Hey guys-
I know this has been tossed around a few times before, but I wasn't able to find the previous threads... so I'll start a new one... I have a friend (no really I do) that is having some problems with his Howa 1500 varmiter. It seems that he is unable to eject the spent cases... its not all the time, but its often enough to bug a guy... here is what I have from him so far...

"I am still having problem with the ejection of the spent round. It has never happened to a live round. It has happened rate after a good cleaning. i.e. cleaning it at home getting ready for the trip. It happens some times when the weapon is hot, but also when it is cold. I have tried both steel
and copper casings and it was happening on both. I am not sure what the problem is... "

Any advice you can give would be apreciated... Thanks in advance

Check the extractor claw, may be worn,angl might be off a bit starting to dis-function.
If not is your brass over expanding in the chamber and hard to get out,causing the claw to break free from the case maybe the chamber is slightly undersized, a hot load could display this, really so many things can cause problems with ejection, sometimes the cut out on the bolt face for the claw is filled with junk, keeps the ejector from seating to the bolt face to be able to grab the carts rim on ejection, if not maybe bring it to a good gunsmith, they can usually figure it out. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

What did he clean? Make sure the ejector (spring loaded plunger in the bolt face if I'm not mistaken) isn't being jammed up by little brass chips.

You said it didn't eject, but did it leave the case in the chamber, or draw it back, but not toss it out?

What did he clean? Make sure the ejector (spring loaded plunger in the bolt face if I'm not mistaken) isn't being jammed up by little brass chips.

You said it didn't eject, but did it leave the case in the chamber, or draw it back, but not toss it out?


I'm not sure if hes cleaned the bolt face or not, but i know hes cleaned everything else really well... when I looked at it (i'm no expert by any means) but the bolt face looked pretty good...

The case is not coming out of the chamber, so he has to go in punch it out...

Well, that's the extractor, or a rough chamber, then.

Tell him to try polishing the chamber with some steel wool, could be a little rust that makes it rough.

after he punches the case out,what does it look like?can you post a pic of it.

after he punches the case out,what does it look like?can you post a pic of it.
I'll try to get one, and get a pic of it...