Gunsmithing Broken extractor?!?

[Niles Coyote]

I was at the range the last two days taking advantage of the high BP as it’s not the norm and wanted the experience... any who, shot 5 from my 308 and the last shell didn’t extract. Played around with the bolt some thinking it may just have some crap under the extractor but it was clean. I tried a few other empties and zero extraction on all of them. Final check was to pull the bolt and see if I could hand fit a shell base in the bolt and get the extractor to catch on the rim... Nope.

So I think it safe to say the extractor is toast. Any of you have any tips for replacing it? I ordered an extractor from Brownells and some dental picks already.

**Update**
Link to my DIY
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...-i-y-remington-old-style-rivet-extractor.html

 

[excess]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

What rifle is it?

If its a 700 is the extractor rivited in or not?

Pictures may well be worth a million words here.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

LOL, yes that would help.

Remington 700 308 short action mid 80's I think. I don’t recall seeing a rivet.

 

[excess]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

If its not rivited the extractor is just a semi-circle that snaps in place. Use a small screwdriver to pry the end away from the ejector out. Put the new one in by first inserting the end closest to the ejector, then use a small punch to pry the the other end over the bolt face shroud, allowing it to snap down in place.

 

[Gene Poole]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

I just replaced one myself a few days ago. Pretty simple, just use common sense and don't force it to bend to the point of deformation. As long as your old extractor is out, get a fine wire brush and solvent and clean out the extractor groove.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

On closer inspection it is a riveted extractor and it appears to have broken at the rivet.

 

[excess]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

You might be able to remove the rivet and use a rivetless replacement - not sure on that. Seems to make sense it would break at the rivet - classic fatigue failure at a notch.

 

[Gene Poole]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You might be able to remove the rivet and use a rivetless replacement - not sure on that. Seems to make sense it would break at the rivet - classic fatigue failure at a notch. </div></div>

I don't think so. They are fairly different shapes: the rivetless ones have tangs that fit into grooves in the bolt nose that the riveted versions don't have.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

Looked around online, no one has a remington rivet anvil instock that I can find.

I had it suggested to switch to a m16, any down sides?

Looks like if I farm this job out or buy the tool (dont have a machine to build one myself) Id be about 1/2 way to the cost of a m16 style.

 

[2156SMK]

Re: Broken extractor?!?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had it suggested to switch to a m16, any down sides?</div></div>

Sometimes, the brass will impact your scope knob and bounce back into the action.

 

[DoBro308]

If you have some flat steel, 3/16” thick, say 4”x4”, you can make an anvil to stake your rivet nicely, with just a file and time. Look at the anvil Brownell’s is selling, to get the idea of the shape. The problem is adjusting the extractor to fit the bolt face, grab the shell rim, and toss the shell in the right direction. Reading the instructions from Brownell, doesn’t make sense. Bend the ends of the extractor “in”, then straighten the end of the extractor, opposite the rivet, about 1/8”. Anyone know how to adjust the extractor? Is it done before or after staking the rivet?

 

[jetmd]

You do realize this thread is over 10 years old?

 

[DoBro308]

No I honestly didn’t, being new to this or any other forum. I’ll be more careful from now on. Got more responses from my lack of observation of a date, than to a viable search of an answer to my question. Go figure.