Broken Shell Extractor for Krag

Niederlander · February 28, 2018, 10:12:49 AM

Gentlemen,
Does anyone know if there was ever an issued broken shell extractor for the Krag? I've only ever had one separated case with a Krag round, but it was a pain to get out. Echo used to make them, but they seem to be out of business.

RattlesnakeJack · February 28, 2018, 04:22:47 PM

If you can't locate one, I would be fairly confident that a .303 British broken shell extractor would work - or could be adapted to work - in a .30-40 chamber, since the case dimensions of the two cartridges are so similar ... particularly at the base and rim.

For one possible modification which might be necessary, the rim of a .303 extractor might have to be thinned a bit if the Krag bolt won't close on it ...

At any rate, I have a .303 broken shell extractor (,,, they are quite common, since broken .303 casings are rather frequent, especially with reloads ...) and if I can remember to bring it along (... as I certainly ought to if I am going to shoot any of my .303 rifles! ...) then we could try it, if you haven't found something by then.

Drydock · February 28, 2018, 06:01:31 PM

Brownells has these: https://www.brownells.com/userdocs/learn/Inst-392.pdf

One is listed for the Krag. I do not believe there was ever a US issue extractor. Poyer and Reisch do not list one.

Niederlander · February 28, 2018, 10:21:49 PM

Unfortunately, Brownells no longer carries them, as the company is out of business. Still looking.

greyhawk · February 28, 2018, 11:19:42 PM

Quote from: Niederlander on February 28, 2018, 10:21:49 PM
Unfortunately, Brownells no longer carries them, as the company is out of business. Still looking.

This is so simple nobody on these forums I have told it too even answered
make a chisel from a piece of BRASS 1/8th inch brazing rod - point one end and flatten it down just like a wood chisel only moreso - put a slight bend in it about two inches from the point - now take that chisel and drive the flattened pointy end in between the case wall and chamber wall - its BRASS - cant harm the chamber at all!!! keep tapping it in until the case wall crumples away from the chamber - youll end up with a crinkle in the case most of its length where the chisel went - case will probably fall out but if not any kind of brush down from the muzzle should do it

Niederlander · March 01, 2018, 05:48:21 AM

Just so everyone knows, I want the broken shell extractor so if I have a separated case head during a match I can very quickly clear it and continue. I've only ever had one, but it took a while to clear. You can clear a separated case very quickly with the proper extractor.

greyhawk · March 01, 2018, 04:52:02 PM

Quote from: Niederlander on March 01, 2018, 05:48:21 AM
Just so everyone knows, I want the broken shell extractor so if I have a separated case head during a match I can very quickly clear it and continue. I've only ever had one, but it took a while to clear. You can clear a separated case very quickly with the proper extractor.

Ok - I get it - I give up!

Pitspitr · March 02, 2018, 10:29:12 AM

I have one for the 45/70. Drydock used it at Garnett one year.

Drydock · March 02, 2018, 12:42:55 PM

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/2197250034/cj-weapons-broken-shell-extractor?cm_mmc=ps_google-_-google-_-ST_Range_Supplies_Equipment_Beta_G-_-broken_shell_extractor&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_source=bing&utm_campaign=ST_Range%20Supplies%20Equipment_Beta_B&utm_term=%2Bbroken%20%2Bshell%20%2Bextractor&msclkid=048d1a0d779319008bac4094ed54c6be&utm_content=broken%20shell%20extractor

RattlesnakeJack · March 02, 2018, 11:58:13 PM

No .30-40 Krag listed by Midway ... $:-\$

Niederlander · March 03, 2018, 07:26:19 AM

I'll just keep looking for an old Marbles or Echo shell extractor on places like e-bay. No one seems to be making them right now.

Drydock · March 03, 2018, 07:40:44 AM

But midway lists the .303 extractor, which I bet would work.

pony express · March 03, 2018, 07:49:21 AM

If the extractor grabs the case by the case mouth, like I think it does, a .303 might not work, since the 30-40 case is almost .1" longer.

Niederlander · March 03, 2018, 08:40:43 PM

I can get a surplus one off e-Bay for about ten bucks or less. Might be worth a try.

RattlesnakeJack · March 03, 2018, 09:14:55 PM

Surplus .303 extractor, Dale?

If so, you might as well buy a new one from Brownells for $9.99 -
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/handgun-tools/stuck-case-removers/broken-shell-extractors-prod24626.aspx

RattlesnakeJack · March 03, 2018, 10:36:36 PM

Hmmm ... I may just have to order another .303 extractor myself! Actually, Dale ... if you are thinking of ordering from Brownell's as suggested above, how about ordering an extra one for me, and I can get it from you at Muster ...?

I just went in search of the one I already own ... to have it in hand while responding to the case-length issue raised by Pony Express ... but I can't locate it! (Probably tucked away in my kit somewhere, but ...

)

As for the possibility of the .303 extractor not working on a .30-40 Krag case because the latter is .1" longer (actually, only 0.072" difference in the SAAMMI specs) I doubt that would be a problem. These extractors are designed to push the spreading "claws" well past the case mouth so they can open fully into the chamber ahead of the case mouth (either by "spring action" or by a plunger being forced back into the shaft) then, when the tool is extracted, they pull back until they engage the case mouth. Some designs are also length adjustable ... by screwing the shaft in or out of the base ... although I can't tell from the photos on the Brownell's site whether this .303 extractor is adjustable that way or not.

Anyway, while searching, I did find the broken case extractor I have for all of my Cowboy Action rifles chambered in .45 Colt. When I went in search of one, I could not locate one made for .45 Colt - perhaps because rifles and carbines were not chambered for that cartridge historically. Nowadays, there are lots made for cowboy action shooting (which is possible because of the 20th century re-design of the .45 Colt casing to give it a wider rim and an extractor claw groove ahead of the rim) so maybe somebody makes one now. Back then however, I tried out a buddy's extractor made for .44-40, and it worked like a charm on .45 Colt (despite slightly different case lengths and mouth diameters) so that is what I bought ... and why I figure that a .303 extractor will most likely work fine for .30-40 krag ...

Niederlander · March 04, 2018, 07:12:41 AM

Think I'll do a bit of research to see whether a .303 British or 7.62 x 54R would be closest. It occurred to me yesterday these can't be such a precision tool that something else wouldn't probably work well. I had a case separate in my '95 Winchester once during a stage, and it took a while to get it out of there.

pony express · March 04, 2018, 07:45:48 AM

I think the only one I have ever seen didn't have the plunger , just spring loaded "claws", but that was 20+ years ago. Had to take one of my .303s to a gunsmith when I learned the lesson about not using .303 range pickup brass........

Niederlander · March 04, 2018, 08:01:56 AM

Yep! I have to keep the brass for my two .303's separate, and then neck size only. I was amazed the first time I noticed how much the shoulder moves forward in an SMLE!

cpt dan blodgett · March 06, 2018, 07:15:14 PM

Think maybe a 3006 might work if you used a cleaning rod to push out of the barrel. Pretty sure the extractor on the krag would not grip the rimless case but may work from the other end.