My 92 Rossi in 44/40 seems to really hit over the rims pretty hard. I can actually see damage to the brass rim after the cases eject.

I was told that it was common to polsih the extractor hook and even sometimes to file down the extractor a little to make it glide gently and smoothly over the rim.

Just curious if others here have also modified the extractor.

Thanks,

Buck1

I wouldn't recommend filing it down, but polishing is almost mandatory on these guns. Polishing the extractor will make a huge difference in your after-fired case condition.

On my Rossi Puma .45 colt, it was the ejector that was putting big nics in the case rims. A combination of a super heavy ejector spring, and some sharp edges was what caused it.
Polishing the edges and reducing the springs strength pretty much cured it.

Joe

Thanks.

Just do the polishing with some 400-600 grit wet-dry sandpaper and then maybe run a dremel polishing wheel over it?

QUICK QUESTION:

ARE BRASS CARTRIDGES MADE WIH THAT SLIGHT LITLE ANGLE ON THE EDGE OF THE RIMS ON PURPOSE? IS THE ANGLE THERE TO ALLOW THE EXTRACTOR TO GLIDE OVER THE RIM EASIER? AND WHAT ABOUT EJECTING OUT FROM BEING HELD ONTO THE BOLT? IS THE ANGLE ON THE RIM ALSO TO MAKE THE CARTRIDGE EJECT BETTER?


Buck

Buck,

The bevel on the edges of the case rim varies from brand to brand, and even from case to case.
Both the black powder case I have, and the smokeless case has very little bevel to it.

As far a polishing, I'd go easy and not remove any metal at first. I looked at my Rossi .45 Colt and the forward end of the extractor has an angle at the lower edge that allows it to slide up over the case rim. If yours doesn't have this angle, or the angle is too shallow, that could explain the damage to the rims. Check out my drawing below.

I also took some dummy rounds and cycled them through the action. I noticed that the rims never went under the extractor untill the bolt closed and it snapped up over them.
So I suppose a bad angle, or a really rough area could damage the cases.

On the ejector the two projecting parts have sharp edges at the point where they contact the case. These in combination with the super strong ejector spring was putting gouges in my cases as they would were pushed into the chamber. I had to file the metal down just to get the case into my shell holders to reload them.
The gunsmith polished these a bit, and put in a lighter spring.

The one thing I did to determine where the case damage was coming from was to use a Sharpie marker and mark the case. I'd then feed it into the loading gate with my mark at the 12:00 position, and cycle it into the chamber and fire it. But before ejecting it, I'd note if I could see the mark or not. It was always at, or near the 12:00 position. By doing this and noting where the damage to the case was I figured out what was causing the damage.

Hope I have helped, and not gotten too wordy. And I hope the drawing helps too.


Joe

Thanks Joe.

That was really cool of you to provide that drawing for me.

I guess what I am going to do is start taking the rifle apart and inspecting parts. The rifle is a all blued, round 20" barrel s.r. carbine in 44-40. It's an older Rossi with the serial number stamped on the bottom of the receiver.

That last little bit of bolt closure just seems too hard, but the ejector spring is pretty light (doesn't throw an empty case far at all). I really think it is not smoothly gliding over the rims.

Regarding the beveled edge of cartridges, I thought that slight little bevel was done purposely for ejecting cartridges. Not only for the ejector hook to glide over it smoother, but also when the rim is held tight into between the bolt and the extractor, when it ejects doesn't the slight bevel make the rim glide better off the back of the bolt when the ejector hit's on it? This is what I had thought the bevel was for. I could be wrong (I'm just assuming). Also, could a cartridge without any bevel work and eject just fine in a '92?

Also, I was thinking, is there any special way to modify the ejector to make cartridges eject better? Just curious.

I have heard that there is a special carrier they sell to help the 92 for rapid-fire cowboy action shooting. Anyone ever here of what the difference is with the special carrier?

Thanks,

Buck

Buck,

I have seen and used cartridges in my handgun caliber leverguns that had very little bevel on the edges of the rims. It didn't make any difference. From what you described I'm thinking you either have a mal-formed or very rough extractor.

As for the special carrier, I don't know of any. The gunsmith that worked my gun over altered mine so I could use longer cartridges than standard. The only thing he did, that I can see, is to remove metal from the shoulder at the back of the carrier. He must have done something to the guides as well, but I can't see anything.

Here is the info for the Rossi and LSI factory warrenty gunsmith. He should be be able to answer more of your questions than I can. Plus he sells parts too.
Call Mike at:

M&M Gunsmithing
204 South Union ST.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 739-2150
E-mail: mandmgunsmithing@netzero.com

Joe