Head space comparator gage

[Highpower]

(04-07-2015, 08:30 AM)JScott Wrote: But even though it will head space on the rim it will still head space off the shoulder of the case when resized properly.

OK I think I know what you getting at now. But saying that you are 'head spacing' off of the shoulder is where the confusion comes in. As rdhem2 mentioned rimmed cases head space off of the rim (only). You can have 'zero' head space on the rim, and still have the case shoulder meet the chamber, yes. But technically pushing the shoulder forward is not adjusting head space.

So the question becomes, what is the actual (rim) head space on the gun now? 
SAAMI specs .065" - .072"

It's different story for rimless or semi-rimmed cases that actually do head space on the case shoulder. I have a .223 barrel for my Contender. Do you really have .008 - .009" protruding from the barrel face?

You might try putting a ring of plasti-gauge around a case body ahead of the rim and chamber it, then close up the action. Remove the case and measure it to see how much clearance you have on the rim.