New extractor won't fit!?

[Mhanis]

I have a Colt series 70 repro with 500 rounds through it. I have had brass hit me in the head on a few occasions, but not many. I am not excited about packing the thing up and sending it back for warranty work if it is something I can fix myself rather easily and inexpensively. For what it is worth, I have never noticed any clocking of the extractor.

I purchased a Wilson Combat extractor and put it in place, but I cannot get the firing pin stop back into place. I can get it inserted enough that the top if it will cover and hold the firing pin, but it will not slide all the way in and lock.

This is my first experience doing this type of thing. Is this the type of fix that I need to bring to a gunsmith, or should it just drop right in?

[wichaka]

Take the extractor and try to put the firing pin stop in the notch of the extractor. It should be a good snug fit.

If it is a snug fit, it'll be a precise alignment of both to get them in the gun. At first can be a bit frustrating, but well worth it.

[1911Tuner]

Wilson Combat extractors have a little extra meat in the FP stop slot. Some FP stops may require a little light fitting on the right side...viewing the gun from the rear.

[Mhanis]

Tuner,
It appears that the new extractor does in fact have a bit more meat on it. If I have to shave a bit of metal, should I not take it off the extractor, and not the firing pin stop?

My thinking is, if I mess something up I would rather it be an aftermarket part than an OEM part.

[1911Tuner]

Take it from the side of the stop. Less chance of makin' it catty-wampus and holding the extractor in a fixed clock. Besides...The OEM stop is cheaper than the Wilson extractor. Always file on the cheaper part whenever possible.,

[Mhanis]

Good info, thanks.
But I always thought it was "Taddy-wumpas".

[Mhanis]

I purchased a new firing pin stop from Wilson Combat and did a bit of filing on it to get a nice snug fit with the new extractor.

I went into an open area and watched where the brass was going using the OEM parts....it went EVERYWHERE. I put in the 2 Wilson parts and it seemed that all of the brass was going directly over my head and behind me about 6', that is better than the forehead!

I guess my question at this point is what direction SHOULD the brass go? This is my first 1911, so if over my head is normal, than I am golden.

[patriotswrath]

Did you adjust the tension on the extractor when you put it in? Generally the Wilson extractor is pretty tightly tensioned when you just drop it in a Colt. It sounds like it may be a tad tight to me. But if it's running OK and your happy don't worry about it. Technically the brass should fly a bit to the right to pass over your shoulder more than your head.

[atomemphis]

I was under the impression that the brass was to go between 3 & 6 (if you are facing 12).

How do you determine if its a extractor issue rather than an ejector issue?

[Mhanis]

Did you adjust the tension on the extractor when you put it in? Generally the Wilson extractor is pretty tightly tensioned when you just drop it in a Colt. It sounds like it may be a tad tight to me. But if it's running OK and your happy don't worry about it. Technically the brass should fly a bit to the right to pass over your shoulder more than your head.

The new extractor DOES have much more tension than the OEM part; are you saying that I should tweak it a little bit to take a touch of the tension out?

And is that accomplished by simply bending it a bit?

Sheesh.....I didn't know I was getting into gunsmith black-magic here!!

I seem to recall someone saying something about directions for "tuning" an extractor. Is that a sticky thread somewhere?

[John]

Technical Issues forum, there is an article on extractor installation and tuning by Bill Wilson.

[patriotswrath]

The new extractor DOES have much more tension than the OEM part; are you saying that I should tweak it a little bit to take a touch of the tension out?

And is that accomplished by simply bending it a bit?

Sheesh.....I didn't know I was getting into gunsmith black-magic here!!

I seem to recall someone saying something about directions for "tuning" an extractor. Is that a sticky thread somewhere?


Essentially yes.

Here's the sticky.

Bill Wilson Extractor Link (http://www.m1911.org/technic2.htm)

[Mhanis]

Many thanks guys.......I'll see where this gets me.