Extraction Failure with Marlin XT-22 - HELP!

[iareConfusE]

I've got this bolt action rifle that I've shot only twice, and since the first time I've shot it, I have had extraction issues with every type of ammo I've tried out of this gun. It is a complete failure to extract about 60% of the time. The fired case will remain in the chamber without even a hint of slightly being extracted. Doesn't matter how fast or how slowly I pull the bolt back after firing the round.

For any other XT-22 owners out there: Is your extractor chamfered at the bottom edge like mine is? See the red circle in the picture. I'm thinking this might have something to do with the failure to extract if it isn't supposed to be this way.



Is there a quick and easy fix for this like bending the extractor in further? I really don't want to have to hassle with shipping the gun back to Marlin.

[Tank 57]

If you chamber a round by hand and tip the rifle, does the round fall out? Something could be hanging up in chamber. Would try cleaning thoroughly. Has gun been dry fired? If chamber is peened, can cause issues.

[iareConfusE]

If you chamber a round by hand and tip the rifle, does the round fall out? Something could be hanging up in chamber. Would try cleaning thoroughly. Has gun been dry fired? If chamber is peened, can cause issues.

Gun has been cleaned thoroughly. Less than 100 rounds through it so it's barely fouled at all. Dry fired only once or twice, not repeatedly enough to peen the chamber, that's for sure. I've looked down the barrel from the rear with the bolt out and a flashlight illuminating it through the muzzle. Nothing visible that would cause it to hang, looks glassy smooth.

I just tested putting a round in by hand and tilting the rifle. It does fall right out.

[DB>]

There can be some wildly varying case dimensions, particularly on cheap .22LR... sample a number of rounds as suggested before you conclude it's not the chamber/case area at issue. The next thing to double check is that the extractor is actually engaging the rim - I just had to do a little filing on a .22wmr rifle extractor that was not reliably "hooking", so it would just slip right off the case (which was also having some chamber/case issues with one brand of ammo!).

Since it's about 40% working, you've probably got a minor tolerance related issue that's keeping it from 100%. With a bolt action, the extractor doesn't get any assist from blowback, so it must engage firmly to extract.

[iareConfusE]

There can be some wildly varying case dimensions, particularly on cheap .22LR... sample a number of rounds as suggested before you conclude it's not the chamber/case area at issue. The next thing to double check is that the extractor is actually engaging the rim - I just had to do a little filing on a .22wmr rifle extractor that was not reliably "hooking", so it would just slip right off the case (which was also having some chamber/case issues with one brand of ammo!).

Since it's about 40% working, you've probably got a minor tolerance related issue that's keeping it from 100%. With a bolt action, the extractor doesn't get any assist from blowback, so it must engage firmly to extract.

I put my rifle on safe, and chambered a bunch of rounds and extracted them by working the bolt. All came out flawlessly. It seems to just be having trouble extracting after the case expands a bit after firing.

[DB>]

When they were sticking in the chamber, did you have to use a rod/dowel to get them out, or could you manually pry them out fairly easily?

On that .22 wmr I had to use a dowel to get the spent casings from one brand out, the other two brands of ammo came out easily, but would stovepipe, as the extractor wasn't catching them reliably, so blowback was "ejecting" them improperly. I ended up cleaning and lightly polishing the chamber so that the problematic brand fully seated (they would stick just slightly out of the chamber when dropped in, even though the bolt seated them reliably). THEN, I had to slightly file the extractor so it would reliably latch onto the rim, as it was not quite getting fully hooked. Multiple things slightly "out" causing the problem, sounds a lot like what you're seeing. Also had to do a bit of cleanup on the feed ramp (semi-auto) as the rim was pushing the case up aggressively and causing the case to jam slightly.

It's possible that the case is expanding when fired and causing it to get stuck, but there shouldn't be too much expansion in a .22lr, and it shouldn't be random so that it works sometimes... most likely a little cleanup in the right spots will get it to run perfectly if you're handy.

It's always tricky to diagnose without being there in person, but hopefully these suggestions will get you to the root of the problem.

I know it's frustrating when a new gun doesn't run perfectly, but think of it as an opportunity to learn a little bit about gun smithing and how to make your gun run better! It shouldn't take much to solve the problem!

[iareConfusE]

When they were sticking in the chamber, did you have to use a rod/dowel to get them out, or could you manually pry them out fairly easily?

On that .22 wmr I had to use a dowel to get the spent casings from one brand out, the other two brands of ammo came out easily, but would stovepipe, as the extractor wasn't catching them reliably, so blowback was "ejecting" them improperly. I ended up cleaning and lightly polishing the chamber so that the problematic brand fully seated (they would stick just slightly out of the chamber when dropped in, even though the bolt seated them reliably). THEN, I had to slightly file the extractor so it would reliably latch onto the rim, as it was not quite getting fully hooked. Multiple things slightly "out" causing the problem, sounds a lot like what you're seeing. Also had to do a bit of cleanup on the feed ramp (semi-auto) as the rim was pushing the case up aggressively and causing the case to jam slightly.

It's possible that the case is expanding when fired and causing it to get stuck, but there shouldn't be too much expansion in a .22lr, and it shouldn't be random so that it works sometimes... most likely a little cleanup in the right spots will get it to run perfectly if you're handy.

It's always tricky to diagnose without being there in person, but hopefully these suggestions will get you to the root of the problem.

I know it's frustrating when a new gun doesn't run perfectly, but think of it as an opportunity to learn a little bit about gun smithing and how to make your gun run better! It shouldn't take much to solve the problem!

I could easily remove them by prying them out with my fingernail.

I'm considering polishing the chamber. I just need to find the right tool to do it with. I'm thinking a cleaning patch with some polishing compound put on a cleaning rod and just rotated by hand for a little bit? I can regulate the depth that the rod goes in so I only polish the length of a 22LR case.

[M1NM]

Chamber is still rough with only 100 rounds through it. Take a cleaning brush in a drill and spin it in the chamber for a minute or so to polish it up. Work it in and out so you don't make grooves.

[AR22]

As M1NM said. Buzz the Chamber with a bronze brush lightly. Just make sure you gauge the depth of the brush as you do not want to buzz the rifling. You could even wrap a little bit of medium steel wool into the bristles of the brush.

Do this and I am very confident the problem will disappear.

[DB>]

I did my chamber polishing with a Dremel, some small wool buffing bits I got off ebay, and some fine automotive cleaning compound, followed by making sure it was good and clean. Probably will solve the problem, but there's still a chance the extractor is having a problem hooking on properly. Take it one thing at a time and you'll get it!

[SkyHawk]

Does not look like it has that angle here. I would get a new extractor and try it.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/402940U