Used Contender Carbine .223 misfires and won't extract

[bee2rad]

Bought a used TC Contender in .223 for my son's 12th bd.  It is 15 or 20 years old.  We were excited to shoot it but the upon the first shot we quickly learned it will not extract the spent brass- we must feed the cleaning rod down the muzzle to push the spent case out- kind of a kill joy but not as bad as what happened next---

A few shots later- click..... nothing happened; brass is dimpled but did not fire.  Cocked and squeezed the trigger again, boom, it fired.  Sometimes it shoots first time, sometimes second or third time.  We had just cleaned the rifle.  Ammo was Armscor USA Precision 223 Rem 55 gr FMJ.

What are my options to properly correct these two issues?  If this topic has already been addressed, would you mind pasting the link in your reply?   Thanks

[Czech_too]

When you say a "used TC Contender", is this both frame and barrel?  If so then I would look at replacing the hammer spring and the extractor.  A call to the factory should secure the necessary parts.

[HTS]

try checking out mike bellms website.bellmstc's all misfire issues with thompson center will be revealed to you i cant put the link in here cause i dont know how im a 1 finger typist and not real computer savvy.just google it!

[skb2706]

As was mentioned weak hammer spring. Also if the gun has a hammer spur, take it off. The extractor for a .223 should be spring loaded to force the extractor edge in the groove of the rimless case. Could just need cleaned up or maybe broke/missing flat spring inside. The extractor is held in with a roll pin and you can tap it out and check fairly easy.

Hammer spring replacement is a bit more of a deal but still doable in a few minutes. Call TC and they will send you a hammer spring...usually free. Come back and I can tell you how to do it.

If all else fails, sell it to me cheap.

[Hopalong7]

     I'm not familiar with that ammo, but a lot of 223 stuff is known to pretty hot and often stick in the chamber.  Lots of my loads will have the brass fall out if I raise the muzzle or else be very easy to tap out.  Just the weight of the cleaning rod should be about enough to knock it out.  The extractor is fairly simple and "bullet proof".  I don't recall breaking one in 40 years of Contendering.  As pointed out however, the rimless cases like the 223 can have a problem because of the necessity of being spring loaded(Have I ever mentioned that I like rimmed cases).  Also, some less than premium ammo sometimes have some pretty tough primers.  What I'm trying to say is that it may not be entirely the guns fault.
Good Luck! Walt 

[bee2rad]

Thank you all for the information.  PMC Bronze ammo wasn't any better, so the rifle is looking more culpable.  I ordered new hammer spring, firing pin spring, firing pin, and extractor today from TC.  About $18 with shipping.  I will update everyone when those are installed and tested.

[G Curtis]

The extractor issue has been covered but I am surprised that an obvious thing to check has not been mentioned.

If the barrel lock up to the frame is not complete the safeties will block the hammer from dropping all of the way to the firing pin. Slight dimple in primer will result. Dirt, lack of lube and/or a tight locking lug will cause this. The first clue to this was when you mentioned it working on the second try, often the lock up will be better on the second try.

I don't know how many barrels I have had to shave the locking lug with a file to get it to lock up in my frame.

Not saying this is your problem for sure, just something to check.

[bee2rad]

Had a busy semester with school so this is a few months late, additionally, it took TC about 9 weeks to process and ship my order (the extractor was on backorder) but to update all of you that so kindly helped and anyone else who may have the same trouble, new firing pin spring, hammer spring, and extractor solved the problems- fires and extracts everytime now.  Thanks to all.