doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Gunsmith for 03 work

I would like to send my Sedgley in to have it looked at by a good gunsmith. I fear I may have a headspace problem. I've had very hard opening on a few rounds, but it's not consistent. I shoot middle of the road loadings with heavy bullets. Maybe headspace, maybe lug setback? I'm willing to spend the money to repair it if it needs it, including re-rust bluing, etc.

Any suggestions as to a good shop that speaks the language and won't be too surprised to see a classic sporter come in?

Thanks

Ryan: If you are watching your pennies, then you can't beat Chuck in Denver for the headspace and potential set back problem. The rust bluing will have to be contracted out to the likes of Glenrock Blue in Glenrock Wyoming. Their's is some of the best work I've ever seen...though not sky high, they are not cheap either. If you want custom all the way check out Winston Elrod in Chesaning Michigan. I own several rifles refurbed by him and he does it in such a way, they look old and lovingly cared for but not new or redone! HTH JERRY

Ryan, a .30-06 headspace gauge is a pretty common tool, the same one for the whole class of cartridges.
Just be sure to have an easy hand when checking. don't force the bolt closed on the no-go gauge.
Then you can decide if you need to send it to anyone.

Thanks for the help. It would make sense to get a no-go gauge, wouldn't it? I'll start with that.

Don't mean to upstage Mr Hughes but, a "go-gauge" indication with an OK headspace and a "No-go" with a correct headspace indcation won't tell you if you have lug setback. The "Go-gauge" may just close with a slight feel from the bolt being closed but once the bolt is closed all the way there could be slop in it indicating a long chamber and excessive headspace. That camming effect and the ensuing slop means there is setback. To really discover how much setback there is, place the go gauge in the chamber, close the stripped bolt and with a dial indicator on the back of the bolt, push it and pull the bolt back and forth and notice if any change in the indicator. It may surprise you!

Thanks...I'm kinda suspicious that may be the problem.

I never acquired a dial indicator building flintlocks. Or a lathe. Or a mill. Or a drill press...

Using pressure on the stripped bolt with a cleaning rod down the bore & pushed against something solid while you slowly operate the bolt can sometimes allow you to 'feel' setback.
Kinda shade tree, but at least it allows you to check something while waiting for gauges and indicators to actually measure for the real thing.
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Does your 03 Sedgley rifle have two extractor cuts on the bbl instead of one?

That's a good trick - I'll try that. And I've never counted the extractor cuts - I'll check it out. Would a second extractor cut be from a prior "campaign of restoration" (as Wallace Gusler would call it)?

A second extractor cut from setting the bbl back as a result of excess headspace.
Turning it 180 degrees, recutting the chamber just enough to re-establish headspace. The new extractor cut on the '03 ends up opposite the old one which is now at 9oclock position.

The excess headspace could have been from any number of sources including setback in a soft '03 recvr,,one that had been 'reheat treated' by Sedgley.