M 12 Failure to Extract

Last fall I bought a new M12 LRPV .223. From day one it would drop the fired case off the extractor before it could eject. Picking the cases out of the port didn't bother me much during load work up, but my first ground squirrel shoot with it this spring happened during cold weather. Gloves on, picking out brass was a PITA. While cleaning the rifle after the shoot I wiggled the extractor plate to see if it was free. Failed to use the plastic bag routine, and of course the extractor and steel ball launched into space. Found the extractor, ball is history. What to do, had another shoot coming up, and all out of eighth inch steel balls. I had finished up a 1903 Springfield custom build recently, and had to replace a broken magazine cut off shaft plunger. Fortunately I had ordered two from Gun Parts Corp. With the shaft shortened the spare plunger fit down into the Savage ejector spring and hole perfectly. Extraction and ejection are now 100%. These plungers are less than two bucks, and are the first thing I would try for an extraction problem.

Once again the great American ability to adapt and find solutions shines through. Good job. I am sure that solution will shine for some here.
You could also have called Savage for the parts. Did your solution fix the extraction problem?

El Lobo

free extractor balls in the classifed section
drybean

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Originally Posted by drybean

free extractor balls in the classifed section
drybean

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HE's not at this time a paid member he can't see the classifieds...

Nice to know the steel balls are readily available, but the intent of posting my experience was that the plunger works much better than the steel ball.

i may have to try that ever since i converted my m12 lrpv from 223 to 308 mine does the same thing already swaped out the ball but its a 60/40 crap shoot on if it will extract. i tried swapping in another longer extractor that i have on a 223 long action head but then it wouldnt chamber the round .