No Go Gauge
 

I Purchased a 223 bolt action recently and I'm suspicious the head space may be off. Some of the empty rounds were stretched a bit, so I figured I should check the head spacing. But, I do not have a No Go Gauge and was wondering if there was any other way of checking head space. I had heard you could add scotch tape to the back of a sized brass, but how much tape thickness would it take?
It is quite possible the shoulder of some of the brass was bumped back to far, but I want to make sure it is not head spacing. I hate to pay $35 for a gauge to use it one time.
Thanks

If you have bump back gauging equipment and another 223 just compare fired brass from both and see if they aren't about the same within a thousandth or two.

you want to check and set your head space with a go gauge, not a no-go one.

The tape trick is done on the go gauge to use it as a no-go one.

You're right....of course, Bill. I worded that wrong. I have neither gauges and was thinking of using a sized piece of brass that would chamber in 2 other 223's I have, then adding tape until it wouldn't chamber in them then seeing if it would chamber in the newest 223. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not??:o

You can do that, and it will work, but the best way to to borrow or buy a go/no-go gauge, if you possible can.

As for the tape, I believe one layer of a electrical type tape is okay for adding and checking as a no-go. :)

Ok, I'll give that a try.
Thanks Bill

RCBS makes a tool called a Precision Micrometer that measures the length of a fired case. As I recall, the 223 REM has a 0.010" range that is allowed per SAAMI specs. I have a factory Savage that is 0.0002" above the minimum, and several other, including a couple of NATO chambered ARs are right at 0.006" above the minimum. Your new rifle may be fine. You may need to segregate the brass for the new rifle and just load for that length. Just one opinion.

Thanks for that information TinMan. That is something I will check out. I almost rebarreled this one to a 204, but at the last minute decided not to. Accuracy was outstanding so I decided to give it another go.

Not 100% sure but I think scotch tape is about .006
I'm sure different brands vary

Here is a link to the data:

https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads...sting-Copy.pdf