As to F. Guffey's question, I am not sure of what he means.
Jkibler2, I get that a lot, thank you.

There is a gap, it went unnoticed for years, and years upon years and then I got in with some master machinist, smith and builders. They started telling me about head space, they used phrases like "when cutting a chamber you must check often" "You never know where you are or how closed you are to finishing", etc., etc., Then they started to explain how I should check head space.

Point? I took an 03 and an 03A3 and checked the length of the chamber from the shoulder to the bolt face with a minimum length/full length new over the counter factory box Remington ammo. I then checked the length of the chamber with a go gage, According to their instructions the bolt closed, following their instructions, that was it. The bolt closed on a go-gage and no one knew the length of the chamber from the shoulder to the bolt face, the only conclusion that could be determined was the chamber was at least go-gage length. My opinion that little bit of information was somewhere near 'nice to know'.

'THE GAP' between the front rear receiver ring and the rear of the third lug can be measured by something that is foreign to reloaders, the feeler gage. I pull the bolt back to seat the lugs then measure the gap, I then chamber a new minimum length/full length sized case and push the bolt forward, then measure the gap again. The difference between the two measurements when added to the length of the case from the shoulder to the head of the case is the length of the chamber from the shoulder/datum to the bolt face.

When sizing cases for my trashy old chambers I transfer the measurement to my press, die and shell holder. I transfer the measurement with a feeler gage. I then informed them I could measure the length of the 30/06 chamber with a 280 Remington case, I also informed them I could modify a go-gage to a go to infinity gage. That gage takes care of go-gage length, no go-gage length and field reject length and every length in between, 'gotta' love those old guys, they ask "HOW?"

And I have arsenal bolts, there is not much that can not be done with one of those, I exaggerate, there is a big problem with convening anyone on a reloading forum they exist.

F. Guffey