Somewhere back on a response the question was asked: WHAT IS THE RISK? at least two responses suggested the same advise as you, I wonder why the gunsmith did not test fire the rifle. The fired case would be a formed copy of the chamber less 'recovery' I do not understand why the smith did not offer to make a cerrosafe cast of the chamber.
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Had he test fired the rifle the fired case could have been used to set-up the press, die and shell holder. With a good press, die and shell holder (and cases with recovery) full length sizing is accomplished when the die is adjusted down to the shell holder, the tougher the case the more effort required, for most reloaders there is nothing after full length sizing, they go straight to neck sizing, my opinion, they are missing the best part by not treating the press, shell holder and die as adjustable, I am THE fan of the companion tool to the press, the feeler gage.
Hatcher perceived (when fired) the case stretching somewhere between the head of the case and shoulder when the shoulder moved forward? Much to his surprise the shoulder disappeared and became part of the case body and a new shoulder was formed from part of the shoulder and part of the neck WHEN USING GOOD BRASS that has the ability to stretch like new unfired brass.
Using the brass after it has been fired and formed in the chamber: apply the 'leaver policy' once the case is fire formed 'leaver formed', do not size the case back to minimum length, this brings us to WHAT IS THE RISK? Hatcher knew a case had to have the ability to stretch, if a case was not properly manufactured and did not have the ability to stretch failure would be built into the case before it was chambered in the rifle and 'that is the risk' of firing a cartridge with excessive head space. If the M1917 is test fired it must be tested with new brass, then back to 'I form first then fire', I want to cut down on all that case travel.
I had the opportunity to pick up 1,000 LC National Match cases from Pat's reloading in Ohio a few year ago, the bullets were pulled and powder was recovered, using the cases is not an easy decision, at the time I paid .10 cents each, to replace them with new cases will cost at least .35 cent each. new brass behaves in a predictable manner when sizing and forming cases, after firing the ability of the case to recover and or stretch diminishes.
Risk and Danger, of firing a rifle with head space on the +++ side exist if the brass case being used is work hardened, I have FA 57 and 58 National Match cases that I have fired before reading a caution about the manufacturing process being flawed by the elimination of one process that saved time, FA eliminated one annealing process, during the manufacturing process brass goes through as many as 5 procedures, the cases were to be recycled, but somewhere between the reject and recycle, cases got into the hands of reloaders, or not all FA58NM were rejected, I moved the FA 58 NM next to my BN 30/06.
F. Guffey
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=462291
Had he test fired the rifle the fired case could have been used to set-up the press, die and shell holder. With a good press, die and shell holder (and cases with recovery) full length sizing is accomplished when the die is adjusted down to the shell holder, the tougher the case the more effort required, for most reloaders there is nothing after full length sizing, they go straight to neck sizing, my opinion, they are missing the best part by not treating the press, shell holder and die as adjustable, I am THE fan of the companion tool to the press, the feeler gage.
Hatcher perceived (when fired) the case stretching somewhere between the head of the case and shoulder when the shoulder moved forward? Much to his surprise the shoulder disappeared and became part of the case body and a new shoulder was formed from part of the shoulder and part of the neck WHEN USING GOOD BRASS that has the ability to stretch like new unfired brass.
Using the brass after it has been fired and formed in the chamber: apply the 'leaver policy' once the case is fire formed 'leaver formed', do not size the case back to minimum length, this brings us to WHAT IS THE RISK? Hatcher knew a case had to have the ability to stretch, if a case was not properly manufactured and did not have the ability to stretch failure would be built into the case before it was chambered in the rifle and 'that is the risk' of firing a cartridge with excessive head space. If the M1917 is test fired it must be tested with new brass, then back to 'I form first then fire', I want to cut down on all that case travel.
I had the opportunity to pick up 1,000 LC National Match cases from Pat's reloading in Ohio a few year ago, the bullets were pulled and powder was recovered, using the cases is not an easy decision, at the time I paid .10 cents each, to replace them with new cases will cost at least .35 cent each. new brass behaves in a predictable manner when sizing and forming cases, after firing the ability of the case to recover and or stretch diminishes.
Risk and Danger, of firing a rifle with head space on the +++ side exist if the brass case being used is work hardened, I have FA 57 and 58 National Match cases that I have fired before reading a caution about the manufacturing process being flawed by the elimination of one process that saved time, FA eliminated one annealing process, during the manufacturing process brass goes through as many as 5 procedures, the cases were to be recycled, but somewhere between the reject and recycle, cases got into the hands of reloaders, or not all FA58NM were rejected, I moved the FA 58 NM next to my BN 30/06.
F. Guffey