Tried manually ejecting spent Hornady case.

[22_boomer]

Trick is to find a gas setting that allows the bcg to unlock just a lil makes it much easier to extract a fired case with the sidecharger.

That are install a brass catcher.

I thought about doing just that -- let the gas system break the case free and then operate by hand with the side charger. I'll get a bunch of the Hornady SST ammo and find the sweet spot on the gas block adjustment. Can't see myself in the field with a brass catcher strapped on the rifle.