m1 extractor breaks

solo 1 · 04-12-2008, 11:40 PM

Each time I fire my m1 the extractor breaks and leaves the shell in the chamber. Anybody know whats up? It breaks above the lip on the side of the bolt in the area that is flat. Have tried three different bolts all with the same result.

M14man · 04-13-2008, 12:03 AM

If you have put more than 1 extractor in properly, and it breaks; I would suspect a problem in the chamber. Where is the extractor breaking? The lips, where it grabs the rim, or higher? If you can't figure it out, a trip to a reliable gunsmith may be in order.

mitch_mckee · 04-13-2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14man

If you have put more than 1 extractor in properly, and it breaks; I would suspect a problem in the chamber. Where is the extractor breaking? The lips, where it grabs the rim, or higher? If you can't figure it out, a trip to a reliable gunsmith may be in order.

+1

yea, that ought not be happening.

The carbine is a military weapon and were made to refurbish with new parts until the barrel wears out. That was pretty much an assembly line process and worked.

Your M1 carbine ought to be "plug-and-play" with that kind of repair.

solo 1 · 04-13-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solo 1

Each time I fire my m1 the extractor breaks and leaves the shell in the chamber. Anybody know whats up?

It breaks above the lip, on the side of the bolt, where it is flat.

MrJitters · 04-13-2008, 01:24 PM

Not using Wolf ammo by any chance are you?

jimb2 · 04-13-2008, 10:28 PM

Hey Jits, I was going to ask the same thing. The other question is what kind of carbine is it and what kind of extractor? If it is a late Universal and a GI extractor, that could be the problem.

solo 1 · 04-14-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solo 1

Each time I fire my m1 the extractor breaks and leaves the shell in the chamber. Anybody know whats up?

It breaks above the lip on the side where the bolt is flat. Have tried three different bolts with the same result.

M14man · 04-14-2008, 06:41 PM

Still can't picture where that is. Have you tried manually cycling and see if it extracts unfired rounds OK? If it does but breaks, I would say chamber problems. Does the extractor break right away, or after numerous shots? Have you tried good factory brass cased ammo?

LarryO1970 · 04-14-2008, 06:43 PM

Just as MrJitters asked ... are you using Wolf ammo ?

solo 1 · 04-14-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14man

Still can't picture where that is. Have you tried manually cycling and see if it extracts unfired rounds OK? If it does but breaks, I would say chamber problems. Does the extractor break right away, or after numerous shots? Have you tried good factory brass cased ammo?

To M14man, first off thank you for your input so far. Now back to my m1.
I tried manually cycling(your suggestion) and noticed the lip of the extractor is not catching the lip of the shell.The bolt/and extractor lip stops at the very bottom of the shell, which explains why the extractor breaks each time I fire it.The extractor must not be opening up to accept the lip of the shell,therefore its unable to pull the shell out and the force of the shell firing breaks the extractor just beyond the peg(what holds the extractor in place) on the outside edge where it is flat, if my thinking is right.Got anymore thoughts on the situation. And I am using good factory brass ammo I believe( using UMC or American Eagle by Federal Cartridge Company)

M14man · 04-14-2008, 11:36 PM

What amazes me is that the firing pin can hit the primer with the shell in front of the extractor.If it is as I picture the FP should not be able to reach. Is the extractor installed correctly? There is a pin and srring that holds it in place. See photo. The extractor should be able to jump the lip if a shell was in the chamber and the bolt was then closed. Not the best for the gun, but it should jump it. Now that you describe it, I don't see it as a chamber issue anymore. This has happened with 3 bolts though. The problem seems to be in the extractor-spring-plunger relationship. You can test the extractor "springability" with the bolt out of the gun and slipping a fired shell in and prying. If you can't resolve, explain what you have found to a competant gunsmith.Note how the plunger nestles in the notch in the extractor. Yours may be pinned in preventing it from springing open. Let us know how you fare.

jimb2 · 04-15-2008, 09:27 AM

I'm asking again....what kind of carbine? This may be a very big part of the problem! Your carbine should NOT fire unless the bolt is completely closed. The only exceptions to this are either a late Universal or an extreme headspace problem. In either case, the resulting problem could end up in a potentially fatal explosion! I've done carbine smithing for years. I know what I'm doing with carbines. The problem you are having is very serious and I recommend that you do NOT fire the carbine again until the problen is corrected.

solo 1 · 04-15-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb2

I'm asking again....what kind of carbine? This may be a very big part of the problem! Your carbine should NOT fire unless the bolt is completely closed. The only exceptions to this are either a late Universal or an extreme headspace problem. In either case, the resulting problem could end up in a potentially fatal explosion! I've done carbine smithing for years. I know what I'm doing with carbines. The problem you are having is very serious and I recommend that you do NOT fire the carbine again until the problen is corrected.

The markings under the rear sight are Fed Inc. ,then S.E.M. Which I believe S.E.M. was a makeshift company out of Calif. I have only fired the gun three times with three different bolts and have not fired it since due to the same reason you mentioned. I've retried reloading manually today and the extractor does catch the shell by the lip. When I checked yesterday on m14's suggestion I didn't just release the slide and let it spring back alone by its self. I made the mistake of not taking my grip off the slide. So, I was wrong in stating the bolt and extractor butted up against the bottom of the shell.Also the shell,with the bolt pulled back easily falls out of the chamber(barrel) on its own. So I know thats not a problem. Last time I fired it. The shell was ejected, but the next shell(2nd) did not enter the chamber. Stopped just before entering the barrel. Along with the extractor breaking each time. And thank you also for your input.

Checkout my message to jimb 2. (#13)

M14man · 04-15-2008, 08:13 PM

Well we are back to square one....just because it extracts an unfired cartridge does not rule out a chamber problem. The case expands when fired. Short of examining the gun myself, I would say get it to a gunsmith.

jimb2 · 04-16-2008, 12:06 AM

It is a Federal Ordnance Inc. Carbine. The S.E.M. stands for South El Monte California. It predates the National Ordnance carbine made in the same place. If I were you, I would have the chamber inspected. Its beginning to sound like someone may have tried to polish the chamber and ended up making it uneven. Either that or the face of the barrel isn't cut right. Can you show us pictures of what is actually happening? I can't understand how an extractor can break unless it is slamming into something or the lip is being ripped off by a stuck case.

christfs · 04-22-2008, 10:34 PM

Great gun to shoot - highly reliable - grat for east coast hunting.

I have had both M1 and M2 carbine since I was 11 or 12 years old and staill have the same ones. everyone laughs but I have hunted with it from the 1960's to present and have never had problem getting clean kills on Whitetale Deer, black bear, wild boar, turkey, foxes and other small game. I mean jess I hunt mainly with a pistol since 1970 and the "little, underpower carbine" has much more power as my 357 magnum pistols. With carbine or 357 I restrict my hunting on Deer to 100 yards or so and on black bear and Wild boar and hogs 50 to 75 yards. Except for the bear and boar most all shots over the years have cleared the deer, how much more power do I need???
Then again all laughed when I started hunting with 357 magnum and I found it amusing when in the 1990's or so the experts started agreeing that the 357 was fine whitetail round.
Not to mention it is a joy to carry in the field and makes very quick follow up shots when needed with the peep sights. Love the M1 carbine and always will! Humm BTW I also hunt a lot with 30/06 when I most likely will make 100 to 500 yard shots.
Hit the target semi well and the M1 is GREAT!

04-13-2008, 01:24 PM	#5
MrJitters Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vermont USA Posts: 44	Not using Wolf ammo by any chance are you? __________________ MrJ www.mrjitters.net ...and the beat goes on.

04-13-2008, 10:28 PM	#6
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 528	Hey Jits, I was going to ask the same thing. The other question is what kind of carbine is it and what kind of extractor? If it is a late Universal and a GI extractor, that could be the problem. __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...

04-14-2008, 06:43 PM	#9
LarryO1970 "Blazing Saddles" GOV Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Johnson Creek, WI Posts: 3,686	Just as MrJitters asked ... are you using Wolf ammo ? __________________

04-15-2008, 09:27 AM	#12
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 528	I'm asking again....what kind of carbine? This may be a very big part of the problem! Your carbine should NOT fire unless the bolt is completely closed. The only exceptions to this are either a late Universal or an extreme headspace problem. In either case, the resulting problem could end up in a potentially fatal explosion! I've done carbine smithing for years. I know what I'm doing with carbines. The problem you are having is very serious and I recommend that you do NOT fire the carbine again until the problen is corrected. __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...

04-16-2008, 12:06 AM	#15
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 528	It is a Federal Ordnance Inc. Carbine. The S.E.M. stands for South El Monte California. It predates the National Ordnance carbine made in the same place. If I were you, I would have the chamber inspected. Its beginning to sound like someone may have tried to polish the chamber and ended up making it uneven. Either that or the face of the barrel isn't cut right. Can you show us pictures of what is actually happening? I can't understand how an extractor can break unless it is slamming into something or the lip is being ripped off by a stuck case. __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...

04-12-2008, 11:40 PM	#1
solo 1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5	m1 extractor breaks Each time I fire my m1 the extractor breaks and leaves the shell in the chamber. Anybody know whats up? It breaks above the lip on the side of the bolt in the area that is flat. Have tried three different bolts all with the same result. Last edited by solo 1; 04-14-2008 at 10:02 AM.

04-13-2008, 12:03 AM	#2
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 537 Images: 10	If you have put more than 1 extractor in properly, and it breaks; I would suspect a problem in the chamber. Where is the extractor breaking? The lips, where it grabs the rim, or higher? If you can't figure it out, a trip to a reliable gunsmith may be in order.

04-14-2008, 06:41 PM	#8
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 537 Images: 10	Still can't picture where that is. Have you tried manually cycling and see if it extracts unfired rounds OK? If it does but breaks, I would say chamber problems. Does the extractor break right away, or after numerous shots? Have you tried good factory brass cased ammo?

04-14-2008, 11:36 PM	#11
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 537 Images: 10	What amazes me is that the firing pin can hit the primer with the shell in front of the extractor.If it is as I picture the FP should not be able to reach. Is the extractor installed correctly? There is a pin and srring that holds it in place. See photo. The extractor should be able to jump the lip if a shell was in the chamber and the bolt was then closed. Not the best for the gun, but it should jump it. Now that you describe it, I don't see it as a chamber issue anymore. This has happened with 3 bolts though. The problem seems to be in the extractor-spring-plunger relationship. You can test the extractor "springability" with the bolt out of the gun and slipping a fired shell in and prying. If you can't resolve, explain what you have found to a competant gunsmith.Note how the plunger nestles in the notch in the extractor. Yours may be pinned in preventing it from springing open. Let us know how you fare.

04-15-2008, 08:13 PM	#14
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 537 Images: 10	Well we are back to square one....just because it extracts an unfired cartridge does not rule out a chamber problem. The case expands when fired. Short of examining the gun myself, I would say get it to a gunsmith.

04-22-2008, 10:34 PM	#16
christfs Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: virginia Posts: 1	mi1carbine Great gun to shoot - highly reliable - grat for east coast hunting. I have had both M1 and M2 carbine since I was 11 or 12 years old and staill have the same ones. everyone laughs but I have hunted with it from the 1960's to present and have never had problem getting clean kills on Whitetale Deer, black bear, wild boar, turkey, foxes and other small game. I mean jess I hunt mainly with a pistol since 1970 and the "little, underpower carbine" has much more power as my 357 magnum pistols. With carbine or 357 I restrict my hunting on Deer to 100 yards or so and on black bear and Wild boar and hogs 50 to 75 yards. Except for the bear and boar most all shots over the years have cleared the deer, how much more power do I need??? Then again all laughed when I started hunting with 357 magnum and I found it amusing when in the 1990's or so the experts started agreeing that the 357 was fine whitetail round. Not to mention it is a joy to carry in the field and makes very quick follow up shots when needed with the peep sights. Love the M1 carbine and always will! Humm BTW I also hunt a lot with 30/06 when I most likely will make 100 to 500 yard shots. Hit the target semi well and the M1 is GREAT!