1873 uberti 44-40 feed problem

[Justinhip]

I have a new 44-40 1873. Its got a lightened mainspring, pioneer action springs and a polishing. When i chamber a round, the action jams up after the round is in the chamber while trying to engage the extractor. If i cycle it fast, its usually ok, but doing it relatively slow, it hangs up. Ay ideas? The brass is starline....

Thanks

[Pettifogger]

A couple of things to look at.  First, retract the bolt and push down the carrier so you can drop a round directly into the chamber.  Stick the nose of some test cartridges into the chamber and let it drop.  Does it drop ALL the way to the rim without interference or does it sit a little off the breech?  .44-40 chambers and dies are all over the map as far as dimensions.  Many times a bullet a thousand or two oversize will not let the round chamber.  Many times the crimp will put a little bump in the neck and in a lot of cases the dies don't quite set the shoulder on the brass back far enough.  If you are 100% sure your problem isn't ammo related the next thing to look at is whether the extractor has been properly tuned.  The extractor has to flex so it can snap over the rim as the bolt goes forward.  On most new guns the extractor is very stiff and can push the round down enough that the rim catches on the little guide that is on the bottom of the bolt opposite the extractor.  When you lever fast they all crash together and everything bumps into place.  When you lever slow, the extractor pushes the round down and you are moving slow enough that the rim catches on the little bottom tab on the bolt face.  (Or, the angle on the front of the extractor lifts the bolt head and the rim hits the little tab.  Different way of explaining, but the same result.)

[Justinhip]

It's definitely not the ammo, I use a 429 endnote that I cast, rol and taper crimp. Rounds drop in without resistance

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[Fingers McGee]

What Pettifogger said.  I had a '73 in .45 Colt that had a really stiff extractor that did the same thing with Winchester brass.  It finally loosened up.

[Justinhip]

I guess I'll start running ammo through it and see what happens

[rifle]

Might have some crude needing cleaned so the extractor can move into place easily.

[Justinhip]

I installed a c&i short stroke and aluminum carrier and all is slick as snot, go figure