Original 38/40 with old spent cartridge in chamber without its head

[Cannonman1]

Just discovered that my original 73 has an old cartridge case still in the chamber without its head.. Went to try an empty case in the chamber and when it wouldnt fit .. smelled a rat. I looked closely and sure enough, there is a shell casing body in there.. Any suggestions as to what size extractor to use on this?? I am sure its good and stuck having been in there for who knows how long!!

[Ranch 13]

 Run a rod with a 41 caliber jag and a flannel patch down from the muzzle. If that doesn't knock it out, then drop a pull thru cleaning rope thru to the muzzle put a flannel patch on the threaded end of a bronze brush and pull it back.

[Niederlander]

You might also try a couple applications of Kroil to the chamber area.  Can't hurt!

[sail32]

When that happened in the .303 Lee Enfield, pushing a loaded cartridge into the chamber and extracting it would usually remove the remains of the broken cartridge casing.

If you try that with your Original Winchester, you can use the same method you use for single loading without the magazine.

Load the cartridge into the chamber with the carrier block in the down position.

[Coffinmaker]

First run some penetrant into the chamber several times then set it sit over night.  Then drive a hard case lead bullet through the bore, from the muzzle.  DO NOT use a steel rod.  Brass or solid wood dowel.  This will also serve to "slug" the bore so you will know what size bullets the rifle wants.

[Tascosa Joe]

I had that happen with my '73 and the final solution was removing the barrel and running a 38 WCF chamber cutter in to cut out the old cartridge.

[dusty texian]

Agree with Joe , use a reamer to clean the chamber . If done slow and easy  ( oily slow by hand  ) it will not hurt chamber or reamer .,,DT

[rbertalotto]

I just had the same issue with a friends 38 special. Case head separated. Everything we did would not remove the case. I finally decided to use a 9mm metric tap. I threaded it into the case and popped it out with a cleaning rod from the muzzle.

I would think a 3/8" tap would work for a 38-40?

[Abilene]

Shotgun Boogie sells these, just for .38 and .45

https://sbgwllc.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/broken-brass-extractor-cal-357mag-38spec

[Cannonman1]

Thanks for all the suggestions.. I am going to try cerrosafe .. plug the barrel just forward of the chamber, fill the chamber with cerrosafe and then drive out the plug with hopefully the brass along with it. 

Thanks again !!