Chiappa Spencer rifle .45 Colt extraction problem

[nohorse]

Hello, I have a new Spencer rifle in .45 Colt. With the hammer at half cock, I can run a full magazine of factory ammunition through the rifle perfectly fine. I am using federal American Eagle 225 grain red box. I went to the range and fired these and the rifle feeds perfectly and it's very accurate and it has a nice trigger. However, I could not extract the fired cases. The cases were not really stuck in the chamber, if I pointed the muzzle up and tap the butt on the ground, the cases would fall out. I also experimented by opening the lever until it stopped, which exposed the breach face with the fired case all the way in the chamber and I press down on the exposed part of the extractor in front of the case and the case actually popped out about a 16th of an inch and then I could put my fingernail on it and pull it the rest of the way. I am not sure, but I think the extractor might be pressing up on the bottom of the case after the case is fired and it's a snug perfect fit in the chamber with the extractor pressing upwards. It's binding. Do you think that's my issue? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[El Supremo]

Hello, nohorse:

A few things might be involved, please:

First, if you search the SAAMI, Sporting Arms and Ammunition website for 45 Colt CASE dimensions, you will see that the 45 Colt CASE's rim width beyond the case body diameter is narrower than, for example, the 44-40's. Also, the dimension includes a tolerance. Your brand of cases might have rim projections at the narrow limit. Also, the case-rim  point may not have a small rebate to allow more extractor engagement depth/contact area.

The extractor tip might be "short" and not engage the narrow rim. 

Please consider measuring your rim's width compared to other brands. Another wider rim might be sufficient. 

One of our members and another You Tuber have enlarged rims by carefully peening a rim to produce more lip.

The fit of your extractor and any excessive wiggle might allow the tip to sit low.

I was told by a respected gunsmith that has lined Spencer barrels to 45 Colt, that he never completely solved the extraction issue because of narrow rims on 45 Colt cases. 

If you cannot locate commercial cases which are better, Rocky Mountain Cartridge can make custom rim dimension cases to your needs. 

Please share what you did . Thanks
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

 

[nohorse]

Thanks El Supremo

I am using factory ammo.  I polished the chamber with 0000 steel wool and JB paste.  Here is a video of me feeding and extracting a fired case that was untouched except that the dirt was wiped off.  I have not been back to the range so I am not sure it is fixed, but you can see the fired case is a slip fit, all the way in, easily close breech and extract.  Maybe it is extracting now because the case is cooled off? Or maybe because I polished the chamber?

[El Supremo]

Nice video, nohorse:

Seems like progress.

My earlier point was that factory case rims can vary between manufacturers and even production intervals, so measuring another brand might be useful.

The cleaned case extracted to a normal extent.

I have to lift the muzzle so the case falls further and sometimes twist the open action to let the case fall. 

As a case is fired and refired, it becomes progressively less ductile, and it often allows more fouling soot between the case and chamber wall.  I reanneal my cases to prevent splitting and to maintain more complete sealing.   

All the best and please share how you attach a cell phone video.  Thanks.

El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

[nohorse]

First I had to send video to youtube, then there is a small button at top of reply window that says Youtube. Just hit it and paste the youtube link.

[El Supremo]

Thanks for the way:

May I impose again and ask if you know how to attach an iPhone photo to a Post, please?

Smiles.
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

[nohorse]

No imposition at all, happy to help.  There is a little button to uploamd an image, but the image/video has to be a specific file type and file size.  It did not work with my iphone pics/videos so I upload to youtube and go that way