Would appreciate help with .223 Extractor Problems

[ADM]

Hello everyone,
 did some searching yesterday that I should have done a year ago. I bought a .223 Handi Rifle with Bull Barrel and scope a year ago. It is my first H&R rifle (I've had a .410 for a few years). It never seemed "right" but it took me a long time to get around to doing anything. I asked at the shop I bought it in the summer and they said it should eject better and they would send it back under warranty (I'm in Canada BTW). So I finally hustled in there with the gun just before my year was up, only to be told it was too close and I was on my own to ship it to get fixed.


So before I do that I'd like to know that it really isn't working right. Also, if it's something that I can do myself then I'd rather just go for it and spend the money on other things.


It seems to me that the extractor (think I've got that right ... seems the .410 has an ejector that really fires the shell out) is a bit too high and forces the top of the case against the breech too much. If I pull the extractor away a bit the cartridge slides in easily so I don't think the breech is tight or rough. I made a video to show how it operates. Hopefully it's sufficient for someone who knows how these things are supposed to work to tell me whether this is right or not. It's at

.


I'm pretty excited about finding this place as I'm keen to try some other barrels. I like the .223 but find the bull barrel heavy for carting around so am thinking of getting a regular, shorter .223 one, plus I have a pile of 30/30 ammo left from when I borrowed a Marlin when I started hunting (5 years ago). I want to use the Handi Rifle as something easy to carry and have as a "farm" gun as it's easy to load/unload (seeing as how you can't have a loaded gun on anything motorized, even on your own property).


I'm looking forward to reading more, and thanks in advance for any help.


cheers,
 Andrew

[surehuntsalot]

your rifle has an extractor,it does not have an ejector
the brass slides out just a little and you have to remove it the rest of the way with your fingers

[petemi]

He knows it is an extractor and how it is supposed to work.  The problem, I believe is too much spring tension on part #6 in the top diagram.  Tim or someone will be along to confirm that or correct me.  It should be an easy fix.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,243861.0.html

Pete

[quickdtoo]

Welcome Andrew!  As Pete said, you can reduce the pressure on the case by decreasing the arch in the extractor leaf spring, just flatten it out a little.  H&R quit making ejectors on centerfire rifles about 5yrs ago, ejectors are only used on rimfires and shotguns.

Tim

[ADM]

I'm still not sure that my expectations aren't just out of whack. It is harder than I think it should be to get the cartridge out. If I'm in town again with time I should ask to see another gun at the shop and see if it works the same.


It does seem to me that the extractor pushes on the cartridge with too much force.


It would also be better if the cartridge was pushed out a bit further. You pretty much need a fingernail to pull it out. Here's the best I can do on a pic (good camera just seems to have packed it in) showing how far it extracts:





Thanks again for the suggestions and advice.


cheers,
 Andrew

[quickdtoo]

That's the way extractors work, you'll have to remove the rear roll pin from the underlug to change the spring pressure.

Tim

[ADM]

Thanks, I was starting to wonder about that. I'll have a shot at the spring then. There might be something wedged in there since when I took the barrel out for the first time the other week there was a chunk of swarf in there that just fell out. Perhaps there's more in the spring area.


Assuming tapping out the roll pin with a punch (maybe brass to make sure not to damage stuff) is the way to go?


Thanks again.


cheers, Andrew

[quickdtoo]

A roll pin punch is the best tool, but a flat tipped nail that's that the same size as the roll pin will work fine, just make sure the punch isn't too small, or it will push the center out of the roll pin ruining it.

Tim

[petemi]

I nip the point off a number 4 finish nail and it works fine.  I don't drive it out all the way.  Just far enough to release the parts.

Pete