AR-15 Extractor question

[AR27]

I just got a new BCM upper and it came with the mil-spec vitton o-ring un-installed. So when I was installing it on the extractor spring the tiny metal cylindrical thing that the extractor spring is coiled around made a pop and came off. I put the o-ring on and it seemed to pop back in. I have never had this happen before. Is this normal or did I snap the thing off and break it permanetly?

 

[GCBurner]

It's not permanently attached.

 

[AR27]

It's not permanently attached.

Thanks, It just startled me because I had never seen this happen before and it was never mentioned in training.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Good to go, it's supposed to snap back into place. That o-ring is optional for guys running SBRs or having extraction issues. I didn't use it on my middy.

 

[AR27]

Mine is a 20" A4 rifle, would you suggest removing it? All my training came from Uncle Sam and we had no o-rings.

 

[GCBurner]

Mine is a 20" A4 rifle, would you suggest removing it? All my training came from Uncle Sam and we had no o-rings.

I tried one on a 7.62x39 upper. I think the purpose of adding the rubber O-ring is to give the extractor some extra gripping power, particularly in full-auto fire, or when cases are sticking when things heat up. After I installed it, I shot off a bunch of steel-cased surplus ammo, and one case was slow so extract. Instead of just skipping over the case rim, the lip broke off the extractor, rendering it useless. When I put the new extractor on, I left the O-ring off. It seems to work fine without it.

 

[Mags]

^^^ +1

I always just save the lttle O-rings and never install them. There is a reason they come optional and not standard.

 

[AR27]

I will be removing mine then, it was very hard to put the pin back in the extractor with it on as well, this doesnt seem like a good thing, just added stress on parts.