1911 Extractor Help?

[redactor]

I've got a Kimber Series II (Pro Carry II HD), that I expect needs some extractor tuning.

The problems that I am seeing are thusly:

1. 3 out of 200 rounds failed to extract, causing stoppage

2. Random ejection angles, sometimes hitting me in the head, some times landing brass inside my safety glasses (or worse, my wife's safety glasses).

3. "Weak" ejection with brass not being thrown more than a couple of feet.

My normal cleaning procedure is to field-strip, plus remove the extractor to clean the gunk out of the extractor channel after every trip to the range. There is normally quite a bit of gunk after a couple hundred rounds. Two or three times per year, I will tear the whole thing down for cleaning, removing everything except the mainspring from its housing.

I have done some reading into the issue, and did confirm that I can "clock" the extractor by hand, so I can tell that something isn't fitting just right. I just don't know how to fix it.

My questions are:

1. Should I keep the stock extractor, and try to tune it in some way?

2. If yes, how, and what tools do I need to fix it right?

3. If no, which extractor should I get that will work with the Kimber Series II?

I am not interested in making any permanent modifications to either my slide or frame.


I know that there is a "Consolidated 1911 Clinic" tread, but I didn't see a thread in there related to extractors.

I know that there are a lot of good 1911 smiths on this board, and I'd like to thank them in advance for their time and suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[Ron James]

Why don't you contact Kimber. I E-Mailed them with a question about my slide release and their answer was, don't do anything, a new slide release is on the way. Let us know if that doesn't fix the problem. With in two days I had the part and it did fix the problem.

 

[1911Tuner]

Extractor

It'd be simpler to bend the extractor a little to increase the tension that it puts on the case rim. Easy. Too much and you'll get some return to battery problems.

 

[joneb]

Weak ejection, and random ejection angles are no laughing matter, someone could get hit in the eye if not following proper safety protocol.

It'd be simpler to bend the extractor a little to increase the tension that it puts on the case rim.

+ one, my Colt MK IV ser. 70 had the same problem and bending the extractor fixed the problem

 

[HSMITH]

Odds are very high that the extractor needs a little more tension as Tuner suggested.

Also check the extractor to make sure it isn't clocking, that is make sure the firing pin stop is tight enough to keep the extractor from rotating. If the extractor rotates much you will have a problem sooner or later. The more it can rotate the sooner and more frequent the problems will be, less rotation means the problems will be further apart. If it rotates at all I would fix it.

Lately I have been putting a BUNCH of EGW ovesized firing pin stops in, I get tired of watching my buddies shoot guns that puke. I think I did 6 of them last month alone. I like them to fit JUST loose enough that I can put them in and take them out with my fingers, but JUST loose enough.

If the extractor isn't clocking check the ejector and make sure it is tight. This pretty much covers what the average shade tree can handle.

 

[redactor]

The extractor is clocking.

 

[HSMITH]

Fix it! You won't get consistent extraction or ejection unless the components involved in that process operate consistently. For them to operate consistently they have to be in the same place each time.

EGW oversized firing pin stops are the best out there IMO. I buy them from Chuck at www.shootersconnection.com.

You will need to file or stone it down in width for sure and probably a hair or two in thickness so that it fits snugly in the slide, then make sure it will still fit with the extractor in. You want it snug, but not tight. Then you will need to cut the radius on the bottom, you can experiment with breaking the edge with a slight radius of about 7/64" all the way to duplicating the radius on the factory stop. Hint: use a drill bit shank to gauge the radius, then you can cut it to several different radii and record your feelings on each.

What works best for me may not work best for you. I find the gun feels the best with a 7/64" radius, but I do my best shooting duplicating the factory radius common today.