What exactly is headspace?

[Jeff Thomas]

Perhaps this would be more appropriate in the Smithy, but it seems most relevant with rifles, right?

1. Can someone please explain exactly what this is?
2. Why is it important?
3. Does it change as a rifle wears?
4. Would headspace be applicable to other firearms as well?
5. Does this term have anything to do with Dianne Feinstein's hat size?

I'll look it up and study my references as well, but TFL members just seem to have more interesting ways of explaining this stuff.

Thanks.

 

[Mal H]

Actually, it's important for any cartridge firearm. See: www.thefiringline.com/NonCGI/Forum8/HTML/000467.html

 

[Jeff Thomas]

Mal, thanks. [Obviously I should have run a quick search before I wasted more time.] That explanation helps a lot.

If it applies to any cartridge-firing firearm, why does it seem I only hear about it in the context of rifles?

 

[Mal H]

"why does it seem I only hear about it in the context of rifles?"

Probably because of the higher pressures involved with rifles. They are more prone to dramatic failures if the headspace is excessive. It is, nonetheless, just as important for handguns.