The extractor on my 700 280ai need to be replaced. Should I just buy a new one from Brownells and install it myself, or send it out to have the Sako style extractor installed?. Is the Sako style that much better? This is my primary rifle and gets a ton of use so I would like to go the best possible route. Is there any negative issues about converting to the sako style? I guess I should mention my extractor is the older riveted type.
If I decide to have the Sako style installed, can anyone recommend a good 'smith to do this?
Thanks

Tlp335,

The factory extractor generally works fine as is. The riveted type are not exactly user friendly unless you have a way to support the head of the rivet while flattening it. Brownell's sells a riveting tool like the one I use, and works quite well.

The Sako style extractor requires some precision machining and fitting to install correctly, but once it is correctly installed, it should last a lifetime, knock on wood.

The only time I recommend changing extractor types on the Remingtons, is where replacement extractors are few and far between like the older 721's and the like, when opening a bolt face, as in caliber change, or if the weapon will be used in situations where the failure of the factory extractor might cost a life.

Of course, if you have an abundance of cash you're just dying to spend, then the Sako modification on your 700 will certainly aleviate you of some of that burden...

Riveted extractors are not easily replaced in the field without carrying excess tools, whereas the Sako style can be replaced relatively quickly if necessary.

Good luck,

Malm

Another consideration is safety. I have heard of a few conversions to Sako extractors that have failed because of case ruptures. In such an event the Sako extractor can exit the action and injure the shooter or bystanders. It's happened.

Pat

The original Remington extractor is good if you ever experience a case seperation or high pressure primer failure, etc. The "three rings of steel" really do work. However, I've put Sako type extractors in a number of my own rifles and like them but would never allow a left-handed person to shoot one of them. The reason is as pointed out above, the extractor can be blown out and cause serious injury.
Accidents do happen.

For years I've been trying to verify this "Sako extractor in the shooters eye" accident that we read about everytime someone mentions a Sako extractor. I've yet to see any real proof of this ever happening. If anyone knows of a real life accident where the extractor exited the rifle in a malfunction, I'd like to hear about it. With verifiable sources......

I have sako extractors on all of my 700 hunting rifles.I have had one factory extractor fail and that is why my rifles now have the sako extractor installed.

I too have never seen or heard of a Sako style extractor letting go. The body of the extractor sits low inside the bolt body. To remove the extractor, one must depress a spring loaded plunger while lifting the nose of the extractor up and away from the bolt.

If you study the relationship between the bolt nose, extractor and bolt nose recess at the breech, roughly .150 of the nose of the extractor sits sandwiched between the bolt nose and the bolt nose recess. I can't see enough space for the extractor to move which could cause the extractor to come out.

I would think that it would take a tremendous fragmentation of the breech of the barrel and bolt for the extractor to cause such a problem. I think if this were to happen, a loose piece of extractor coming back at ones eye might be the least of ones worries. Or not.

Having installed a lot of these, I would feel about as safe having an action come apart with the Sako style extractor installed in the bolt as I would without it...


Regards,

Malm

A fellow at the Lake Houston gun club had a sako extractor installed in a Remington by a local smith. I do not know if it was installed properly however I know the extractor was doing it's job at extracting.. The rifle was chambered in .243imp. A case failure occured and the sako extractor exited striking the shooter above the eye and it lodged in his brain. He survived but extractor remains in his brain. This happened about five years ago and is common knowledge among shooters of that club in Houston.

If the action is the typical right-bolt/right-port, I don't know how that thing could hit you above the eye?!..

It can't come out on "the face side" of the action, 'cause the port is on the opposite (wrong) side. It would have to squirt down one of the lug recesses, then how does it go up 2" plus after it leaves the action, and end up above the (eye level of the) scope?...

Maybe it deflected off of something else first?

Another reason it is RB/RP for me.

Just my opinion,

Bill

I wish I knew for sure, but the fellow could have been left handed in which case the blow back would have had a straight shot at him.. I wasn't present when the accident happened but know some of the guys that were and believe the story is 100% true..
I did drive up to a range in west Texas, just before a BR match, when a fellow had changed barrels on his rifle. He had mistakenly installed a barrel headspace for another action and when touched off the first shot a head seperation occured. His face looked like he had been shot with a shotgun from 20 or 30 yards out. I couldn't begin to guess how many puncture wounds he had. Nothing serious however, and his eyesight was saved by a good pair of shooting glasses. I'm pretty sure the incident didn't benifit his match scores !!!!