Henry Extraction Problem

Dusty Morningwood · April 18, 2010, 09:23:08 AM

After a good run of three seasons of shooting, my Henry that was converted from .44-40 to .44 Spl. is giving me grief. I believe the extractor is getting worn, as I had two stages become complete train wrecks yesterday when the rifle failed to extract and I ended up with a round in the carrier and nowhere for it to go. Had to take all those misses. I am assuming that the extractor was intended for the .44-40 brass and that I just had a honeymoon period during which it would effectively extract the .44 Spl. and Russians I shoot. Any quick fix, or do I need to order and install an extractor intended for the smaller rims?

stepnmud · April 18, 2010, 04:18:40 PM

Howdy Dusty,
I read your same post on the SASS wire and sounds like good advice on the extractor. Mine's also converted to 44spl/44R. as you know and originally had some issues with extraction and had to have the head space corrected, and still had some troubles until I did a tiny bit of filing on the extractor notch in chamber area and now very happy with the converted Henry. So might double check that little notch to be sure no debris is stopping the extractor from doing the job. I don't think you need a different extractor than the 44/45 s, but may need to peen it down a tad for smaller rims of 44spl/44R. Now I'm just now on second year with this converted Henry and will keep and eye on this thread for more info. Thanks for posting the problem. Funny too that my empties now seem to fling straight up and forward instead of up and over my hat.

Dusty Morningwood · April 18, 2010, 06:03:38 PM

Quote from: stepnmud on April 18, 2010, 04:18:40 PM
Funny too that my empties now seem to fling straight up and forward instead of up and over my hat.

Thanks stepnmud:
I need to strip it down for a serious going over and cleaning. What did you do to the notch? My cases still go straight up and I end up with my hat and breast pocket full of empties!

stepnmud · April 18, 2010, 06:48:15 PM

Quote from: Dusty Morningwood on April 18, 2010, 06:03:38 PM
Thanks stepnmud:
I need to strip it down for a serious going over and cleaning. What did you do to the notch? My cases still go straight up and I end up with my hat and breast pocket full of empties!

to me, that's a good thing.

sometimes the brass pickers tell me my empties come down and bounce forward off a stage table and fall out of range too far to retrieve brass. So didn't do any thing special 'cept get a good grab with the extractor, but thinking a individual that knew what to do could do some better tuning on extractor to do what 's wanted. As far as the extractor notch, I had removed the barrel from frame and just deepened the notch enough for the nose of the extractor to fully engage notch without restriction. And also using standard extractor for 44WCF/45Colt.

stepnmud · April 18, 2010, 07:27:50 PM

would also add that in my particular situation, that my Henry had to have the barrel set set back to accomodate the head space issue and made the extractor notch a bit shallow for the natural lenght of the factory extractor to grap the rims of 44spl./44R.

Montana Slim · April 18, 2010, 10:09:58 PM

Note the rim diameter of a .44 Special or Russian is smaller than a .44-40.
A possible fix to the issue is to remove the extractor from the bolt, then bend it inward slightly. This will cause it to snag the smaller rim better. Note taht if you try to bend it while its in the bolt, you'll likely break the extractor.

It may be a process of trial / error to get it just right as too much bend may make it difficult for the extractor to snap over the rim.

Best,
Slim

Coffinmaker · April 19, 2010, 03:56:07 PM

Dusty,

Uberti large bore extractors are ..... TA DA .... one size fits all. first check to see if the extractor is loose in the Breach Block. It shouldn't be. Next, with a dummy case in the chamber, slowly close the lever and check to see if the extractor fits ALL the way over the case ..... and down into the little recess in the back of the barrel. If it rides "up" in the recess, you may need to dress the front face of the extractor for clearance or even cut the bottom of the barrel recess out a little at the bottom.

Coffinmaker

Montana Slim · April 20, 2010, 10:22:43 PM

I suggest getting a spare extractor on order....seriously.

Regards,
Slim

Dusty Morningwood · April 22, 2010, 06:34:54 AM

Quote from: Montana Slim on April 20, 2010, 10:22:43 PM
I suggest getting a spare extractor on order....seriously.

Regards,
Slim

Will probably do just that, Slim. I will have to go back to my 66 for awhile, I guess.

Trailrider · April 22, 2010, 11:58:56 AM

First, I'd check for dirt in the extractor groove at the back end of the barrel. This could be causing the extractor to "ride up" as the bolt goes closed, causing the lip of the extractor to slip off the cartridge rim. If the groove or cut is clean (dental tool time), then watch to see if the extractor is riding up in the barrel cut anyway. If so, take a needle file and take some metal off the barrel cut until the extractor stops riding up. Don't worry about leaving the cartridge head unsupported in that area. The pressures are low enough, and the solid head of the case is strong enough, not to make any difference.