**fixed** problem with my Ruger M77 MkII...

manbearpig

manbearpig

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this is only happening on one of my beloved Ruger M77 MkIIs, but its an annoying problem nonetheless.

if i work the bolt FAST, it will not eject the spent casing. the rifle is clean, in perfect working condition.
i think the problem is that if the bolt is worked lightning fast then the blade of the ejector doesnt have time to spring up into it's slot in the bolt, and the case just passes over it. if i work the bolt slower there is no problem. i have no idea why this affects only one of them, but ive made sure the ejector blade is squeaky clean and lightly oiled.

anyone else experience this problem? is there a remedy?
the only other reference ive found to this issue is on a dated African PH article:
african-hunter.com/lessons_learned.htm

now im worried about my other Ruger M77 MkIIs and whether or not this problem will arise in the field when dirt/snow/etc are introduced into the mix. would disassembling the rifle, mirror-polishing the ejector blade, and replacing the spring for a stronger one be the solution?

(please dont just tell me to 'work the bolt slower' - that is not an acceptable solution to me on any rifle.)
 
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What an extraction problem on a Ruger.... not possible;)

Mauser actions are usually very reliable and I have never had one have an ejection issue on my Mausers. If you disassemble the bolt and can't find the issue, you might want a smith to check it over...
 
theres nothing on the bolt but a crescent shaped cutout for the ejector near the bolt head.
when you pull the bolt back, a spring-loaded ejector blade pops up into this cutout. if i manually poke the ejector it doesnt seem to be binding or anything, but on this rifle if i work the bolt really fast it seems like it doesnt have time to fully spring into position and the case just rides over it instead of hitting it.

not an extraction problem - an ejection problem. it extracts them fine.
 
I've never had an issue like that wiht a Ruger, so don't know the real solution, but maybe a stronger spring is required. Personally, I'd ask over in the gunsmithing section, as most of the answers here will just start talking about how their T3/Remchester doens't have ejection issues;)
 
hehe. did you look at that link? the guy really rips on the Remington extractor. how much of what he is complaining about actually applies to modern medium-bore rifles, as opposed to the older dangerous game rifles they are using?

ive never actually had one fail but the Remmy extractors look awful wimpy next to the Ruger ones (i took the liberty of magnifying the image and adding an arrow pointing to the Rem extractor so it would be easier to find for people that are unfamiliar with the Remmys).
remmyextractorlf8.jpg


i think i will just polish the ejector blade and see if that helps, then look around for a stronger spring. i dont think polishing the ejector can hurt it.
 
OK, problem solved.

the actual ejector was easy to remove. i couldnt find any instructions on how to remove it but just ended up figuring it out. there is a pin holding it, you slightly depress the ejector to relieve spring tension on it, then whack the opposite side of the receiver with something soft (i used the rubber handle of a screwdriver) and the pivot pin just falls out.

the ejector looked like a stamped metal piece that was then hardened. its insanely hard so polishing it was tedious and it didnt really need it anyways. since it was stamped, however, one entire side off it had a rough sharp edge that stuck out quite a bit. i radiused this with a machinists stone. the upper edge, a sortof shark-fin shape that bears against the bolt when you close it/open it was rough, so i stoned that smooth and polished it. dry-lubed the ejector blade and reinstalled it.

it works flawlessly now. can work the bolt fast as a :ninja: and it will eject at any speed.
 
.308
it was not a difficult fix. due to the way the part is manufactured (stamped), other people may have this problem as well but not know it unless they cycle the bolt really fast. i didnt notice the problem for over a year.

IMO its nothing to panic about. the part would have undoubtedly work-worn eventually just from cycling the action, but the ejector blade is very hardened steel so it might have taken another couple hundred rounds or more to get it this smooth.
 
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