Thread: Whats this for

Originally Posted by raydafish

Modified or not mr. Zimmer?

I cannot tell as I have disposed of all my P14s so cannot look at them anymore, except to say, at a guess only, given the very sharp tip, probably not. But that is a guess. I'm sure mine were slightly polished on the tips as even though they would ride over the rim bits of brass would not be stripped and build up in that area.

There may have been more than just playing with the tip ie some relief to let the back of the extractor to have clearance to spring. I doubt this though as this would weaken the tip.
More likely, in the case of 7.62 conversions, the slot cut in the barrel at the back of the chamber for the extractor may have been cut in such a manner to allow the extractor tip enough movement/clearance as it slid over the rim.
In which case, if the OP's rifle is still a 303B all I have said is shit so disregard my babbling.

Interestingly, my CZ 223 which is a controlled feed mini-Mauser tells me in the manual that I can single load without going thru the mag. I did this for quite a while when range shooting and then noticed a lot of brass particles had been liberated by doing that. I removed the extractor claw and polished it and that seemed to eliminate the issue.

Another point is the difference in rim size 303B to 7.62. My first P14 had a ring sweated onto the bolt face to support the rim of the 7.62 into the extractor. My second P14 had no such mod but functioned flawlessly. Both my rifles were ex 303B P14s, not M17 30-06 conversions.