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Excellent question/observation! The answer is: That's what the Field Reject gauge/specification is for.

Again, a No-Go gauge does NOT (necessarily) mean a rifle is unsafe to shoot. It just means that headspace is unacceptable for a new rifle or barrel. It also suggests (as does your question) that further investigation be done to find out how much excessive the headspace is.

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Steel cuts flesh. Steel cuts bone. Steel does not cut steel. --Stephen Hunter, The 47th Samurai.

We will march on a road of bones. --Hunter S. Thompson.

Sat Cong!

The use of "GO" and "NO-GO" gauges is during the final reaming of the chamber. "GO" tells the smith the the chamber meets minimum headspace. The "NO-GO" tells the smith to stop, he's cut enough.

Every rifle has a "Field Reject" dimension for headspace. For the 30-06 M1 the Field Reject is 0.008" longer, at 1.950," then the "GO" gauge at 1.942" for new rifles. It is 0.006" longer than the "NO-GO", at 1.944" for the same rifle.

The OP clearly stated that his chamber is 0.002" longer than the "NO-GO" gauge.

Again, the rifle is within industry standards and I would have no problem shooting that rifle.

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Douglas G. Cowan, Gunsmith

A wise man ounce said, "He who knows he knows knows nothing, he who knows he knows nothing really knows."