H-S Precision - Broken Extractor

[almtiba]

Hi Guys !

(---posted before in TFL forums---)

Last Saturday happened the 5th Annual Safari Club International - Chapter Brazil Shooting Match, here in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

One of the most important and awaited matches of the competition is the "Elephant Charge Match", where a live size target of an elephant runs on steel cables towards the hunter, that has aprox. 6 to 9 seconds to fire 2 shots in the head of the animal, from about 15 yards far.
In this match, it's only allowed .338 and larger calibers, bolt actions and double rifles.

I'm a director of SCI - Brazil, and one of the organizators of the event.

In this match I was going to test my new rifle, a H-S Precision Pro-Series 2000, take down version, with .375 H&H and .300 Win Mag barrels. Everybody, especialy me, were very ansious to try this new rifle, since here in Brazil it's very difficult to see things like this.

So, (with the rifle tested and zeroed for the match - I've shot about three boxes of ammo two weeks ago) I opened the match.

For my surprise, I fired the first shot, operated the bolt and it didn't close. When I stoped to inspect what has happened, I saw the second shot didn't load 'cause it hit the empty shell that was still in the chamber and was not extracted. Romoving the bolt, I had the unfortunate surpise to see that my EXTRACTOR WAS BROKE !!!!

By the way, ammo was Federal, Safari Grade, 300gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw.

Well, besides the jokes about being a pankake hunter, charged by the elephant, you can imagine my frustration and disapointment with my new rifle.

I had to hear all day long comments, like "that's why I use a mauser" or "that's a range rifle... Don't go hunting with it..."...

I've being sending e-mails to H-S Precision since Saturday and they still didn't reply.

I didn't expect a rifle with this background and reputation would suffer a breakage like this, but I'm aware failures can happen.

What I can't understand is how a company like H-S Precision can ignore a overseas desperate customer that needs a simple replacement part for their product...

I told them I have a safari scheduled for three weeks from last Saturday (almost two now) and without the new extractor, it will be ruined.

Just for you to see, I'm posting some pics of the rifle, of the broken extrctor and mine, finishing the match with a borrowed Ruger m77, in .416 Rigby.

By the way, do you know wich action is H-S Precision, in case I have to buy the extractor from brownells or gun parts ? It really looks like Win 70, but I'm not sure...

Please, guys, your comments...

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil

Ps - Sorry by the long post... but I'm too... you know...

 

[almtiba]

Sorry,

Forgot to post the pics.

Here they are:

 

[Richard.Howe]

High-dollar or not, I don't use rifles that have an internal extractor.

Still, you'd expect them to work relably, especially from an outfit like H-S Precision. Surprising!

 

[esheato]

I have an HS and haven't had any problems. I hope they take care of you.

Ed

Edit: I would call rather than email. I'm fairly certain they'll be a bit more accommodating once they're aware of the issue.

 

[the naked prophet]

That's an awfully tiny little extractor. I was expecting a big game rifle to have a massive claw extractor, like on a humble AK. Is that normal for dangerous-game rifles?

 

[birdbustr]

H-S should take care of it, but here is an alternative to going through H-S Precision. They should take care of it themselves, but if for some reason they don't come through, this is another avenue.

That looks like a Sako extractor without seeing the back side. It should have a little pin and a spring that holds it in place. If that's the case, no problem. Go to midwayusa.com and order a new extractor. Go ahead and get the spring and the pin just in case it goes flying and you lose it. So all together you will be less than $30 and you can do this yourself if that's what it is. Send a picture of the other side of the bolt and I would be able to tell better.

22.99 for the kit with an extractor spring and plunger. This size is 378-460, but there are other sizes if this doesn't fit.

 

[almtiba]

Thanks for the responses guys, but I have just recieved a reply from Josh, at H-S.
He told me they will replace the broken extractor for free and charge me u$ 15 + shipping for the spare one I ordered, too.

He also told in the e-mail he they will ship the two extractors to an address in the US.

Well, I asked to do it the fastest way possible. Now that they're aware of my problem, let's see how fast they can do it.

I'll keep you informed.

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil