Savage 99 extractor help

[DocRock]

My first 99. A 308 Win purchased on GB a few months ago. Appeared in good shape. I did a good internal clean up and cosmetic refurbishment.



I immediately had extraction problems but initial loads were LC ‘once fired’ milsurp, so machine gun ammo, even though FLS with a small based die, so I assumed a brass problem. Checked headspace with GO - NO GO and all good.

Subsequently bought new 308 Win brass and loaded mid strength - Speer 150 grs BTSP over 44grs IMR 4064. Finally got to shoot the new loads yesterday. Round number three would not extract. Popped out easily with a Tap from a cleaning rod.

Pulled the bolt. As I said, my first 99, so I have nothing to compare it to, but the extractor seems very supple and flexy. I think there’s supposed to be a ball and spring in here somewhere? Nothing as far as I can tell.



So. Please can someone tell me whether there is indeed supposed to be a ball and spring, and how to remove the extractor from the bolt. Oh, and how to put it back together if I can find a ball and spring from Numrich or the like. If there is not supposed to be a ball and spring, diagnostic help would be much appreciated.

Thanks for your assistance.

 

[DocRock]

So, the ball and spring I was reading about are for Savage bolt actions, not the 99.

Diagnostic help and "How To" on extractor removal would be helpful.

 

[LoonWulf]

Sorry I can't be much help, I've never owned a 99.

The extractor appears to be held by a pin near the back, that looks to come up from the bottom.

hopefully someone knowledgeable will so along shortly.

 

[Blue68f100]

That extractor is shaped so it can jump over a rim. So I would not expect a super strong spring.

Have you taken it out and looked for a spring?

 

[DocRock]

Can't figure out how to remove the extractor.

There is a super small hole for a retention pin, but no way to drive it out - there's only a hole on one side...

 

[troy fairweather]

Check that the back side of the extractor is not worn, so the rim will slip off easy. You can file some so the rim won't jump over the brass when extracting.

 

[DocRock]

I bought the Gun Digest disassembly/reassembly manual for $6.99 to get this:

“The extractor is it’s own spring, and is retained by a vertical pin on the right side of the bolt. The pin is driven out upward, and the extractor is taken off to the right.”

To give you an idea of how well made these rifles are, I couldn’t see the pin on the upward, egress side. Until I gave the downward side a few taps, it was so well-fit that I couldn’t see it.

Anyway, extractor off. Looks a bit worn on what would be the lower edge. Doesn’t seem worn enough to be not extracting but will buy a new one and see how we go.

 

[troy fairweather]

I bought the Gun Digest disassembly/reassembly manual for $6.99 to get this:

“The extractor is it’s own spring, and is retained by a vertical pin on the right side of the bolt. The pin is driven out upward, and the extractor is taken off to the right.”

To give you an idea of how well made these rifles are, I couldn’t see the pin on the upward, egress side. Until I gave the downward side a few taps, it was so well-fit that I couldn’t see it.

Anyway, extractor off. Looks a bit worn on what would be the lower edge. Doesn’t seem worn enough to be not extracting but will buy a new one and see how we go.

View attachment 897050
View attachment 897051

Like I said a few swipes with a file on the back side will help, if you don't get a new one.

 

[DocRock]

Well, fiddled it quite a bit. Tried bending it a little and filing both the worn both and the back side. Still won't reliably catch and hold the rim every time. So, ordered one from Numrich, NOS. We shall see.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

When cartridges are fed from the rotary magazine, they are fed up, behind, and under the extractor claw, thus the purposely done chamfer on the extractor just behind the claw. You can see that's the case by the shiny area, where the bluing has been rubbed off by the cartridge case rim, just behind the claw.
As long as you have the extractor out, you might consider polishing that chamfered area to produce a smoother transition for the rounds to come up against the bolt face. Mr. Fairweather's suggestion is a good one.

 

[Kp321]

Probably your new extractor will fix the problem.
The bolt looks like the previous owner polished the it at one time. The heat from the buffing wheel will remove the temper from the extractor and prevent it from holding the proper tension. (Don’t ask me how I know this).

 

[DocRock]

Received a factory new old stock extractor from Numrich. Here’s a tip on replacing the extractor: don’t. Throw the gun away. Give it to your worst enemy. Retire from the world.

You know why the Model 99 was so expensive to make? Because it took 28 man hours to fit the extractor!

Seriously, what a PITA. I suspect that the extractor wore or broke on the previous owner. He or she replaced it and did it the wrong way. It appears that he she hollowed out the inside face of the extractor, which made it very flexible and, thus, insufficiently extractive. It was very whippy. The gun probably sat for a long time and then got moved on.

As Troy and others noted above, you have to remove material from the OUTSIDE face of the extractor so that it maintains rigidity, as well as the inner face just below the hook. I’m sure a skilled gunsmith and the chaps in the factory were able to make much faster progress with a few swipes on a grinding wheel, but working with draw file, diamond file, and emery cloth, I am not kidding when I say it took 6 hours to get the bolt to close. It still needs some more !

Anyway, key learning for posterity: remove material from the outer face and maintain rigidity.

 

[troy fairweather]

Well does it work now.

 

[DocRock]

Well does it work now.

Haven’t fired it yet, but it extracts previously fired shells. Still needs more filing as it’s still a bit rough on open and close.

 

[DocRock]

Well. It took quite a bit more filing and polishing to get the bolt to open and close smoothly. This is no small task. You really have to take your time filing, fitting and polishing. Hopefully will get out to fire it this week and see if it functions as intended.

 

[Sav .250]

May I suggest...……...24hourcampfire.com
Go to "forums." Get on the Savage 99 one.
Anything you need to know about the "99" can be found there.

 

[DocRock]

May I suggest...……...24hourcampfire.com
Go to "forums." Get on the Savage 99 one.
Anything you need to know about the "99" can be found there.

Thank you!

 

[DocRock]

Put 20 through it today. Nothing hot, 150s over 44 grains IMR 4064, but every one extracted cleanly!

Took like six to get the vintage Bushnell Scope Chief sorted - let's say the adjustments are a little vague. But then it did 2" - 2 .5" five shot groups. I'm pretty confident that playing with load and getting more comfortable with the post reticle, I can get that to a consistent 2" . Happy, happy, happy with the extractor and the progress on this rescue rifle!