Quote Originally Posted by Robinhood View Post
Unless you are looking for minimum headspace exactly. If so what is the purpose of that?
Minimum headspace is what I shoot for- because it provides the most "versatility" for those that handload.

If one shoots factory ammo, doesn't handload (or give the brass to someone that does)- it's mostly irrelevant within the typical .006-.010 "additional" clearance from boltface to breech of cartridge that would get you beyond "no-go". Shoot it, ditch the case. Doesn't matter how much it stretched...

https://www.hornady.com/team-hornady...nal-ballistics

For handloaders that full-length size (me)- it's critical to limit the amount that the brass will stretch on each firing. If brass stretches excessively, when FL sized that extra brass is forced to flow back to the neck (the thicker casehead is the area that stretches rearward). So, this requires much more frequent trimming, work hardening of the necks, and shorter case life overall because the casehead becomes thinner and weaker on each firing. Thinned too much, is when potentially dangerous casehead separations can occur.

For those that neck size only, this is less critical, but even those that neck-size still need to FL size occassionally.

It's just "best practice" to maximize brass life. Even for those where minimum headspace may not be important- if the rifle is sold, it might be very important for them. Not a big deal with nutted barrels to adjust headspace, but it is for shouldered ones.

So again, it's just a matter of being able to determine exactly when the bolt face contacts the gauge. Can't accurately do that with resistance from an ejector.