Yep, another broken-extractor thread

[A5BLASTER]

Thank you for the info!

I'm sure you're right about it being overgassed by design. Kind of funny though, w/o the 'modern' deflector the brass seems to go any which way. At least it does with my old M16a1 upper. So I don't know if we could use the 'O'clock' method as reliably I don't think, anyway. I never experimented with light an heavy loads in that upper to see what the brass would do consistently. And it's getting off topic.

Well best of luck to you and your extractors.

[SDW]

Thank you. And to you and yours as well.

I don't expect to break another one anytime soon. But at least I'll have a spare one, just in case.

[BluntForceTrauma]

I sell the exact same bolt as Black Rifle Arms, so I can't say anything bad about 'em! (Although my price is $55, not $75 — and not $85 like BA. Good to be in The Horde! )

I've had two customers break extractors on my bolts — and these are the correct Grendel-specific extractors with the unusual "hump" near the head of the extractor, rather than the scallops that you see in a 5.56 extractor. This hump is necessary because of the larger Grendel rim diameter. Anyway, extractors sometimes break for various reasons. The claw will typically rip off at the extractor groove juncture. Nature of the beast — and it's good to have a spare whether you're 5.56 or Grendel.

I've tweaked my bolt design so that my next batch will be slightly improved over the current model that Black Rifle Arms and I sell, having a slightly thicker rim upon which the lugs sit. I'm also working on slightly improved extractor specs, but it's hard to get any manufacturer interested these days when they're selling everything they have flat out.

[SDW]

Thanks for chiming in BFT. Good to hear about the new design. I'm waiting eagerly for your bolts to arrive. And this experience has me thinking I should be stowing my one spare 5.56 bolt in my shooting bag, not in the spares box in the garage.

BTW I hope this one misguided experiment hasn't branded me as reckless. I'm starting to think that maybe it has. Oh well.

[Mad Charlie]

BFT, when do you think the new design bolt will be available? And can I pre-pay/ order?
I have a spare Monster bolt, but I have more than one rifle.

[Klem]

And this experience has me thinking I should be stowing my one spare 5.56 bolt in my shooting bag, not in the spares box in the garage.

BTW I hope this one misguided experiment hasn't branded me as reckless. I'm starting to think that maybe it has. Oh well.

SD,

Not reckless at all - this calibre is relatively new and continues to inform as everyone shares experience. How will we ever know the limits if they don't fail. It could also have been a faulty part, but the load suggests otherwise.

Grendel is already a 223 on steroids and at the upper limit for what the AR15 will tolerate. Add to that experimenting with peak pressures and it is unforgiving.

You are not the only one who carries spares to the firing point.
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[BluntForceTrauma]

MC, new bolt Mk136 Mod1 bolts are supposed to be finishing up this week and then shipping out to me next week.

[SDW]

You are not the only one who carries spares to the firing point.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17787[/ATTACH]

Great idea. And I have a USGI surplus A1 stock on mine. It's got the trapdoor and compartment, which at the moment isn't even being used. I think I'll do the same as you. A little more weight in the stock probably isn't a bad thing.

[SDW]

I've had two customers break extractors on my bolts — and these are the correct Grendel-specific extractors with the unusual "hump" near the head of the extractor, rather than the scallops that you see in a 5.56 extractor. This hump is necessary because of the larger Grendel rim diameter. Anyway, extractors sometimes break for various reasons. The claw will typically rip off at the extractor groove juncture. Nature of the beast — and it's good to have a spare whether you're 5.56 or Grendel.

I received these in the mail yesterday. Just as you say, these have reinforcements rather than scallops. I have high confidence in them.

Funny thing though, I had a bear of a time getting the extractor spring to snap in place. I guess BRA makes their holes a little tighter than some others.

[Edddyjoe]

Anybody use white label armory extractors? I have around 100 rds through 1.

[trdjohn]

I recently bought 2 of white labels, they don't look like the extractors on BFT's bolts, they'd prolly work in a pinch, but now I have 2 back up extractors for my 5.56 bolts which I needed anyway.