Extractor Problems

[Bjorn]

New AA Grendel. 37 rounds through it with two failures to extract. Two cartridges stuck in chamber. New rifles ought to run. Should I just go ahead and replace the extractor? If so, any aftermarket extractors recommended?

[montana]

New AA Grendel. 37 rounds through it with two failures to extract. Two cartridges stuck in chamber. New rifles ought to run. Should I just go ahead and replace the extractor? If so, any aftermarket extractors recommended?

Did you check the head space? Factory ammunition, reload??

[Bjorn]

Factory. Hornady 123 SSTs.

[montana]

When your two cartridges stuck in the chamber, did your extractor pull off the rim and fail to extract?? How did you remove the stuck cartridges??

[VASCAR2]

If I needed an extractor I’d order some from Black Rifle Arms.


https://www.blackriflearms.com/-65-Grend...p_297.html

[Bjorn]

When your two cartridges stuck in the chamber, did your extractor pull off the rim and fail to extract?? How did you remove the stuck cartridges??

Rims were on. Used a cleaning rod to extract.

[montana]

Rims were on. Used a cleaning rod to extract.

Clean your chamber good and then remove your upper from your lower. Lightly push a factory cartridge in your clean chamber and then point the end of the barrel up. Your cartridge should fall out or stick very little. If the cartridge sticks then you may have a chamber or head space problem. I would also check to see if your extractor has the o-ring installed. Remove the O-ring if it does and see if this helps. I have seen the O-ring create feeding and extraction problems with Grendel bolts..

[VASCAR2]

Having the AR-15 over gassed can contribute to extractor failures. I had this trouble with my 16” carbine length gas system 6.5 Grendel. I had to watch which ammo I used till I bought an adjustable carrier key from Rubber City Armory. I had one extractor fail and was having sizing issues on fired cases because the bolt was unlocking to soon before pressure had dropped. My barrel had to large of a gas port for the 6.5 Grendel cartridge. My barrel was plenty accurate but the burn rate and powder charge on some reloads had more over gas effect than most factory ammo.

[montana]

Having the AR-15 over gassed can contribute to extractor failures. I had this trouble with my 16” carbine length gas system 6.5 Grendel. I had to watch which ammo I used till I bought an adjustable carrier key from Rubber City Armory. I had one extractor fail and was having sizing issues on fired cases because the bolt was unlocking to soon before pressure had dropped. My barrel had to large of a gas port for the 6.5 Grendel cartridge. My barrel was plenty accurate but the burn rate and powder charge on some reloads had more over gas effect than most factory ammo.

I had the same problem but I never experienced any cartridges getting stuck in the chamber. Did you experience stuck cartridges in the chamber with an oversized gas port?

[VASCAR2]

I don’t think I did but a Friend had a Satern/Liberty 18” barrel that was sold by Brownell’s. His barrel was over gassed plus a chamber on the short side. He experienced failure to extract plus quickly had the extractor break. I think he might of broke a bolt but it’s been several years ago and I don’t remember for sure. He ended up going to an adjustable gas block which solved his problem. He mostly shot hand loads but had to seat factory ammo deeper to function. His barrel was pretty darn accurate and he opted not to send it back since he mostly shot hand loads. My Friend’s go to load was 123 grain SST with LeveRevolution in Lapua brass with CCI 450’s. His rifle would shoot MOA groups at 900 meters with that load.

[Bjorn]

How do I attach pictures?

[Bjorn]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18330[/ATTACH]

[Bjorn]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18331[/ATTACH]

[montana]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18331[/ATTACH]

Did you try putting a factory cartridge by hand in the chamber??

[Bjorn]

Yes, just now after your post. Tried three new ones and they all slide in and then just drop out with gravity. No shaking even. The rounds that failed to extract were factory Hornady 123 SSTs. The test I just did was with the same ammunition.

[Bjorn]

Could it be the extractor is simply failing to attach to the rim? This is a brand new rifle from Alexander. It should not have gassing problems. However, it shouldn't have failure to extract problems at this early stage either.

[montana]

If it is a completely new rifle from AA, I would call them before I did anything on the rifle. No need to void any warranties..

[VASCAR2]

Sorry I missed this was a new AA rifle. I doubt this new rifle would be over gassed. It’s possible the gas block is not aligned properly or might be under gassed. The symptoms of over gassed and under gassed can be very similar. I’d be surprised if AA barrel had to large of a gas port.

You should be gtg with factory ammo and I think I would contact AA. I wouldn’t replace the extractor on a new rifle without first contacting the vendor. The only thing I might do is remove the O ring of the extractor spring and try a few more rounds ensuring the barrel/chamber and BCG were clean. If it still failed I’d contact AA.

[montana]

Sorry I missed this was a new AA rifle. I doubt this new rifle would be over gassed. It’s possible the gas block is not aligned properly or might be under gassed. The symptoms of over gassed and under gassed can be very similar. I’d be surprised if AA barrel had to large of a gas port.

You should be gtg with factory ammo and I think I would contact AA. I wouldn’t replace the extractor on a new rifle without first contacting the vendor. The only thing I might do is remove the O ring of the extractor spring and try a few more rounds ensuring the barrel/chamber and BCG were clean. If it still failed I’d contact AA.

I didn't realize it was a new rifle either, he is a little light on the info. My 18" AA barrel had an over sized gas port, so it is possible. Looking at his picture the shot casing never ejected from the chamber, yet the bcg picked up another cartridge and jammed it into the stuck case. I doubt the rifle is under gassed as an under gassed rifle would have short stroked and not stripped another round. Without testing the rifle in person, it looks like an extractor or head space problem to me, but it could be a number of other causes. I agree with removing the extractor O-ring if the rifle has one, they can cause more feeding and extraction problems than they solve. Sometimes the Grendel extractor claw and ejector needs to be modified for optimum extraction. With a new factory built rifle,I would always let the manufacturer fix the problem.

[bigdaddyjak]

I would definitely try removing the o ring . Just stick an extractor from something else. I used one from
7.62x39 and vice versa just to get me going until another one came in