Problems with extraction on Howa 1500 223

[kds857]

I'm looking for ideas on what may be wrong with my Howa 1500 in 223 Rem.

Shooting only factory ammo (Fiocchi 55gr FMJ and Fed Am Eagle 50gr Varmint Tipped) about 1 of 5 will fail to extract after firing. Roughly 4 of 5 will extract very positively and hurl the brass 3 feet, but roughly 10 or 20 percent will stay in the chamber no matter how slow or fact or slight or hard I run the bolt to try to get the extractor to catch the case rim. For those I have to tap out with a rod.

Has anyone with older Howas (I bought around 2006? or so) experience this or heard of any chamber depth or bolt truing or extractor claw issues?

The extractor tension seems fine, and there are no chips in the extractor and there is no crud underneath the claw that I can see. I tried to take off the extractor but the pin won't budge even when I smack with a punch and hammer.

Is there a way to measure chambering problems without a go gauge or something like that?

Thanks-

Extractor pic:
Failure to extract (first spent cartridge extracts, second one from same box doesn't - enable sound in bottom right corner):

 

[Country]

I had to reshape my Howa extractor as the bottom face edge and the circular shape wrong , was not well formed . Mine is about the same vintage as yours . Once this was fixed it has been a real good gun.
Things to check .
Make sure no grime or garbage in the chamber , scrub the chamber .
No brass or dirt jamming the sides of the extractor claw .
Make sure the pin ejector goes below the bolt face .
Make sure the brass cases have no damage on the rims . Ex Military brass can have badly damaged rims .
Make sure you are using cases fired in that gun .
Failing that take it to a gunsmith and have a new M16 type fitted .

 

[kds857]

Thanks so much Country. I think mine may be an extractor issue as well. I was going to file a little bit, but can't seem to get the extractor pin out no matter how hard I pound it, so I guess its off to a gunsmith.

 

[Hawk in WY]

Before you do all that: They have a lifetime warranty. Return it to Las Vegas.

I have had very good experience with their customer service.

Good luck.

 

[spife7980]

Thanks so much Country. I think mine may be an extractor issue as well. I was going to file a little bit, but can't seem to get the extractor pin out no matter how hard I pound it, so I guess its off to a gunsmith.

Have you tried knocking the pin out from the other side? It may be one way only.

 

[kds857]

Thank you Hawk and Spife
My rifle is from the mid 2000s so the CS rep at Legacy said it is not under warranty (only 2017+ models lifetime warranty).
And yes, I've tried tapping from both sides. Both the ejector pin and extractor pin won't budge with a punch and a regular hammer.

I've seen some posts here that it is close to impossible to get those pins out on a howa bolt.