wisdom of the crowd

[BluntForceTrauma]

i took the bolt apart and checked it out... i have noticed the rims of the cases do show marks from the extractor...so i slicked it up a touch

I'm still fixated on the extractor. If the corners of the extractor are too sharp, it can hang onto the brass longer than it should and pull it back into the receiver. This would argue for not shortening and weakening — just yet — the ejector spring. My opinion is you're on the right track by filing down those sharp fangs. I'd "defang" it and try shooting it again before doing anything else drastic. Focus on that one variable before muddying the waters changing other variables at the same time.

As I mentioned, I can always send a loaner bolt that's already "defanged" from the factory.