I know that they headspace on the rim. I took the bolt head from another rifle that I know the headspace is go on, and put it on the bolt from the M39, and now the rifle's headspace is fine. I put the bolt head in question on several of my other Mosins, and they would all close on the Field gauge. I now know that this bolt head is no good/out of spec.

My question is do you think I can just purchase another bolt head, to fix this issue so all of my rifles will be functional?

Let me know, thanks

 

[iH8DemLibz]

You can find bolt heads on-line.

Gunbroker, surplus stores, Numrich, etc.

 

[yellowsled]

I agree, the easiest thing to do at the moment is get another bolt head.

 

[Brickman301]

I agree with just replacing the bolt head. But I'm wondering how many bolt heads I will have to purchase before I find one that works. Hopefully just one.

 

[Augie]

When it comes to headspace on old military rifles I just shoot the thing, if the brass looks fine I don't worry about it. In all the years I've done it this way I've only found 1 rifle that swelled the brass excessively and that was a Japanese school rifle.

 

[Melnic]

Too much headspace and the firing pin may not activate the primer. I have an Enfield and it passes field but not the no go
It stretches the brass and depending on the brand I may only get 4 reloads out of it.

A split case stuck in the chamber is nasty and you need a removal tool

 

[Brickman301]

I received my bolt head in the mail today, it now head spaces correctly. Got a stripped bolt head from eBay for $12 shipped. Cheap and easy fix. Now all of my Mosin's are good to go.

 

[toolness1]

Too much headspace and the firing pin may not activate the primer. I have an Enfield and it passes field but not the no go
It stretches the brass and depending on the brand I may only get 4 reloads out of it.

A split case stuck in the chamber is nasty and you need a removal tool

Sorry this is an old thread, I was gone a while.

Are you neck sizing the 303 brass? Mine is really hard on them, but I get decent life if I just neck size.

 

[Melnic]

Sorry this is an old thread, I was gone a while.

Are you neck sizing the 303 brass? Mine is really hard on them, but I get decent life if I just neck size.

Yes, I"m neck sizing them. Have not shot the Enfield in over a year though.
Remington brass sucks and PPU is better.
New cases I did the small rubber band trick to fire form them better.

 

[toolness1]

Yes, I"m neck sizing them. Have not shot the Enfield in over a year though.
Remington brass sucks and PPU is better.
New cases I did the small rubber band trick to fire form them better.

I figured you were but thought I would suggest it just in case. I need to try the O ring trick. I use PPU almost exclusively since I'm close to Grafs and they carry the whole line. It's good stuff and much cheaper than Norma which is the only other company I see offering the obscure calibers.

I bought a bunch of gnarly Greek 303 from CTD a while back, so far it's been decent brass, although very ugly. It was really cheap, one of those deals I don't fall into very often.