Savage Model 12 Extractor Retroit

In the process of adding an additional cartridge to one of my Savage Model 12 switch-barrel rifles, a cartridge with a smaller diameter case rim would come into play. This cartridge was Federal’s new .224 Valkyrie, which has gained considerable popularity, particularly in AR-type rifles. The existing barrels already fitted to the rifle were a .308 Winchester with a Broughton barrel, an E. R. Shaw 6.5x55mm Mauser bar- This helps in squaring-up of the locking lugs against the bilateral races in the receiver.

Shown at upper left is the case ejector with the modified extractor at right. The extractor extends farther into the bolt face recess than the original part and has a greater slope on the claw of the extractor to accommodate extraction of smaller rim diameter size cartridges. rel, a .22 PPC with Shilen 1:14 twist, and a .223 Remington with original Savage Varminter barrel and bolt. Before I move on to the .224 Valkyrie case extraction issue that I bumped into, I’ll reveal my grand scheme of things for this rifle.

This rifle would include one of four chamberings to be slated in a series of special tests with four switch-barrel rifles chambered for the .224 Valkyrie in 1:7 and 1:14 twist and two chamberings in the .22 PPC in 1:7 and 1:14 twist. Some pretty serious testing would take place and I wanted to be fully prepared with the best equipment possible.

Extraction Problems Ensue Preliminary tests of the existing Savage Model 12 bolt face and extractor clearly revealed that the extractor claw would not extend far enough into the bolt face to reliably latch on to the smaller .224 Valkyrie case rim. SAAMI lists the case rim diameter for the Valkyrie at 0.422". Standard diameter for .30-06/.308size case rims are listed at 0.472". To further compound the problem, the Federal cases I had for the .224 Valkyrie measure across the rim at 0.415".

My .22 PPC Lapua cases based on the .220 Russian measured 0.440" and they would extract in my Model 12 rifle where I had already

performed minor alterations on the extractor for this case. These problems forced me back to the drawing board and the creation of a push feed extractor that would extract both a 0.472" case head and the smaller 0.415" .224 Valkyrie case rims I would be working with. I was faced with making a very small part to do a very big job, if it was possible. Ball bearing and thrust spring are functional in moving the extractor claw beneath the case rim during extraction.

The spherical cavity is somewhat larger in the modified extractor to increase its lateral travel. A, the ball and spring engaged fully as the case rim contacts extractor bevel. B, thrust of case rim against extractor bevel forces spring loaded ball downward as extractor moves to side. Case can now move fully downward. C, as case rim is pushed fully against the bolt face and past extractor claw, the claw fully engages case extractor groove.

Spring-loaded ball holds extractor against case rim enabling cartridge to be extracted. Creating The Custom Extractor Experience already had alerted me to the fact such an extractor would be a tall order. This small piece of metal weighing but 9.5 grains, scarcely the size of your little finger nail, would be crafted from apiece of special steel found in the square shank of a Craftsman punch. The steel was machinable and du- Far 415" .224 Valkyrie and the 0.472" .308/.30-06 case heads.

Developing an extractor system to handle both cartridges can be a tall order. 224 Valkyrie and larger case rim sizes like the .308 Winchester, .30-06, and similarly-sized cases. These materials are described in text. rable enough to do the job. I made a jig to help in machining the punch stock to precise outer dimensions of the existing part.

During operation the extractor slides through the race milled into the right hand bolt locking lug, where it enters the recess occupied by the cartridge case head and extraction rim flush with the bolt face. During the case chambering process the bolt push-feed action slides a loose cartridge into the chamber. As force is applied by the bolt through the bevel of the spring-loaded extractor, the extractor pops over the case rim and locks on, allowing for cartridge extraction.

An accompanying drawing illustrates this.

Model 12 Savage Case Extractor Dimensions (may vary) Part Dimensions Extractor weight 9.5 grains Width at bottom of flange 0.270" Width at top of extractor 0.183" Overall thickness 0.100" Extractor claw length 0.040" Ball diameter 0.150" Ball drive compression spring length 0.400" Old extractor length 0.265" New extractor length 0.280" Old extractor claw bevel outer surface length 0.065" New extractor claw bevel outer surface length 0.090" Far 30-06 case head solidly against bolt face with modified extractor fully engaged in Savage M12 bolt. 224 Valkyrie case head is locked into the Savage Model 12 bolt face with author’s modified extractor fully engaged in the case rim.

Note how extractor has moved more inward into the locking lug race on this picture. Function of the new extractor produces positive result. This would be ideal where cartridge case heads are all the same workable diameter, however, in this situation they were not. I solved this problem by machining an extractor with the beveled claw approximately 0.035" longer to make up for just over half the diameter differences between the .224 Valkyrie and .308-size case rims.

The socket for the spring-loaded ball bearing, beneath the extractor, was also elongated to accommodate for the required difference in extractor side movement. Some very careful thinking and experimentation was in order but things came together very well. The dimensions below should provide basic information on most of the things that were considered in the Model 12 Savage extractor revision to make possible extraction of different diameter cartridge cases.

As an after-thought, wouldn’t it be nice if such special parts would be available to obviate such a unique problem as I have outlined here? In some cases there are such magic parts… until such time we either do without them or make our own. AG 224 Valkyrie cartridge in the Savage Model 12 rifle made it possible to shoot fine groups such as these. An E. R. Shaw barrel with a 1-7 rifling twist and 52 grain Berger bullets were used. An extractor to fit different cartridge rims helped make it all possible.