Head space?

[will52100]

Finaly got around to checking the headspace.  It was .012 with .348 brass and .013 with 50-90 brass.  That was as big as would go in with the action open and pull out with the action closed.    My referance says .008 to .010 is max real world.  I did notice that the action lacks the snap that my Henry has, but a budies 73 feels similar.  The toggle links are not as tight on the pins as my Henry eigther, just feels like they got a hair more play in them.  Is this going to be a problem down the road or am I worying over nothing?  It loads and fires fine.

Thanks

[Wes Tancred]

I think that most, if not all, of the “snap” that occurs when closing the lever of a toggle-link Henry or Winchester is due to the action of the lever spring on the cam, not to the links being forced over-centre. After all, the latter could only occur if head-space is far too tight.

[will52100]

True, but it do feel differant in other toggle link guns I've handled.  I took the side plates off, don't have my calipers on hand, but the pins will definatly "wiggle" in the toggle holes.  I know the links are designed to take the load on the mortises and not the pins, but the looseness is definatly not helping.  Maybe I should just shoot it and leave as is and keep an eye on the head space and replace the toggles if it looks like it's increasing?

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[Grizzly Adams]

Hi, Will52100.

I have observed the same "looseness" in a number of toggle link rifles - 73s mostly, and it doesn't appear to be a problem.  That said, I don't like it! .....

As I recall, you have a NWMP carbine.  You might take a measurement of the links and see if Chaparral has some in stock that are a bit longer.( I believe member John Boy has done this.  You might want to PM him and see.)  Another suggestion would be to consider replacing them with a pair of the new-made replacement links for the original 1876.  Seems that I recall one of our members doing just that, but can't find the thread.  The parts on your Chappy and the original are supposed to be interchangeable.

[will52100]

I'm going to give chap a call.  Tried some reloads in it today, pretty accurate considering the sun was directly in my eyes.  I did have 10 failure to fires out of 40 rounds.  I use CCI primmers so that may be part of the problem, the few that I bought loaded didn't have a problem fireing first lick, looked like winchester or federal primmers, CCI's are a bit harder.

I miked the links and pins and holes and such.

The rear link and pin is the worst, it's .010 differance between pin OD and toggle link ID, the front was .005 differance which is the suggested clearance.  I will turn a new pin and ream the frame pin hole and toggle link hole.

The bolt face is pretty rough, I'm thinking that after I fix the rear pin I will weld the face up and resurface to take the head space to .004 like it's supposed to be.

After fixing the sights more to my liking, the rest of the gun is a beuty, except for the funny colored loading gate, got it striped and rust blueing.

Anybody know what kind of blue Chap uses?  Looks almost like a bake on paint from the runs on the inside of the reciever.

I am going to give Chap a call and see about getting a new bolt before I weld this one, maybe if I can get one that is rough machined I can finish it and save some time on building up the old one.

[Hoof Hearted]

Howdy

I replied to your PM (just a bit slow)!
I am the "member" Grizz spoke of above (although he must know me better than most to refer to me as such) that installed Winchester Bob links in my "Crapparal"
I set the headspace to minimum based on Jamison brass and then only ended up with about 60 rounds. If you are experiencing that many failures to fire then check to see if the extractor is holding the case off the back of the barrel a bit. Some of these rifles need the extractor notch deepened a bit so the kinetic energy of the firing pin strike is not lost moving the case forward some of that "excessive headspace" (you said .13 thou and primer strikes not off center). If the primer strikes do prove to be off center then this becomes more complicated.

[Grizzly Adams]

I am the "member" Grizz spoke of above (although he must know me better than most to refer to me as such) that installed Winchester Bob links in my "Crapparal"

Howdy, HH!   How you been, Amigo?

[will52100]

Got it fixed, thanks to all.  I silver soldered a shim on the face, after filing it flat, also silver soldered a new cartrige lip support.  Set the headspace at zero with my thickest brass.   Action feels better.  Now to work up some loads and see just how accurate it is!

I re-tried some of the rounds that wouldn't go off and all but two fired.  The two that didn't had plenty deep primmer indents, may have just been bad primmers, I did leave that batch in the shed I'm reloading in uncovered for a couple of days.

Now I just got to figure out wether to build a new spanish meter sight or find a replacement.  Its' good enough for now.

Thanks again.