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What does the Extractor and Ejector do?

JgreenJgreen Member Posts: 2,579 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited June 2002 in Ask the Experts
I had a post not too long ago about a problem that I had with My .32 PPK/s. It would not stay open after the last shot, and when I tried to chamber a round from a magazine by hand, it didn't want to take it. I had to lock back the slide with an empty mag, drop that mag, and put in the loaded one for it to work. Sometimes it didn't grab a round no matter what.

I sent it back to Interarms (Smith and Wesson), and I just got it back. I havn't had a chance to shoot it, but I was told that the extractor and the ejector were replaced on the gun.

What do these parts actually do, and why would they cause the problems that I had?

Comments

  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just as it says,
    The Extractor, Extracts the cartridge from the chamber, and the Ejector, Ejects the cartridge out of the receiver.

    Gino

    "If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"
  • JgreenJgreen Member Posts: 2,579 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That much I got, but I guess I don't know how it is that replacing these parts would fix the problem that I described.
  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The extractor snaps over the case rim when a cartridge is chambered. When you pull back the slide, the extractor pulls the cartridge out of the chamber and holds it in place against the breech face. There is a deep groove in the lower left of the slide. The ejector is mounted in the frame and fits in the slide groove such that when the slide travels to the rear,the ejector protrudes forward from the breech face and kicks the cartridge out, pivoting on the extractor.
    I don't see the extractor entering into your problem as you described it and I question the ejectors'part. In retrospect, I should have recommended taking the slide spring out, reassembling the pistol and seeing if the slide goes to its' rear limit without hanging up. I would have cycled loaded mags (with the safety on). In my experience with the 380 PPKS shooting hot, experimental loads and using duplex slide springs I bent, then broke an ejector. I was disappointed to find that these small parts are investment castings. While they may give satisfactory service in civilian use they dont have the physical properties of the original wrought, machined parts and would probably not pass military endurance tests.
  • erictheredericthered Member Posts: 244 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree with v35. It doesn't sound like the extractor or ejector.
    The only places I would know to look for the type of problem you
    are referring to, would be the magazine design #1 or the bottom of the bolt.
    The magazine follower, the thing that pushes the bullets up, is supposed to operate the lock that holds the bolt open when the last
    shot is fired, If the magazine does not seat fully up, or the follower is not designed correctly, it won't work. After market magazines do this kind of thing all the time.
    Maybe the follower is bent, dirty or hanging up a bit. Sometimes bullets of a particular design, or home loaded are a bit too big for the magazine and don't move easily like they are supposed to. Again, after market magazines do this all the time. Pro Mag is one to avoid.

    The bottom of the bolt picks up the next cartridge and pushes it forward into the chamber. If this was flawed in its' design, it may not catch the back of the cartridge. These are things you can actually look at and see. I can't imagine what the ejector or extractor would have to do with any of this.

    My money goes with the magazine first, magazine catch second, Bolt design third. That one is very unlikely.

    The extractor is a little steel thing on the side of the bolt that catches the lip of the cartridge, You can see it whether the bolt is open or closed. The ejector is a little pin about twice the thickness of a pencil lead, on the bottom back of the bolt face that always pushes outward. That is responsible for flinging the spent cartridge out in the opposite direction from its' placement as the cartridge clears the chamber. You can feel the strength of the spring by pushing it in a bit, with your thumbnail.



    Eric

    thats'me
  • JgreenJgreen Member Posts: 2,579 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just got back from the range, and of course, it still does not stay open after the last shot. In fact, if I keep a mag in and draw back teh slide, it stays open, but if I drop the mag, if I breathe on teh slide it snaps shut.

    SO, its back to interarms.
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