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Originally Posted by Lost Sheep
a rim, and even if it were, you still could not headspace on it. (the extractor groove, sometimes referred to as a "rim" on "rimless" autoloader cartridge cases)
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As Tim R pointed out,
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The extractor does hold a case enough to fire the round.
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you CAN "headspace" on the extractor/extractor groove. But it is not reliable, therefore, not advisable.
In an autoloader, if the cartridge is short, the extractor may , instead of going over the "rim" and engaging the groove, may simply push the cartridge deep into the chamber (as the cartridge is short enough to go). Then, you have a chambered cartridge that the extractor will not extract (not engaged) and which the firing pin probably cannot reach with enough momentum to ignite. A jammed gun that the typical "Tap-Rack-Bang" clearance drill will not cure.
I stated "could not" which is wrong. You
should not, except for certain guns designed for that functionality. (e.g. the Medusa revolver, designed for it and maybe Ruger's double action revolvers designed for the 9mm MIGHT be reliable enough because they had spring-loaded extractors that pretty positively engaged the grooves.
Lost Sheep