Realy don't know wheter it was operator error or?

[Ace Lungger]

When I went out to shoot my New Sharps last week, I had a little problem, First i didn't know it had a safety, and after a shoot it goes back on, I think I was moving it just enought that it was allowing the hammer to go all the way down, the spent cases the primer indent was pushed back flat. So I was told how to check for head space.
I took a new dowel Rod, and a case had my wife hold it in the case lip, and I slowly pushed the rod down the barrel untill I touched the rim of the case with steadty pressure, I took a razor blade, and made a flush cut, then with a empty breech I closed the block and ran the dowel rod untill i couldn't go any further and took the razor and made a flush mark!
Pulled it out and took my calibers and made sure they were on zero, and the measure ment was .99 . so i took a lille machnest pocket ruler and it measured under 3/32 .
is that to much head space??
I would be great full for the help! ACE

[Major E A Sterner]

Ace, to properly check headspace you need to get a set of "Go" "No Go" gages for the caliber of your rifle. Brownells carries them. once you check with those, you'll be able to tell if the headspace is excessive.

[Wolfgang]

An old trick for checking headspace is to use masking tape.   Take a factory round.  Chamber it.  Then put a peice of masking tape on the bottom ( trim so there is none past the edges of the case ).  Chamber it with the tape on.  Tight ? . . . head space is GREAT.  If it chambers loose with one peice of tape on it, put another on.  If tight with two peices it is OK.  If it'll chamber with a third piece of tape on it the headspace is excessive.