[Neal]

This is really a parts question, not accessories, but there is no specific forum for parts, so I'll ask it here. Do you pistolsmiths have any favorite extractors for the Series 80 ? AFTEC does not make one, so that leaves Colt, Wilson, Ed Brown and probably some others. Of those do you have a favorite and why ?

Thanks,
Neal

 

[Shane1911]

I'm not a smith, but I have used just about every aftermarket extractor out there. I found that Wilson's Bulletproof kept its tension the best after initial adjustment.

 

[38 Super Combat Commander]

I will second the man with the Wilson Combat extractors.I also am not a gunsmith.

 

[CT Brian]

I've had pretty good luck with the Wilson Bulletproof on Series 80's. Hope this helps.

Cheers, Tim

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: CT Brian on 2001-03-30 11:26 ]</font>

 

[Hilton Yam]

For what it's worth, I've had lousy luck with Wilson BP extractors. I've had about 5 or 6 break. The standard Wilson and the Brown both seem to be working very well. The Brown has been the easiest to fit up.

 

[Matt N]

Good question. A friend is currently building a full size on a caspian stainless frame and stainless slide.

He wants everything to be stianless, including the extractor. Any comments? Sources?

 

[Shane1911]

On 2001-03-31 16:19, Matt N wrote:
Good question. A friend is currently building a full size on a caspian stainless frame and stainless slide.

He wants everything to be stianless, including the extractor. Any comments? Sources?

I believe Action Works makes a stainless extractor (available thru Brownell's). I don't have any experience with them.

What I have done on my stainless guns is to simply polish the end of the extractor where it is visible from the rear of the slide. I obviously prefer Wilson extractors (see above) and by removing the "bluing" from the back end of the extractor, I can still use an otherwise black extractor in my stainless guns, and it doesn't look out of place at all.

 

[Hilton Yam]

Caspian sells stainless extractors. Brownells has SS extractors from Action Works.

 

[Matt N]

Thanks for the info. Couldn't find them in the Brownell's catalog. He did, however, manage to get one through the gunsmith that has been helping him with this project. I'm not sure if it was Action Works or Caspian.

Any thoughts on stainless versus a standard steel alloy. I've been told that stainless is either too soft to keep the proper spring or when hardened it becomes too brittle.

Based on production guns coming with stainless extractors. (They do have stainless extracotrs don't they? The only stainless gun I own is off waiting to be worked on.) I suspect this may have been remedied.

I appreciate the info. My friend is not big on the computer, but I've been passing along odds and ends gleaned from the various forums. It just might peak his intrest a bit more.

 

[Guest]

Wilson BP extractors failing?

My curiosity is aroused. I've seen comments from both Hilton and MadDog indicating a high failure rate of these extractors.
My own experience has been extremely positive. I have tuned and fit many Wilson BP extractors with not a single failure.
The Wilson BP's also seem to be VERY consistent in heat-treat and very resistant to 'going out of tune'.
I've got a couple of questions. How many of these have you fit? How many have failed?
By what method do you tune/bend the extractor?
In a slightly different vein, I have no use for the Aftec extractors in anything but a race gun. The hooks are overly deep, the lower radius too small and the tension too great for 'fighting gun' reliability.

 

[Neal]

On 2001-04-01 16:54, Chuck Rogers wrote:

In a slightly different vein, I have no use for the Aftec extractors in anything but a race gun. The hooks are overly deep, the lower radius too small and the tension too great for 'fighting gun' reliability.

Chuck, can any or all the these three "undesirable features" of the AFTEC be changed or modified so that it would be a suitable extractor in a fighting gun? I'm not wanting to start any contraversy(sp?), but I think Dane Burns uses the AFTEC in his 9X23's as standard procedure. of course Dane is not here to confirm or deny this, but this is what I picked up from reading his, and/or, some of his customers posts.

Neal

Recent lesson in life: Difference of opinion is what makes the 1911 world go 'round. :smile:

 

[Bob Londrigan]

Neal,

There are several thing that can be done to make them more reliable, however their literature states that any modifications will void the warranty. I spent a couple of hours on the phone with them one day going over what things could be done because I was having some problems with them in STI slides. I'm sure they have had problems with people modifying them when there was something else wrong and then wanting Aftec to warranty the extractors after someone has butchered it. Chuck is right about the tension but you can usually compress the springs and get them to be very reliable. I only use them in 9x23, 38 super, and 38 super comp. The hooks are deep because they want the hook to be the bearing surface on the extractor not the belly of the extractor. This works well on 38 super but not for the 45.

 

[Guest]

On 2001-03-31 09:45, Hilton Yam wrote:
For what it's worth, I've had lousy luck with Wilson BP extractors. I've had about 5 or 6 break. The standard Wilson and the Brown both seem to be working very well. The Brown has been the easiest to fit up.

Hilton,
I had two failed Wilson BP extractors until I tried using Wilson's oversize firing pin stop and fitting them together, both instances happened on Colt slides.
I have had the same system installed on my Kimber and it has functioned flawlessly since day one.

 

[Hilton Yam]

Chuck:
The BP extractors were factory fitted in various pistols. They all broke at around 5000 rounds. Mad Dog's quotes re: BP
extractor failure was second hand from me, and I don't know that he has actually had any failings with them himself. The BP extractors received as warranty replacements have not broken to date. Any extractors tensioned were done so in manually with a vise.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gunnar Christensen]

I REALLY like and trust Caspians and use the series 70 unless someone really wants to keep the firing pin safety stuff. I used Wilsons about 8 years ago, had a few lose tension, tried Ed Brown ones, had one lose tension. In the last 6 years, I have not had ANY Caspians lose tension, except for the guy with overcharge and blown case - yes, he lost tension. This is well over 200 extractors, most in various race guns and Standard guns with from 6,000 to well over 80,000 rounds on them. My sponsored shooter changed his after about 60,000 rounds because it had a noticeable groove worn in it. Still working fine. A lot of these guys I've trained to check their extractor tension every major cleaning - 500 to 1,000 rounds.

I have mixed feelings about Afteks. I have 6 of my competition guns out there working flawlessly with them,but four of them needed spring replacement within the first 500 rounds. Lost tension. These hings cost well over $100 in Canada! Better a pair of fitted Caspians for peace of mind.


By the way, 5 years ago, with a 9x40Armco bottleck cased gun (sorta like a .357SIG) I used a modified Caspian .45 extractor and that thing between my wife and I we've put over 40,000 rounds on it. With a scope on it, it still puts all its empties in about an 8" area. Always has. Checked many times, never readjusted. I plan to try this setup on one of the .40S&W Standard guns one day...may not improve anything as they work pretty good with the .38 ones, but a little more positive?? The .45 hook is a LOT bigger...

 

[Casey]

Hello all.

Dane does like to use the AFTEC extractor on the 9x23 Win. At least, on the Colt that he modified for me, he put one in. It is a series 80, and by removing the series 80 safety and putting in a filler piece, he was able to use the AFTEC.

The gun is not for carry or self defense. Although, I must admit, it would be very tempting to use it for HD. This is the most reliable 1911 I have ever used, not a single failure in the first 1200 rounds! Not one! And it is the just as accurate as the Kimber Gold Match!

Casey

 

[Dane Burns]

Chuck and I would disagree on the usefulness of the AFTEC. But I respect his opinion on the subject. I don't recommend the AFTEC for use out side an urban enviroment...but as long as you can clean your gun at a bench, the AFTEC is a better mouse trap IMO.

I use it on the 38 Super or 9x23 and have had no problems in a 45 either.

The AFTEC has limitations but I would never balk at using one in my personal carry gun with few caveats.