Shotgun question

[Dalton Bros.]

What should be the head space in a Riverside Arms 16 Ga. pump gun be? Should the face of the bolt be touching the shell when chambered?

I made a spring to replace the broken one so the gun could cycle the shells and made a new firing pin to replace the broken one, took the BBs and powder out of a shell to test the firing pin, and after firing the primer, I ejected the shell and noticed the primer was sticking up maybe 1/16 of an inch from the face of the shell. Would this mean the gun is unsafe to fire live rounds?

Thanks for any thoughts on this.
 John

[gunnut69]

In Dunlaps book he shows a measurement of .065 to .070 for the 12 guage.  How is the headspace set. Is the barrel counterbored or is it set via the bolts locking mechanism.

[dakotashooter2]

I don't think that is abnormal. It will generally happen in any gun where only the primer is ignighted. Without the powder and payload there was not enough pressure built to "re-seat" the primer against the boltface after firing. It is generally seen as a sign that a load is too light or the primer pocket is too loose.

[gunnut69]

That is likely true. We used to use Wax bullets(beeswax or parafin) to practice and zap a pesky pest or two. No powder was used just the primer but if the cases way left as made the primers would back out and even sometimes lock the action. We drilled the flash holes way oversized and the problems were gone. Be %$@#% sure that any case so modified is NEVER used for any standard load again. I filed notches on the rime to make it obvious the case was non-standard..