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I just got my fosters 308 gauges and I am attempting to headspace 3 barrels I have bought. I am using the head spacing guide here. I have the bolt head pulled off the carrier when attempting.

I am using 2 bolts and 3 barrels. one of the bolt heads seems to have the striker sleeve close on all barrels including using the field gauge. On the other bolt, only one out of three barrel does the striker sleeve not bottom out when the field gauge is in. This is when I push on the striker sleeve as much as I can when I put the bolt head in the extension as far as it goes (I am doing that correctly right?)

Could I be doing something wrong? I was under the impression that most factory barrels and bolts would be compatible with each other? I am only getting 0/3 on one bolt and 1/3 on the other, barrel bolt combination coming out seemingly safe on factory barrels.

What are you calling the striker sleeve? What part is that - the firing pin holder? I call the parts what the Germans call them. They made the gun, so I figure their part names are correct.

Headspace is measured when the rollers are fully out. By pushing on the firing pin holder, it pushes the rollers out. The position of the rollers is used to determine when/if the bolt is closed. How much room there is for the cartridge is measured as headspace.

Most MG42s I've seen seem to have no trouble at all with a little excessive headspace. To expect 50 to 75 machinegun barrels to be within perfect tolerance of a few thousandths of an inch of headspace is asking a lot, though it does happen.

The important part is that the rollers go fully out. Of course the rollers should not have so much room that they rattle around, but I've seen lots of firing done with no ill effects when the rollers would fully lock on the field gauge. If the Go gauge won't let the rollers fully lock, then for sure it isn't safe to shoot. You get to decide how much headspace is too much. Experience is a great help, but when you don't have any, doing things the way others do it is second best. Most people don't worry about a little excessive headspace with the MG42.

What results did you get with a cartridge? The gauges are just a substitute for determining what happens when using a cartridge. If you have factory ammunition and the rollers go fully outward with very little extra play (fully out with a little extra room, but not flop-around sloppy), you're should be good. The gauges just let you quantify the results.

Excellent, thank you for the reply sir. I called it the striker sleeve because I think that is what 42rocker frequently called the firing pin holding part. Firing pin holder makes more sense to me anyway.

That's exactly what I wanted to know. All go, and even the no go and field gauges have the rollers fully locking on almost all the barrel/bolt combos. Definitely not having an issues with too tight/short of headspace. I have not tried an actual cartridge yet, but that will be next. Will check if there is slop in the rollers and determine if the barrels are okay.