Yep, another broken-extractor thread

[SDW]

Guys,

With the 123ELD and 8208 XBR I would not load above 26.2gn at 2.260" OAL.

XBR reaches the SAAMI pressure limit at 26.2gn and at that point is 99% full. Anything above 26.5 and it starts to compress. The 8208 pressure curve gets steep quickly when compressed, and when it gets to compressed it is already over pressure. That's why it is so unforgiving. Your gun is being hammered to death and the weakest link is the extractor.

Find a stronger extractor and it will be bolt lugs next.

First off, I'm not here to argue, just to discuss. I'm curious about your data. Hogden's data for XBR and 123gr bullets lists a max of 28.5gr (compressed). I kinda had that in mind as I was figuring my workups. I was half a grain shy of that. They don't say if their data is for bolt gun or AR, I'll admit, but it is repeated in may places, including the "6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbook". And as I was seating bullets I was feeling for compression. I'm sure the bullets did displace some powder up and around, but there was no feel or sound of 'crunch'. Further, this site is full of anecdotal info on people going up to and a slightly beyond 28 gr of XBR under 123gr bullets of various makes. Is there something unusual about the ELDs that require more conservative loadings?

And I'm not saying I think your info is wrong Clem. I guess I'm saying that based on most available data I've seen, I think I had a foundation to at least try the powder weights I did.

In any case, I've already observed that this powder is not the best choice for this rifle. I was getting better results from TAC and AA2520.

That timing difference of where your brass is landing is telling you what the problem is and why you broke the extractor.

It's over gassing and trying to extract the case while its pressured to high to do so.

Call AA and see if they have an extractor or 2 instock. If they do, buy them, install and do something about the overgassing issue of your load and buffer setup.

Anything past 3 o'clock is overgassed.

Makes sense. And it's what I suspected. I didn't mention it before, but that is when my groups really opened up and SD widened noticeably.

I'm surprised my rifle would be overgassed, being that it's rifle with a RLG system (~0.092" port) and a standard rifle buffer, 5 oz? But given enough pressure, anything will become overgassed.

BTW, I wrote to BRA and told them about the issue with their web site. They fixed it quickly and so I ordered two of their extractors.

Yes heavier buffer by useing tungsten weights and can go with a heavier bcg if need be.

His load does sound a bit hot. And I'm sure that isn't helping his parts lifespan. But he could adjust the buffer weight and slow the unlocking down and get the rifle better gassed.

If I'm not mistaken this isn't the first extractor he has broke.

You are mistaken, but that's alright.

Just to emphasize, I never said I was interested in building my rifle to handle ultra hot loads. I'm not sure how you guys came to that assumption. This issue came up while doing work-up testing, which often for various reasons to leads to dead ends.

I just came here to ask about finding a replacement extractor.