I have a Ruger 77 MKII in 223 that will not eject fired cases. If you place a fired case in the chamber and dry fire then work the bolt it will eject. It will also eject live rounds. Any Ideas ? The rifle is factory stock.
Thanks !

From my own personal experience with Rugers.....this is normal...

hmm...

What is different about extracting and ejecting a just-fired round, versus placing a pre-fired empty case in, dry firing, then extracting/ejecting?

I don't own a Ruger 77, but from my knowledge of similar actions I can't think of a difference. If you can answer that question I think you could find a solution.

quote:

Originally posted by leemar28:
I have a Ruger 77 MKII in 223 that will not eject fired cases. If you place a fired case in the chamber and dry fire then work the bolt it will eject. It will also eject live rounds. Any Ideas ? The rifle is factory stock.
Thanks !

The Mark II uses a blade ejector that enters a slot in the left side of the bolt to eject the fired case. There may be some dirt/gunk in the groove it rides in that is causing it to stick in recoil.

Does it extract the fired casing from the chamber?

Bobster...No dirt or gunk
Rick... Extract's fine. just wont kick the fired hull out.

Bobster hit on something though... the variable is recoil. Something must be shifting when it fires and causing the blade ejector to not fully engage in the slot when the bolt is withdrawn. I would check for any binding in this area.

Pull the bolt back and observe if the end of the ejector projects beyond it's slot in the bolt face. Inspect the ejector for damage(breaks, chipping, bent). Remove the bolt and press on the ejector to see if it moves and is sticking somehow. Are you using hot loads? Any pressure signs? (might cause fired case to stick to bolt face) Do you briskly throw the bolt back to eject or are you doing it slowly.

Ejector is fine and seems to be working as it should. I am beginning to think it's the extracter. May need tuning like a 1911's ??

No hot loads. Does the same with factory or my hand loads. No pressure sighns either. Work the bolt hard of easy makes no difference. Throw's loaded and empty cases just fine.........

OK, dumb question, but if the ejector seems to be working fine and you suspect the extractor, can I ask if the extractor is slipping off the rim of a fired case?

'Cause if so, then it is a completely different issue...

"Extract's fine. just wont kick the fired hull out."

Is the case dropping off the bolt face into the magazine before it reaches the extractor or does it stay stuck under the extractor? How do you remove the fired case from the bolt? Does the fired case feel tightly held in the extractor?
Press down on the forward end of the ejector. Does it spring back up?

The case does not drop off the bolt face. It stays under the extracter. I can pluck the case out with my fingers. It is not tight, and is almost free of the extracter.
Ejector springs back up. If I put the just fired case back in the chamber and cycle the bolt it kicks it out just like it is supposed to.

The next time you fire it, remove the case from the bolt face before it reaches the ejector. Observe if the ejector projects through it's slot as the bolt is fully drawn back. If not, then something in recoil may be jamming it. Try sliding the ejector forward and back in it's slot. If it slides forward, do the spring up test again to check for any problems. My only other recommendation w/o the gun in my hands is to call Ruger tech support.

Fired the rifle, removed the case before it engaged the ejector. Pulled the bolt all the way back (slowly) ejector came up in to place correctly. Fired it again, and worked the bolt normaly.Case was at an angle not quite clear of extractor. Looked like the ejector was pushing the case up ward and not kicking it free from the extractor.

Sounds like the ejector is not snapping up fast enough after firing for some reason. May be debris under the blade or in it's hinge. Could also be a broken or damaged ejector spring. Did the rifle just start doing this or has it been this way since you got it? Try removing the action from the stock, look for debris under the ejector channel. Inspect the spring for damage or twisting. Pull the ejector blade forward and see if it's nose is catching on the front of the slot. Take a poly spray bottle rated for pesticides, fill it with mineral spirits, set the nozzle to stream and blast the ejector top and bottom. Dry out and re-oil. Try again.

I see two variables at work here when testing by chambering a fire case and extracting where you say it is ejected from the action normally. When firing a live round and extracting the case, there is not only the recoil effect but also the effect of recocking.

I'm assuming that when you chamber and extract a fired case you are not 'firing' on the empty case i.e. the bolt is staying cocked throughout the chambering and extracting procedure. If this is so then there are two variables to consider. Try chambering a fired case, 'firing' the case, then extract and see what happens with ejection.

I have tried it both ways. It will always kick the fired case out.
Bobster, The spring is fine and it has always done this. It's a stainless rifle by the way. Not that should make any difference. I will pull it down this evening.

The ejector goes down into a slot in the magazine well and if the sheet metal magazine box is mis-seated or has a defect?? there could be pressure on the ejector that will be made worse by recoil. Open the floor plate and shine a light up in the mag well and operate the bolt to see what I mean. Look for a worn spot on the mag box. I have not had your issue but I have had a failure of the ejector to fully seat down and thus interfere with loading the 4th round.
dmw