Pistol, expended case extraction

[bruceflinch]

I have a Para P189 9mm. Less than 1000 rounds thru the gun. Intend to use the gun to shoot IDPA.

Been having a failure to extract problem. Shooting my own reloads, mixed headstamps.

I replaced the original extractor (spring/claw type) w/ a Brown standard type. I tuned it Friday, tested it Saturday & it worked ok w/ 50 rounds

Still had 2 failure to extracts in 90 rounds Sunday. I have 4 magazines, but don't think it is limited to a particular mag. I did blow it by not noting the headstamp of the cases that FTE or the magazine I was using.

The question is, could the brass cases be the culprit? What else should I be looking at?

Appreciate your comments.

[eaglemike]

As you suspect, it's not the magazines.

Clean the chamber well. Check headspace if you can - it's likely good, buyt doesn't hurt to check. Even Para has an off day. Most likely brass or extractor. Hard to guess from here, but likely extractor. You did get a 9mm extractor, right? (not everyone knows the difference, and some just get a 1911 extractor, which usually means .45).

As a test for brass/load, get 100 or 200 rounds of factory. If it runs, it's the reloads.

ETA: forgot to mention, and maybe you already did - clean the extractor channel relly well. How did you tune the extractor? Is it properly shaped so it doesn't hit on the barrel out on the end? I've seen a few exractors that were a bit long, hit the barrel as the clearance cut wasn't big enough for that extractor, pushing it out a bit.

all the best,
Mike

[bruceflinch]

Thanks Mike.
Tonight I'll go thru some 9mm rounds & separate by head stamp. Wed, I'll test the two different extractors w/ similar headstamps. At this point I think it might be the oddball brass.

That Para Claw extractor is supposed to be pretty reliable. I took it apart & that beefy spring made it a real bear to put back together.

Will report back!
Thanks again, Mike

[eaglemike]

You're welcome! I'm sending you lots of good luck! Troubleshooting from a distance is sorta a swag.....

all the best,
Mike

[ar15barrels]

Troubleshooting from a distance is sorta a swag.....

I love talking to people that know what a wag and a swag are, especially people that know how much a ch and a rch are...

[eaglemike]

I love talking to people that know what a wag and a swag are, especially people that know how much a ch and a rch are...

learned that one my first year in the shop, IIRC. We still had a lineshaft driving some equipment.......

[bruceflinch]

I learned the SWAG method of Navigation in the Navy! I learned the ch & rch in Solar Construction.

So last night I sorted out about 250 rounds. lot of R-P, & Win. Some FC, PMC, CCI, Speer & 3-5 different headstamps I never saw before.

Shot 125 rounds w/ each extractor, the Para Claw & a Ed Brown. I had one failure w/ each. One w/ PMC brass & one w/ Winchester brass.

On the + side, I'm now down to less than 1% FTE. But I'm at a loss on what to do next. Not sure if it will improve as the gun is shot more, but I will be finding that out, I guess.

At this point, I will clean the heck out of the gun (Unique & lead bullets get the gun pretty dirty) & take it to Richmond & shoot an IDPA Classifier on Saturday. I'll also take a revolver in case!

[eaglemike]

Are you using Bear Creek, or another coated bullet? If not, give them a try! You'll like them a lot. You might also try International Clays if you can get your hands on some. I could wag a starting load, and you take it from there. Do you have chrono access? What weight bullet are you shooting? While there isn't a lot of data out there for a 135, I've found them to work prety well. Bear Creek has a 135rn, easy to load and shoot, feeds every time, doesn't lead, etc...... He also has several 125's and a 147. Press and gun stays waaay cleaner than conventional lead stuff.

all the best,
Mike

[WeRmany]

I learned the SWAG method of Navigation in the Navy! I learned the ch & rch in Solar Construction.

So last night I sorted out about 250 rounds. lot of R-P, & Win. Some FC, PMC, CCI, Speer & 3-5 different headstamps I never saw before.

Shot 125 rounds w/ each extractor, the Para Claw & a Ed Brown. I had one failure w/ each. One w/ PMC brass & one w/ Winchester brass.

On the + side, I'm now down to less than 1% FTE. But I'm at a loss on what to do next. Not sure if it will improve as the gun is shot more, but I will be finding that out, I guess.

At this point, I will clean the heck out of the gun (Unique & lead bullets get the gun pretty dirty) & take it to Richmond & shoot an IDPA Classifier on Saturday. I'll also take a revolver in case!

Check the diameter of that Ed Brown extractor at the midspan ball. It's probably smaller than the Para. EGW sells an extractor with a sleeve as a Para retrofit.

How did you check the extractor tension with the Ed Brown?

Berry's or Montana Gold bullets will keep the gun a lot cleaner.

Mixed brass makes the whole thing a lot harder. If it doesn't fit cleanly in the shell holder, discard it.

[bruceflinch]

I am shooting Bear Creek 135's w/ Unique. I know the W231 would burn cleaner

I case guage all my rounds after assembly & before storage.

The Ed Brown is not as wide as the Para. I took the slide off the frame & adjusted the tension so the extractor would hold a live round in the claw turned in any direction.

I think the Para grips the case tighter, but both types had one FTE.