Too much bolt gap?

[Tuscan Raider]

After replacing some parts on an .308 rifle, I find that the gap is .022.
I know the max is .020. Is it safe to fire the rifle until it settles
below .020, and what can be expected if the rifle does get fired?

Thanks, and all info is appreciated.

[wandering_ronin]

Is this a Century assembled weapon? If so, you might want to check that the bolt carrier is not bottoming out in the cocking handle sleeve. This would keep the bolt from going fully into battery. Century would sometimes grind the end of the bolt carrier to compensate for setting the trunnion too far into the reciever. There should be a small amount of play between the charging handle sleeve and the bolt carrier. I'm sure some more knowledgable folks will chime in.

[Rotor]

At .022 it is not locking up much because the rollers are not going in to their recesses as far as they should.

You will experience heavier recoil as less energy is wasted by the unlocking. The excess energy will be transmitted to the recoil spring first. It will more easily overcome the spring. Then the buffer will get more force than it should. Ending with your shoulder.

I don't know if it is enough to tear the rifle apart. Probably not.

A more thorough check up is needed if your gap is that large. The bigger the gap the closer you are to an out of battery experience.

What did you replace.

Rollers? Locking piece?

What size rollers were put in/ taken out?

What was the gap before?

Is it a factory gun or a kit build?

-2 rollers can theoretically reduce that gap ( if it has standard 8mm ones in it now) but more important is what got it so high.

Clean that trunnion out if you have not.

JR