I recently purchased a Whitworth Mark X in .458 Win Mag. I like the rifle - fits me well, slim and manageable, and pretty accurate. Big problem? It won't eject spent cartridges at all. It just leaves the spent brass laying on the feed tray... It looks like I need two things done; manufacture/install a longer ejection pin/post and relieve the rear of the ejection port. Any suggestions on a good riflesmith for this work?

The rifle also shoots high/left. I can buy a sight adjustment tool to drift the front sight, but will still need to file down the rear shallow-V. Any suggestions there?

Thanks.

It sounds more like the problem is with the extractor, not the ejector or loading port.

Jim - Thanks. You may be quite right...but I'd be lying if I pretended to fully understand the inner workings of my rifle.

Let me try to explain what I'm seeing... The fired cases are extracted from the chamber and the bolt carries them out of the chamber smoothly. When the case base hits the ejector pin(?) it pivots right and contacts the rear of the ejector port enough to keep it from leaving the rifle - fast or slow bolt throw makes no difference. Oddly enough, perhaps due to the weight of the bullet giving them a little momentum, unfired cartridges eject okay...not well, but okay... I searched around the gunsmithing forum on AR (maybe a better place to post this) and at least one other member had a similar problem and ended up relieving the port.

I manipulated the bolt with an empty case very slowly several times and can't think of anything other than replacing the ejector pin with a longer one and relieving the rear of the port.

Thoughts?

I have shot many Mark X 458 and 375 without experienceing this problem..I think you simply have a weak extractor and perhaps you need to tweak your bolt stop..Any good smith can fix your problem in a heartbeat. Nice rifles for the money..

As to the rear sight, a brass drift punch and a 3 corner file will fix that..just be sure and keep the sides of the V even during your filing.

Roger Ferrell
130 White Oak Ct. (I think)
Fayetteville, GA

(770)460-0533

rogerwgunworks@yahoo.com

Roger can help you get it sorted out.

David Walker

quote:

It won't eject spent cartridges at all. It just leaves the spent brass laying on the feed tray...

quote:

The fired cases are extracted from the chamber and the bolt carries them out of the chamber smoothly. When the case base hits the ejector pin(?) it pivots right and contacts the rear of the ejector port enough to keep it from leaving the rifle - fast or slow bolt throw makes no difference. Oddly enough, perhaps due to the weight of the bullet giving them a little momentum, unfired cartridges eject okay...not well, but okay..

Matt,
I got one ( same rifle, same caliber ) doing the same thing. Had it to the smith once. Taking it back tomorrow. Let me know what you find and I'll do the same.

Matt, locally I use Mike McClellan -- Interarms' former gunsmith - he knows Mark Xs really intimately........ (703)739-2150

Hi Guys, This is my first post. I think I may be able to help. I have a Mark X .458 that experienced the same problem. You are correct in assumming the wieght of the bullet makes a loaded round eject. The fix is fairly simple. I welded about .125" extension on the tip of the ejector and relieved a bit of material from the rear of the ejection port ( Mostly just rounded the sharp corner).This has made mine a reliable gun. IMO, The problem is with belted cases, that belt just wants to hang up on trying to get outta there.
Another problem I had was the floorplate flying open upon firing when the gun was fully loaded. A shim under the floorplate spring solved that problem. ( If it happens again, it's gettin' screwed shut)

Randy,

Thanks and welcome to AR.

Thanks guys. I'll make some calls this weekend and get it sorted out.

Got the rifle back from my gunsmith, again, today. He said it was done yesterday after the extractor was replaced, but when I functioned-checked it with the empty case I loaned him...and it didn't eject. I went back today and he'd milled down the sbottom ide of the ejection port(?) and a wee spot inside the port and it appears to have fixed the problem. 5 of 6 function-checks ejected the shell smartly. I'll play with it at the smithy's range Saturday...

Don't know a gunsmith but do know a pretty knowledgable gun shop in Clearwater;

Deer Hunters Guns
727 724-9038

Good litte shop to go and see if there isn't something there you just 'got to have'. I have seen some fine big bores there before. Do have a group of "africa" experienced hunters who frequent there. They don't do work there but I'd bet a buck they know of a good local person.

Pete A.