Anybody else have problems with challenger shells ejecting from their pump action. My 870 express works fine with the federal shells we normally use, but the challengers just don't want to eject most of the time. I'm pretty sure the extractor isn't getting a good grip on the rim of the shell so it can't pull it out, because the rim seems to be much more rounded than the federal shells. Maybe its the extractor, but I want to know if anyone else had problems to be sure.
Challenger shells problem
- Thread starter GYRO 101
- Start date
I normally shoot Federal but I have noticed that there was one brand where one box was a little oversized compared to what I was used to. I think it was Remington. All Challengers have worked fine for me. I only use them for hunting (a couple of times per year).
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
hmmmm, just got a box last week cause they were cheap. I'll try a few out tomorrow to see what they shoot like.
Challenger hulls are made by Cheddite and are very similar to Federal hulls in construction.
I would ensure there is no dirt under the extractor and that the extractor isn't worn.
Check the chamber as well.
I have reloaded several thousand Challenger shells several times with trap loads and do not get any problems with extraction and ejection in any guns.
I would ensure there is no dirt under the extractor and that the extractor isn't worn.
Check the chamber as well.
I have reloaded several thousand Challenger shells several times with trap loads and do not get any problems with extraction and ejection in any guns.
Thanks for the replies everybody. This was just one box of challengers I used one the weekend when I came home from toronto for the weekend. My dad was using them before with the same gun and he said he liked them, so maybe it warrants further investigation on that particular box of shells and the extractor/chamber.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Are you sure that it isn't because federal primers are not harder,
or the firing pin recess possibly needs a cleaning.
I have repaired several O/U shotguns with a misfire on one barrel by removing the firing pin and giving the recess a good cleaning. One O/U had random misfires with only Activ hulls on the top barrel - that turned out to be a broken firing pin. New firing pin - problem solved.
It is very easy to check the firing pin protrusion on a single shot.
Open the action, then pull the trigger and push the hammer forward to push the firing pin forward so it protrudes from the front of the breech face.
If it isn't chipped or broken but doesn't stick out very far I would suspect dirt or crud in the recess.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
No, check out the base of the Federal 12 ga shell, the primer is seated deep, compared to other brands. I've had that pin replaced, but the replacement was just more of the same. When I need a shotgun now I carry a pump, so it has become a non-issue to me. Activ shells always fired reliably in that gun, it was just Federals that were a problem.
Thank you for the heads up on primers in Federal shot shells. I will be finding my depth micrometer and checking on this.
