Puma headspace

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:15 pm

Our man Cowboytutt gave me some medium hot loads to shoot in my 45 Colt Puma. He didn't like how the primers looked with an ejector imprint and suggested I may have too much head space (lighter loads look fine). He suggested that I use porgressive layers of scotch tape over the case head to see when the bolt wouldn't close. At 12 layers it was quite hard. I then measured the tape layers and found that they were at about .022" using a Rem case. Winchester have a thicker rim.

Anyone have any enlightenment on this problem if it is one?

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:32 pm

O.S.,

Several years ago I had a Rossi Puma in .45 Colt. It also left ejector tracks on the primers. The hotter the load, the worse the marks.
I never had it checked for head space and it never got worse or blew any primers out or did anything wrong.

It does seem that .022" of tape between the case head and bolt face may be excessive. I'd give Steve Young at Steves Guns a phone call and see what he says.
He goes by Nate Kiowa Jones here.

Joe

Pepe Ray · Post by **Pepe Ray** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:07 pm

O.S.
It's never a bad thing to know your headspace dimensions but, be aware that many( Most?) of those Pumas have excessively strong ejector springs and they will mark a case, any case, and toss them as far as the next township. Thats why Steve sells reduced power ejector springs.
Pepe Ray

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:05 pm

Pepe, that is for sure, I should chrony the ejecting cases.