[umc180gr]

Has any one gun maker discovered a better design for an extractor than S&W? I have a 629MG that fires a lot of heavy .44 loads. The extractor is constantly backing out, too tight, too loose etc? I consider it a weak point of the gun. I tried some loc-tite on it but that did not work. I have a smaller Ruger .357 and it appears it has a little different designed extractor. Specifically for Rugers, the Super Blackhawk. Does it have a better design that is less prone to backing out?

thanks for the reply:)

[stans]

The Super Blackhawk is a single action revolver, like the old Colt Single Action Army. The S&W is a double action revolver with a swing out cylinder, so the designs are vastly different. Ruger does build their double action revolvers with a different design. Whereas the S&W locks the front of the cylinder by the extractor rod locking into the barrel, the Ruger locks the front of the cyliner by way of the crane locking into the frame. This is a much sturdier design and lets the ejector rod function only as a mechanism for ejecting cases. In the S&W design, the rod has to rotate with the cylinder. S&W ejector rods are reverse threaded, so rotation of the cylinder should tighten the rod, but recoil forces will frequently jar the rod loose if it is not properly torqued.

The best way to tighten the ejector rod on your S&W is to place empty cartridge cases in the cylinder to support the extractor star and prevent it from twisting and possibly shearing the locator pins. Wrap a peice of leather around the knurled end of the ejector rod and use a pair of pliers to tighten the ejector rod. Another option is to remove the ejector rod, clean the threads and place a small amount of blue Locktite on the threads and tighten the rod.

[Standing Wolf]

I tried some loc-tite on it but that did not work.

Stans has nailed it. You've got to be sure the theads are absolutely clean, or the Lock Tight won't stick.

[umc180gr]

Thanks guys for the reply. I did mean Ruger Redhawk. Guess I could not type past night. I thought when I was looking at my wifes Ruger SP 101 the extractor looked like it was pinned, less likey to back out. Seems like a better design. I have been looking at the Ruger .454 SRH just wondering if the extractor would back out like it does on the S&W 629.

[JohnKSa]

The Ruger SRH, SP101 and GP100 ejector rods can not unscrew and therefore will not loosen and tie up the gun.

They are held in place by the forward cylinder lock which can only be removed by pushing out a pin that is locked in place by a plunger/spring arrangement. Pretty secure. I'm guessing that whoever designed that part of the pistol had experienced the kind of hassle that you're going through and decided that it would NEVER happen in a gun he designed.