[Georgiarebel]

My challenger III is closing on the spent brass. The next round is feeding into the chamber properly, just can't close w/the casing sitting there. I'm using the original mag. What's the problem likely to be?

Thanks.

[1KPerDay]

Extractor, IMO.

[rcmodel]

Try cleaning the crap out of the chamber with a bronze bore brush & powder solvent.

A .22 should practically extract without an extractor unless the case won't come out of the chamber at all due to hard carbon, or a rough or damaged chamber.

Also, while you are at it, clean the breach face, extractor cut in the rear of the barrel, and all over the extractor & bolt face really clean with a brush, dental picks, etc.

It may be that caked hard powder fouling is preventing the extractor from getting a grip on the case rim.

rc

[1KPerDay]

A .22 should practically extract without an extractor That's true... one of my semi-auto rifles ran for a good while with no extractor at all. Duds were a pain; had to extract with a pocketknife, but otherwise it ran fine.

Do as rc suggests, and if it still won't run, look hard at the extractor and extractor spring if there is one.

[Mac's Precision]

In a great many cases ejection issues are a result of weak extractor action. Take the bolt out and make sure that the extractor is sharp, springy ..and holds the case positively up in the breech face. You should be able to insert a case in the extractor hook and then shake the bolt around without it falling off.

Additionally ...examine the chamber mouth to see if there is a ding there from dry firing the gun. That ding may be enough that once the case swells it will delay or hamper the extraction slowing the bolt travel

Looking at spent brass can be helpful in diagnosing the root cause of the problem. An obvious scratch on the rim of the case might indicate that the extractor hook is dull or negative allowing it to hop over the rim.. A lenghtwise scratch down the case body might indicate a burr from dryfiring.

Rings or a generally poor looking case might indicate there are machine marks or carbon buildup in the chamber. If you find your chamber is poorly machined or the mouth dented ....or your extractor is rounded or worn negative...we can discuss options and see if you want to repair it yourself.

Take a look and see what you find. Let us know.

Cheers
Mac.