Maverick44
Youngest old man on TGT.
I thought ARs were so plug and play that checking headspace on a new build is never an issue?????
It's ALMOST never an issue. I have seen a few posts here and there where someone builds and AR and the headspace is off.
The issue is stacking tolerances. If the bolt and barrel are made by different companies, then the tolerances could be just far enough apart to cause excessive headspace. If you buy your bolt and barrel from the same manufacturer, especially if sold as a pair, it's less of an issue.
$35 for a GO gauge is a small investment for your safety, and for extra insurance that your shiny new AR won't spontaneously disassemble itself. I can get away with not having a NO GO or FIELD gauge by adding a layer or two of masking tape to the back of the GO gauge. The specs for all of them are out there. Just measure the thickness of the tape to figure out how many layers you need.