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Johnny Peppers · 02-03-2002, 07:47 PM

General Hatcher has a very good discussion of headspace in his book, "Hatcher's Notebook". In it he explains the different problems with different types of cartridges relating to headspace. He tells of firing .45ACP cartridges in a Webly & Scott Selfloading Pistol. With this combination there is approximately 1/8" of excessive headspace. If the cartridge is dropped into the chamber, the pistol will not fire as the firing pin cannot reach the primer. If the cartridge is loaded from the magazine, the extractor holds the cartridge against the breech face and the cartridge fires normally. He did the same thing with a 9mm Luger and P38 by firing .380 ACP cartridges in them. If the cartridges were loaded from the magazine, the cartridges fired normally but would not extract due to insufficient power to operate the toggle assembly or slide.

.45ACP cartridges may be fired in .45 Colt revolvers as long as "half moon" clips are used to hold the cartridge against the face of the breech. In this case the actual excessive headspace is somewhere around .05 inch.

While I don't recommend anyone firing a questionable firearm before having it checked by a competent gunsmith, Hatcher's observations are interesting.

02-03-2002, 07:47 PM	#3
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: headspace? General Hatcher has a very good discussion of headspace in his book, "Hatcher's Notebook". In it he explains the different problems with different types of cartridges relating to headspace. He tells of firing .45ACP cartridges in a Webly & Scott Selfloading Pistol. With this combination there is approximately 1/8" of excessive headspace. If the cartridge is dropped into the chamber, the pistol will not fire as the firing pin cannot reach the primer. If the cartridge is loaded from the magazine, the extractor holds the cartridge against the breech face and the cartridge fires normally. He did the same thing with a 9mm Luger and P38 by firing .380 ACP cartridges in them. If the cartridges were loaded from the magazine, the cartridges fired normally but would not extract due to insufficient power to operate the toggle assembly or slide. .45ACP cartridges may be fired in .45 Colt revolvers as long as "half moon" clips are used to hold the cartridge against the face of the breech. In this case the actual excessive headspace is somewhere around .05 inch. While I don't recommend anyone firing a questionable firearm before having it checked by a competent gunsmith, Hatcher's observations are interesting.