7.62 guage armourers headspace ???

[butterfly]

Hi,

I dont often get a chance to post in this particular area so thought I would take the opportunity when I came across these.

I know absolutely nothing about them (apart from what is written on the sides) and wondered if anyone could shed a little more light onto them for me. I also have no idea if they are 'common' but thought I would share them non-the-less.

I didn't realise until I got home that they were marked different and so I suspect slightly different size??






The markings are as follows.........


W.E.C. 82/24
5220-99-961-4198
GAUGE ARMOURERS
HEADSPACE 1.6325 -IN




W.E.C. 82/113
5220-99-961-4199
GAUGE ARMOURERS
HEADSPACE 1.643 -IN


I photographed alongside a 7.62 case for size comparison, hope they are of interest

any comments welcome
regards Kev

 

[hicky1300]

Interesting items.
The long digit no as you probably know is the NATO section & ref. These are British made/issue as the -99- denotes country of origin (within the NATO members).
As I recall different lengths of case were used for different reasons/measurements.
Chambering, ejection, pin strike depth etc.
Iused to have similar cases for re shimming the barrels on .50 cals to check the above. Bloody useless though if time/situation against you!!
The number might come up on a ex mod kit site as I think these may be particular to the SLR/FN & many countries still use this weapon & buy ex UK support kit (try Helston Gunsmiths lots of v good ex Brit armourers there as they export ex MOD weapons in BULK).

 

[Dutch]

In Germany during WW1 and WW2 these gauges (Leeren) were used in the gun factories.
Some of them are extremely scare. Many small factories were sub contractors and used these items for quality purposes. The assembly was done in the main plant.
After the war the allies destroyed all the items that even look like a gauge.

No gauges, no war production anymore.

The WW2 gauges I have came from Norway. This country was given after WW2 rifles.
With this repair payment of 98 K rifles some of these gauges came with them.

Rgds
Dutch

 

[SpudGun]

Headspace gauges for the L1A1 rifle (FN FAL SLR) I think.

No Go & Go gauges

 

[butterfly]

Thankyou guys for all the replies that have been posted..........very interesting to see the German ones too- thanks for that Dutch.

regards Kev

 

[raymeketa]

Those are Armourers gauges which are similar to, but not quite the same as headspace gauges. Only an Armourer can tell you exactly what they are used to measure.

The .400" Datum point on the 7.62mm NATO case is 1.634" which equates to the NO GO headspace gauge. The GO gauge is 1.630" and the FIELD gauge is 1.638".

It may be that the Brit gauges are different than those used in the US. And, they may be for different weapons too. MGs sometimes have greater headspace tolerances than rifles, for example.

Ray

 

[hicky1300]

As Ray says - I am fairly sure these are particular to the SLR.
The GPMG & LMG used different guages due to pin travel/ejection/chambering distances etc.

 

[butterfly]

Thanks again guys for the replies.
The two gauges I picked out of a box of 'bits', buttons and so on, I didnt realise at the time that there was any difference between them until I studied them at home. Do you think that there were any other gauges in the 'set' or just the two I have. (as you say 'go' and 'no go') ?

regards Kev

 

[SpudGun]

Thanks again guys for the replies.
The two gauges I picked out of a box of 'bits', buttons and so on, I didnt realise at the time that there was any difference between them until I studied them at home. Do you think that there were any other gauges in the 'set' or just the two I have. (as you say 'go' and 'no go') ?

regards Kev

In addition to the two headspace guages for the SLR there was a gauge straightness of bore, another to check the firing pin protrusion and one to check for erosion of the lead at the chamber.

Each weapon had its own set of gauges.

I have somewhere the inspection procedure notes for Armourers for various weapons, I have a look for them, they're filed away. Ask Jimiles (a member here) about my method of filing :neutral:

 

[Jimiles]

Ask Jimiles (a member here) about my method of filing :neutral:

I don't think there's any 'method' involved at all Simon!

 

[SpudGun]

Here is the Inspection sheet for Armourers to use when inspecting the L1A1 SLR.

I've noted the headspace guages in red.

'S' = Servicable

 

[butterfly]

Here is the Inspection sheet for Armourers to use when inspecting the L1A1 SLR.

I've noted the headspace guages in red.

'S' = Servicable

Thankyou very much for the above post SpudGun. It shows conclusively that these were for the SLR.

kind regards Kev

 

[Stonewall]

I saw some gauges here:http://www.milsurps.com/index.php

Still looking.

Glenn