M&P40 extractor

Evil Monkey · September 28, 2014, 01:59 PM

My M&P extractor got problems. Today at the range with Tula steel cased ammo, it was running fine as usual , most likely due to the lower pressure nature of Tula Ammo.

Then I pulled out the Federal Aluminum 40sw..............

Jeez........every few rounds I would have a fail to extract. I would just slam the slide home and pull the casing out manually. This stuff is HOT HOT HOT. My thumb is still numb from firing this stuff.

Anyway, the extractor wasn't doing it's job. It looks like it's grabbing plenty of case rim. The spring tension is OK. The aluminum casings can be placed back into the barrel and pulled out with my finder nails so it can't be the ammo.

What gives?

Uncle Malice · September 28, 2014, 02:30 PM

Did you scrub the chamber before switching ammunition? That is almost guaranteed to be the problem. It's okay to go from brass/aluminum to steel, but not the other way.

Uncle Malice · September 28, 2014, 02:31 PM

It may also be a good idea to look into the Apex Tactical extractor.

Evil Monkey · September 28, 2014, 02:33 PM

I figured it may be the chamber being dirty but the aluminum casings do not show any significant carbon residue on the outside walls.

RsqVet · September 30, 2014, 09:28 AM

Clean the gun / chamber and esp breach face / extractor. I mean clean, solvent, brush, scrub.

Adequate extractor spring strength is not something you can likely eyeball. It may still have spring to it yet be too weak.

Inspect the extractor for chips or dings.

Then if nothig is found, run some quality brass ammo in it and see what happens, if it runs then experiment with the other stuff if you want.

I dislike tul ammo, it is dirty and steel case on steel extractor is a bad idea in my book.

I would personally not chose to slam the slide down on the failure round as it is very hard on the extractor.

TunnelRat · September 30, 2014, 09:40 AM

I can't remember if Tul is lacquer coated. If so you might simply have been in a case of the chamber walls were sticky and preventing the cases from being extracted properly. As Uncle said, clean the chamber and then try again.

I will also say that aluminum always extracts/ejects worse for any of my pistols than either steel or brass. It typically does eject, but pretty erratically.

Lastly the whole steel on steel thing with the extractor is bogus. It takes a steel of equal or greater strength to hurt steel, and the steel case is nowhere close. That said, slamming the slide home so the extractor rides over the case rim isn't a great idea.

RsqVet · September 30, 2014, 09:25 PM

Tunnel --

I have to disagree, in lots of wear situations a less hard material wears a harder material. I agree 100% tul cases are not, or should not be anywhere near as hard as the extractor. However they are much harder than brass.

Look at enough extractors and you will see brass traces from rubbing as the weapon cycles. Steel has to cause a greater degree of wear in those contact areas.

Is it significant at all, or sometimes In some guns? I have no hard evidance to offer but having wrenched on mostly 1911's and seeing the minor changes angle, tennshion and geometery can make it is not something I want to risk.

TunnelRat · September 30, 2014, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Look at enough extractors and you will see brass traces from rubbing as the weapon cycles. Steel has to cause a greater degree of wear in those contact areas.

Exactly, the brass is being worn not the extractor, hence the traces of brass left on the extractor. I respect your experience but this is to me a myth that won't die. Pelting my cedar house with Q tips as opposed to feathers will likely do more wear, but will I actually see that wear in either case?

Evil Monkey · September 30, 2014, 11:06 PM

I can't fathom the idea that my extractor is worn out.

Consider the fact that my pistol has about 1,600rds in it. With about 1000 being brass.

RsqVet · October 1, 2014, 03:44 AM

Given that round count it is unlikely but far stranger things have happened. Clean the heck out of that gun and report back.

September 28, 2014, 01:59 PM	#1
Evil Monkey Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Posts: 812	M&P40 extractor My M&P extractor got problems. Today at the range with Tula steel cased ammo, it was running fine as usual , most likely due to the lower pressure nature of Tula Ammo. Then I pulled out the Federal Aluminum 40sw.............. Jeez........every few rounds I would have a fail to extract. I would just slam the slide home and pull the casing out manually. This stuff is HOT HOT HOT. My thumb is still numb from firing this stuff. Anyway, the extractor wasn't doing it's job. It looks like it's grabbing plenty of case rim. The spring tension is OK. The aluminum casings can be placed back into the barrel and pulled out with my finder nails so it can't be the ammo. What gives? __________________ BREAKING NEWS: Local man found in the street yelling "1911" and "45" while drooling, more at 11:00.

September 28, 2014, 02:30 PM	#2
Uncle Malice Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2009 Location: Phoenix Posts: 4,580	Did you scrub the chamber before switching ammunition? That is almost guaranteed to be the problem. It's okay to go from brass/aluminum to steel, but not the other way. __________________ Handguns: 2x Glock 19.4 \| Glock 26.4 \| HK USP 9 \| HK P2000 \| HK VP9 SK \| HK P30 \| CZ Shadow 2 \| CZ P-10 C \| CZ P-07 \| CZP-01 \| S&W 360PD Rifles: DDM4 \| SGL 21 \| SAM7K \| Draco \| PSA PDW SBR \| ASA Side-Charger SBR \| CZ Scorpion K SBR \| Aero M4E1 9" 300blk SBR \| Angstadt Jack9 SBR \| Savage Mark II FV-SR Shotguns: Mossberg 590A1 20" SP \| Mossberg Shockwave

September 28, 2014, 02:31 PM	#3
Uncle Malice Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2009 Location: Phoenix Posts: 4,580	It may also be a good idea to look into the Apex Tactical extractor. __________________ Handguns: 2x Glock 19.4 \| Glock 26.4 \| HK USP 9 \| HK P2000 \| HK VP9 SK \| HK P30 \| CZ Shadow 2 \| CZ P-10 C \| CZ P-07 \| CZP-01 \| S&W 360PD Rifles: DDM4 \| SGL 21 \| SAM7K \| Draco \| PSA PDW SBR \| ASA Side-Charger SBR \| CZ Scorpion K SBR \| Aero M4E1 9" 300blk SBR \| Angstadt Jack9 SBR \| Savage Mark II FV-SR Shotguns: Mossberg 590A1 20" SP \| Mossberg Shockwave

September 28, 2014, 02:33 PM	#4
Evil Monkey Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Posts: 812	I figured it may be the chamber being dirty but the aluminum casings do not show any significant carbon residue on the outside walls. __________________ BREAKING NEWS: Local man found in the street yelling "1911" and "45" while drooling, more at 11:00.

September 30, 2014, 09:40 AM	#6
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,212	I can't remember if Tul is lacquer coated. If so you might simply have been in a case of the chamber walls were sticky and preventing the cases from being extracted properly. As Uncle said, clean the chamber and then try again. I will also say that aluminum always extracts/ejects worse for any of my pistols than either steel or brass. It typically does eject, but pretty erratically. Lastly the whole steel on steel thing with the extractor is bogus. It takes a steel of equal or greater strength to hurt steel, and the steel case is nowhere close. That said, slamming the slide home so the extractor rides over the case rim isn't a great idea. __________________ Know the status of your weapon Keep your muzzle oriented so that no one will be hurt if the firearm discharges Keep your finger off the trigger until you have an adequate sight picture Maintain situational awareness

September 30, 2014, 09:28 AM	#5
RsqVet Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Posts: 2,474	Clean the gun / chamber and esp breach face / extractor. I mean clean, solvent, brush, scrub. Adequate extractor spring strength is not something you can likely eyeball. It may still have spring to it yet be too weak. Inspect the extractor for chips or dings. Then if nothig is found, run some quality brass ammo in it and see what happens, if it runs then experiment with the other stuff if you want. I dislike tul ammo, it is dirty and steel case on steel extractor is a bad idea in my book. I would personally not chose to slam the slide down on the failure round as it is very hard on the extractor.

September 30, 2014, 09:25 PM	#7
RsqVet Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Posts: 2,474	Tunnel -- I have to disagree, in lots of wear situations a less hard material wears a harder material. I agree 100% tul cases are not, or should not be anywhere near as hard as the extractor. However they are much harder than brass. Look at enough extractors and you will see brass traces from rubbing as the weapon cycles. Steel has to cause a greater degree of wear in those contact areas. Is it significant at all, or sometimes In some guns? I have no hard evidance to offer but having wrenched on mostly 1911's and seeing the minor changes angle, tennshion and geometery can make it is not something I want to risk.

September 30, 2014, 11:06 PM	#9
Evil Monkey Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Posts: 812	I can't fathom the idea that my extractor is worn out. Consider the fact that my pistol has about 1,600rds in it. With about 1000 being brass. __________________ BREAKING NEWS: Local man found in the street yelling "1911" and "45" while drooling, more at 11:00.

October 1, 2014, 03:44 AM	#10
RsqVet Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Posts: 2,474	Given that round count it is unlikely but far stranger things have happened. Clean the heck out of that gun and report back.