I bought a new 1885 Winchester in 22 hornet
Shot 20 shots of a load that I use in two bolt action 22 hornet rifles.
About half the cases stuck in the chamber with the extractor pulling past the rim.
I was able to pull the cases with a bent piece of wire
The cases were a little stuck but not bad.
It was new Hornady brass.
Any ideas what my problem?

When cases stick in a single shot chamber it is generally the result of too much pressure. Single shots, including the M1885, do not have the camming power of a bolt action to assist with extraction and will not tolerate high pressures as well. I have found this to be the case in a variety of single shots.

Thanks Rogers.

quote:

Originally posted by RogersGunWorks:
When cases stick in a single shot chamber it is generally the result of too much pressure. Single shots, including the M1885, do not have the camming power of a bolt action to assist with extraction and will not tolerate high pressures as well. I have found this to be the case in a variety of single shots.

For sure! A happy single shot does not stick the case in the chamber at all, and a high wall especially does not apply great force to extraction. Most single shot rifles use the force of the lever against the extractor to do the job. There are a few that move the extractor by a less effective system, it's contact with the block; the high wall Winchester, the Sharps Borchardt, I think, the H and A, and perhaps some others.

I went back to my range and shot this rifle again. I took some loads that were well under max. The first trip and this trip I used all new Hornady brass. With these light loads, at least half did not eject. I pushed them out with a cleaning rod and it seemed they were not stuck at all. There was no resistance on the cleaning rod as I ejected them.
And I also brought along 15 rounds of 22 hornet in Win brass that I use in two Anschutz bolt guns. These were loaded to the max per my loading manuals. 100% of these ejected just fine in my new 1885.
It seems I have some Hornady brass that does not work in this new Win 1885.

Is the extractor on your high wall different than an original high wall? I only know the latter and it would not be possible for it to not extract with a rimmed case if the action opens and nothing breaks! If your extractor is spring loaded to handle rimless cases, that is a different critter! Well beyond my elderly experience!

I’m not familiar with the original extractors on these rifles, sorry.

hornady brass in hornet is a no no for me the sticking i have experienced before and in forming 22k hornet was a minor disaster - perhaps 1 out of 7 or 8 worked

Interesting. I measured the hornady and Winchester brass, and can not find a difference, but the Winchester works and the hornady does not work.

Thanks for making those measurements. I wondered about that.
Having a pilferer of K hornet, what is the preferred brass?

It may be the Hornady brass.

I have a partial box of Hornady #8302 35 grain Varmint Express in 22 Hornet that I'll never sell or pass on. Approxiamately one fourth of the shots fired had a radial crack near the base and I got lightly sprayed in the face with powder by a couple rounds. Both those rounds were cracked as well of course. I think they were loaded hot and/or the case (possibly thinner than those made by other manufacturers?) couldn't handle the stress.
Just one experience. I saw no measurable difference between the Hornady brass and RWS or Winchester brass. Both other brands performed without issue.
CB

The 50 22H Hornady brass that I “had” went out with the trash. The Win brass that I tried has been shot multiple times in my Anschutz hornets, but it works fine in my 1885. I did kill a coyote with it ten days ago.

cut back two grains and see what happens, case design of the Hornet has a lot of back thrust..

Ray, thanks. That was what I thought might be the issue.
I did try some much lighter loads but the results did not change. I’ve measured the Hornady brass and Winchester brass. I can not find a difference in dimension. The Winchester works and the Hornady did not work.