Checking Headspace on a Remington 700 with Go/No-Go Gauges
For Australian shooters who treat their bolt-action rifles as working tools rather than safe queens, verifying headspace sits firmly on the maintenance list. A Remington 700 that feeds reliably, groups tightly and pops primers only when it should is a rifle that has been checked, adjusted and respected. Headspace is one of those invisible tolerances that quietly decides whether a rifle runs safely or quietly ruins a day at the range, whether that range is tucked behind a clubhouse in Tamworth or set up on a mate's property out past Bendigo.
The Remington 700 has earned a loyal following across the country, partly because so many aftermarket parts and gauges exist for it. Learning to confirm chamber dimensions with simple, affordable tools gives owners genuine control over their firearm, especially when local gunsmiths in regional areas are booked out weeks ahead. This walkthrough covers the gauges, the process and the judgement calls that come with reading them.
Headspace, Simply Explained
Headspace is the distance between the bolt face and a defined point in the chamber when the action is fully closed. Too tight, and the cartridge cannot seat properly; too loose, and the case can stretch, rupture or allow gases where they should never go. On a Remington 700, this distance is set by the relationship between the barrel, the bolt and the locking lugs. Anything that changes that relationship — a rebarrel, a stretched case, a hard bump during a four-wheel-drive trip through the High Country — is reason enough to check.
Australian shooters tend to talk about headspace in practical terms. It is not a theoretical number. It is the difference between a rifle that feeds Federal factory loads cleanly from a Perth gun shop and one that hangs up on the third round. The two key terms to internalise are "go" and "no-go". A go gauge is the largest dimension the chamber will accept while still allowing the bolt to close. A no-go gauge is one step tighter, and the bolt should not close on it. Anything that falls between those two readings is acceptable; anything past the no-go reading is a warning sign.
Tools, Gauges and Where to Find Them
Go/No-Go gauges for the Remington 700 are matched to its chamber dimensions. Most factory rifles in Australia ship in .308 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield, though plenty of hunters run 7mm-08, .243 Winchester and the older .270. The gauge set must match the chamber, not just the cartridge name, because SAAMI specs and CIP specs differ slightly. CIP-spec ammunition and gauges are the standard reference across Europe and are widely accepted here, while American SAAMI rounds can run a touch larger.
A field gauge is the optional third member of the set. It mimics a fired case with the maximum permissible stretch. The bolt should close on a field gauge in a healthy action, although many experienced shooters treat a tight close on a field gauge as a reason to slow down and think carefully. Before buying, check that the set is machined to a reputable standard. Cheap imports from overseas auction sites sometimes arrive out of spec, and an inaccurate gauge is worse than no gauge at all. Australian buyers typically source gauges through specialist dealers, gun shows in places like the Brisbane RNA showgrounds or direct from American toolmakers. For shooters building out a workbench alongside a fresh Remington purchase, ordering spare parts and accessories through the Remington store cart keeps everything on one docket.
| Gauge | Purpose | Expected Bolt Behaviour on a Healthy 700 |
|---|---|---|
| Go | Establishes maximum safe chamber dimension | Closes smoothly, often with a slight drop |
| No-Go | Confirms minimum acceptable chamber size | Bolt should NOT close fully |
| Field | Simulates a stretched, fired case | Closes on a healthy action, with care |
Getting the Rifle Ready
A proper headspace check starts with a stripped bolt and a clean action. Remove the bolt from the Remington 700, wipe down the locking lugs and inspect them for chips, peening or witness marks from dry firing without snap caps. Anything visible on the lugs is a clue that something else in the system has shifted. A dab of light oil on the lugs and a dry, lint-free rag across the receiver rails will keep false readings at bay.
Safety matters. In Australia, every firearm must be stored and transported in line with the relevant state or territory regulations, which generally mean a locked, secured environment and a clear barrel indicator when appropriate. Before any gauge goes near the chamber, run a cleaning patch through the bore, confirm the rifle is unloaded, and point the muzzle in a safe direction. Treat the gauges as you would live ammunition, because the conclusions drawn from them affect how live ammunition will behave later.
With the rifle confirmed empty and the bolt removed, set the action on a solid bench. A folded towel on a kitchen table is a poor substitute for a proper gun vice or at least a padded mat on a sturdy bench at the local SSAA range. Stability matters when judging whether a bolt has truly closed or is just hanging up on a sloppy surface. Once the rifle is stripped and clean, owners who like to keep tidy records can log the maintenance session through their customer account page for future reference.
Running the Gauges
Pick up the go gauge first. Drop it into the chamber as you would a cartridge, then insert the bolt and begin to close it. The bolt handle should travel through most of its arc with normal hand pressure and finish with a confident, full lock-up. If it closes with that characteristic Remington "drop" at the end, the chamber is at least as large as the go dimension. Now withdraw the bolt, leave the gauge in place, and repeat the close several times. Consistency matters more than feel.
Set the go gauge aside and bring out the no-go gauge. The same procedure applies, but the outcome should be different. The bolt should stop short of full lock-up. A slight forward resistance that prevents the handle from reaching its locked position is the correct result. If the bolt closes fully on the no-go gauge, the chamber is at the edge of acceptable tolerance or past it, depending on how firmly the gauge enters. Mark the reading mentally and resist the temptation to force anything.
Optional field-gauge test: if a field gauge is on hand, drop it in and slowly close the bolt. On a rifle that has seen moderate use with factory ammunition, the bolt should close, though often with a heavier hand pressure than the go gauge demanded. A field gauge that drops the bolt like a go gauge usually signals that the case has been growing in service, which is normal wear. A field gauge that refuses to close at all is fine and quite common in rifles that have not fired many rounds.
Reading the Numbers and Next Steps
A Remington 700 that passes the go test and refuses the no-go gauge is in a safe operating envelope. Run a few factory rounds through it at the range to confirm function, then return to normal use. If the bolt closes on the no-go gauge, the rifle needs a closer look. Possible causes include a barrel that has shifted forward in the V-block, a head that has come loose, a lug that has peened over, or — most commonly — a chamber that has been cut a touch large. A competent gunsmith should evaluate the rifle before any more ammunition is fed through it.
For shooters in regional New South Wales, Queensland or Western Australia who do not have a nearby smith, postage to a city workshop is straightforward. Pack the rifle in a hard case, follow the transport rules for the relevant state, and include a written note describing the readings. Most workshops will quote a bench fee before any work begins.
A short list of habits that keep headspace readings consistent across the life of a rifle:
- Keep a logbook with the date, gauge set serial number and result for each check
- Avoid dry firing without snap caps to protect the lug seats
- Re-check after any barrel work, stock change that affects torque, or hard recoil event
- Source ammunition from reputable Australian distributors to keep case dimensions predictable
- Store the rifle in a stable temperature environment, away from sheds that see wild summer swings in places like Alice Springs
- Use the same brand of gauge for repeat checks so readings can be compared directly
- Resist the urge to file or modify the bolt in pursuit of a "better" reading
A fresh gauge set on the bench is a fair reason to decide whether the rifle is ready for a trip to the local range or whether a stop at the workshop is the wiser move. For anyone weighing the brand's shotgun line-up alongside their bolt-action rifles, the Remington shotgun comparison lays out the differences in plain language and helps round out a Remington collection.