Running buck ,get off a good shot still on his feet ,work the bolt live round won't chamber, remove and try to rechamber,out of corner of my eye see buck fall (Nebraska cut cornfield). Turn my attention back to rifle and see it hadn't extracted the fired case.Switched to back up rifle for rest of hunt (Tikka).Ordered a new extractor and instaled it tonight same problem except for new brass. The rest of the story, it's a 6.5 x 55 remington classic lapua brass once fired with 51 grains RL 22 appeared hot backed off to 50 grains,fed match primer 10 thou. off the lands.Cases showed pressure signs at 51 grains flat primer, perceptable ring in front of head. Do I have an extractor problem or case problem?

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6.5 x 55 remington classic

When you were doing your load workup did you notice any problems? American 6.5x55 brass has a thinner rim than European brass. The extractor may not be able to snap over it. This should show up by chambering and extracting loaded rounds(safely). Is there any apparent damage to the rims of extracted rounds?

I'm using lapua brass. you can snap a round into the bolt face with no problem with the bolt out of the gun. Can't see any damage to the case rim. It doesn't do it always really bothers me that I might have to watch a big "un" run off.

quote:

Originally posted:

Do I have an extractor problem or case problem?

Yes.


Sorry for being a wise-ass Mike, but I just couldn't resist.

Surely there must be a few good gunsmiths nearby. This is the kind of puzzle thing those folks get paid to solve. I know none of us want to pay any money out if we can shade-tree it ourselves, but we have to keep those guys and their families eating.

Otherwise, they'll take up some quasi-occupation which pays a decent living, like shuffling government paper. Then where would we be when we really, really need them?

(1) The extractor must easily snap over the case and hold it, unassisted, to the bolt face. You should be able to manipulate the bolt some without the case falling out. (2) The extractor must be able to grab on to a case or a live round and extract it every time. If yours does all of this with the exception of extracting a "fired" case, then the problem is likely with the case, or the chamber. Particularly if it is a hot load.

FWIW, even though Remington extractors are a fairly simple snap in design, they do need a little tweaking to get the proper tension prior to snapping in. Also if you aren't careful how you snap it in, you can loosen it's grip. But item (1) above will catch that.

existing full time gunsmith sometimes can be found but doesn't know which end of barrel bullet exits, the good ones have had to get a job due to economy.Using norma brass in the tikka to keep loads separated in field, when I get time will adjust seating depth for rem.and try them. Just bought my wife an antique baby grand piano that could use a refinish sooooo!She deserves it.

send it up to jim kobe & have him fit a sako extractor in it

found it , its the brass previous extractor had "trimmed or rounded over edges. fed 6 new brass Lapua, and norma loaded for tikka with no problems. Thanks for the replies