Building A

“Only accurate r i f l e s are interesting”

Volume 7, Number 3 May-June 1975

- Col. Townsend Whelen Rifle The Magazine for Shooters

I N THIS ISSUE

6mm/.243 ............................................. Bob HageI

9mm Factory Load Comparison. .................... .Clayton Harvey

Fix Falling Block.. ................................. Frank de Haas

Ruger’s Mini-14. ..................................... George Nonte

Signs of the Times. ...................... Mortimer C. Laslow, Ph.D.

The “New” Breech Loader. ............................ Ted Collins

.22 Hornet. ........................................... .Jon Sundra

Gun Laws Don’t Reduce Crime.. ........................ .Neal Knox

ThompsonKenter Seneca ................................ Al Miller

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28

32

35

36

38

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DEPARTMENTS Editorial. ..................... .6

Dear Editor.. ................. .8 Sighting Shots.. .............. .10

Aiming for Answers . . ......... 12 Insights. ..................... 14

NBRSANews.. .............. 34a Classic Rifles. ................ 49

Product Proofing.. ............ 60 BenchReport ................. 64 Trophy Pointers.. ............. 66

This Month’s Cover The Sharps-Borchardt, such as the fine engraved specimen on our cover, is one of the simplest and stronaest desians ever conceived There have been periodic attempts to resurrect it, the latest being the abortive effort by Colt, but the majority of the rifles based on Hugo Borchardt’s design are the original version - highly prized by both collectors and single shot riflemen Transparency by the owner who prefers to remain anonymous, using a 2 1 1 4 x 2 314 Linhof

Adopted in August 1969 as Official Publication For National Bench Rest Shooters Association

R/FLf Magazine is published bi-monthly by Wolfe Publishing Co., Inc.. (Dave Wolfe, President), P.O. Box 3030, Prescott, Arizona 86301. Telephone (602) 445-7810. Second Class Postage paid at Prescott, Arizona, and additional mailing offices. Single copy price of current issues $1.25. Sub- scription price: six issues $6.50; 12 issues $11.50; i 8 issues $15.50 (Outside U.S. possessions and Canada - $7.50. $13.50 and $18.50). Recom- mended toreign sirlyle copy price $1.50. Advertis- ing rates furnished on request. All rights reserved.

Publisher of RIFLf‘is not responsible for mishaps of any nature which might occur from use of published data, or from recommendations by any member of The Staff. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the editor. Manuscripts from free-lance writers must be accompanied by stamped self-addressed envelope and the publisher cannot accept responsibility for lost or mutilated manuscripts. Change of addless: Please give one month’s notice. Send both old and new address, plus mailing label if possible, to Circulation Dept., RIFLf Magazine, P.O. Box 3030, Prescott, Arizona 86301.

The Staff

Neal Knox, Editor and Publisher

Rick Jamison, Assistant Editor

John Wootters, Associate Editor

R.T. Wolfe, Ph. D., Associare Editor

Bob Hagel, Hunting

AI Miller, General Assignment

Maj. George C. Nonte, Military

Jon Sundra, General Assignment

Ken Waters, General Assignment

Edward M. Yard, Ballistics

Don Zutz, General Assignment

Ralph Tanner, Jr., Sales Director

Dave LeGate, Art Director

Barbara Pic keri ng , Production Supervisor

Richard L. Aldis, Staff Photographer

Joyce Bueter, Circulation Manager

Evelyn Cartier, Circulation

Jane Clark, Promotion Manager

Jane Conrad Kosco, Executive Secretary

4

In Handloading-

Ac cu racy

of the game is the name

Warren Page tells how

to build, tune select loads

and shoot "One-Hole" rifles --Whether designed for competition or hunting.

THE AtCURATE RIFLE BY WARREN PAGE

Published by Winchester Press

Ever since the development of gunpowder, riflemen have yearned for the ultimate in rif le accuracy-the abil ity to put shot after shot through the same identical hole. This brand- new book examines this search for greater accuracy from every aspect and details for target shooters and hunters alike the best pro- cedures for making their rifles superaccurate.

Warren Page, winner of nine national bench rest titles, provides the shooter and hunter with detailed practical information on every subject affecting accuracy and analyzes the techniques employed by competitive shooters in creating the equipment and methods that have produced modern rifles consistently capable of holding their shots within Vi inch at a hundred yards.

His topics include: Best methods of shoot- ing from a bench rest; the most accurate sights and scopes and their use; the problems created by wind and mirage and how to deal wi th them; the role of recoil in rif le accuracy; the secrets of bedding a rifle, relating the metal to the wood for peak performance; how to make or select barrels and stocks for the best accuracy; how to select or develop the superaccurate loads that wi l l give the best results in a given rifle.

This is the most up-to-date, authoritative discussion of rif le accuracy anywhere in print. Not only a must for the serious competitive shooter, but highly useful for the practical hunter seeking to increase the size of his bag. ,"""""""""'"""'

I HANDLOADER PRESS I I

f Box 3030 Prescott, Arizona 86301

I Enclosed is $--.-..- for - copies I of THE ACCURATE RIFLE @ $8.95. I f not I comoletelv satisfied. I may return the f books within 10 dais for fu l l refund. I Name I I Address ............................... I

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14

Casting For A Cannon HOOTERS HAVE BEEN known to improvise when faced with

shortages of components and equipment, md some of those ventures have been :restive. But it is doubtful that any modern improvisation has been more xiginal than that technique employed by Zaptain Thomas G. Anderson, a British Jfficer who turned instant handloader for 3 cannon during the Battle for Prairie du Zhien, Wisconsin, in 1814.

As historical background, it must be noted that, in the late 18th and early 19th :enturies, Prairie du Chien was an Zxtremely important property. Situated i t the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, it controlled the flow of commerce into the upper Mississippi. And since this commerce was mainly based on the fur trade, which at the time was considered lucrative, it is only natural that Americans would vie with British

forces for this strategic site when the War of 1812 broke out; for even if the fur trade did not turn a huge profit, it was important for both sides to befriend the Indians in hopes of gaining a strength- in-numbers advantage.

The Americans took the initiative, and on June 19, 1814, a force from St. Louis constructed a sturdy stockade of 10-foot oak pickets there. The stockade was named Fort Shelby in honor of the first governor of Kentucky, and was manned by about 75 troopers using rifles and a pair of cannon. One cannon was a 3-pounder; the other, a 6-pounder.

When word of this "invasion" got to British forces in Green Bay and on Mackinac Island, a detachment was immediately dispatched to drive out the Americans. The British force was led by Lieutenant Colonel William McKay, who

Two locking zipper pulls . . . ca

ID card holder

"Sight-Tector" rubber bumper

RIFLE Magazine

made no secret of his love for rum, and a British fur trader, Thomas G. Anderson, who was pressed into service as a captain. Undoubtedly, Anderson was selected because he had traveled the Fox- Wisconsin-Mississippi waterway many times and knew the Indians.

When McKay left Green Bay, his detachment consisted of about 370, including regulars, volunteers, adventure- some traders, and clamoring Indians. Apparently, the British cannon consisted of 3-pounders.

Battle was joined at Prairie du Chien on the afternoon of July 17, 1814, under a blindingly intense sun that sent tempera- tures above 90 degrees. For two days the British bombarded Fort Shelby. For two days the Americans returned the fire, refusing to surrender despite the odds. Commander McKay could have taken the fort by sheer force if he had turned loose his Indians, but he never considered such a move because of the butchery that would have resulted.

By mid-afternoon of the second day, the British officers began to be concerned about their dwindling supply of cannon- balls. After all, there was a limit to how much they could transport down the Fox-Wisconsin waterway in their canoes, and that was nearly used. Indeed, they

now faced the embarrassing predicament of being hundreds of miles from their base of supply with victory quite possible - only to run out of ammunition!

But then Captain Anderson took advantage of an American failing and his own frontiersman’s ability to improvise. It had become obvious that American projectiles were consistently falling short, a fact which has been attributed to poor powder. Anderson seized upon this situation to replenish his supply; each time a n American ball dropped harmlessly, he prodded the reckless Indians to sprint through no-man’s-land, pick up the spent missile, and return it to the British lines. The redcoats garnered considerable ammunition in this manner, according to the records.

However, Anderson realized he could not rely upon his enemy for a complete supply of cannonballs, so he set about casting some of his own. After commandeering all the rifle balls and lead scraps he could find in the small trading village near Fort Shelby, he ordered the lead pieces melted over a roaring fire. Meanwhile, Anderson chisled cavities in brick, and, when finished, carefully ladled the molten metal into the moulds he had improvised from brick.

By his ingenuity, Anderson prolonged

the battle and made it appear as though the British had sufficient fodder to continue the bombardment without letup.

For ten hours on the third day, British cannon boomed. The sun beat down incessantly upon the Americans trapped inside Fort Shelby. Then, as the Americans watched almost helplessly, the British boldly dragged their 3-pounder within 150 yards of the stockade and ignited a bonfire that burst into a brilliant orange against the lush, green prairie. McKay and Anderson had moved to certain range of the American fort and were heating cannonballs for a n incendiary attack. A white-hot ball in the oak pickets would surely inflame the fort.

The Americans thereupon surrendered. McKay, in a display of compassion, released all American prisoners and sent them back to St. Louis in a British- protected flotilla, for he still did not wish the Indians to harm the Yankees. If the British had run out of cannonballs, however, it might not have been so fortunate for the Americans, as McKay probably would have resorted to his Indians and stormed the fort. Thus, the brave defenders of Fort Shelby owed their lives - and scalps - to Captain Thomas G. Anderson’s improvised cannonball moulds. 0

Big jobs ... little jobs. They’re all the same for the Multi-Power “C”. It will take in stride those case forming, swaging and full-length sizing jobs of the big bore cali- bers. It will also give you the delicate preci- sion you need in handling the mini-calibers. There are many reasons for this, such as the patented leverage system, the rugged cast iron frame built extra strong to soak up re- loading pressures, and the precision-machined parts that make up the Multi-Power “C”.

Ask your Pacific dealer to show you how smooth and convenient the Multi-Power “C” handles any job. It’s a great press with which to start reloading ... or one

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Multi-Power “C” (basic tool) .....$ 55.90 Multi-Power “C” package.. . . . .$69.90

(includes set of Durachrome Dies, Primer Catcher, and Removable-Head

Shell Holder) I I C I \ DiuofHornady

I Dept. R-6, Box 2048, Grand Island, NE 68801

May-June 1975 15

I By FRANK de HAAS

I Y ARTICLE on the .30-40 Improved Krag and the new

Fix Falling Block single shot action in the I

BUILDING A

SINGLE SHOT FALLING FIX BLOCK

January-February ’75 Rzjle brought a flurry of requests for an article on building a rifle using this action. Though I stressed that the design was ideal for a rimmed cartridge, many readers wanted to know whether it can- be adapted to a rimless case, and how. It can be, and I have.

Before getting into the “how-to” part of the article, let’s take a closer look at the Fix Model J action, built by the Fix Falling Block Works, Box 22, Troy, Michigan. The Model J is the latest of the designs from Leo and Joseph Fix, and is better than the earlier Models H and Z, which may be discontinued.

The Model J is a big, husky action, weighing about 2.3 pounds. It is entirely constructed of steel, with the major parts made by the investment casting process with chrome/moly steel. The parts that need to be hardened or strengthened by heat treatment appear to be properly treated, including the receiver. There is evidence of considerable machining on some of the parts, while other minor parts are left as cast. For example, the breech block mortise surfaces in the receiver and the outside surfaces of the breech block are precisely machined so that the breech block is a snug, but smooth sliding fit, in the receiver. The entire outside of the receiver is well polished, as are the other outside surfaces of parts that show, which

includes the finger lever. The action is well finished, with the receiver, lever, hammer, trigger and screws blued and the breech block highly polished.

The Model J action is a simple one; it has few parts and tbese parts are simple and rugged. The receiver is of one-piece construction. The receiver ring is a good looking half-octagonal shape. It is threaded for a 1-inch diameter barrel shank, allowing for more than ample metal around the chamber for even the standard belted magnum cartridges. This action has no tangs; the butt stock is attached with a through-stock bolt, making for easy stock fitting and secure stock attachment.

As the drawing shows, the breech block moves at a 90” angle to the bore and is linked to the finger lever by a link and two sturdy pins. Tension is provided to the finger lever to hold it closed by a spring-plunger fitted in its base with the

The the this

plunger contacting the link. The rugged S-shaped finger lever doubles as the trigger guard and pivots on a screw threaded through the receiver. The action is provided with a “blank” extractor, which means that its hook end has to be machined or otherwise made to fit the cartridge you intend to use in the rifle. The extractor is simple, it is positioned in a recess in the left side of the finger lever base, is pivoted on the finger lever screw, and projects upwards to coincide with a 7-to-9 o’clock position with the cartridge head.

The simple spring-retracted firing pin is of the gas-proof type, being fitted into the front of the breech block and held in place by a threaded-in bushing. A more-than-generous gas vent hole is provided in the top of the 6i-’eech block, and any powder gas getting into the firing pin hole from a ruptured primer is directed straight up rather than into the shooter’s face.

The hammer and trigger are also basic, simple, and well designed. The hammer is large and heavy, is centrally hung in the‘ receiver, and pivots on a screw located at the lower part of the receiver just to the rear of the breech block. It is powered by a double-coiled, U-shaped torsion spring; ignition is positive. The trigger is mounted on a pin through the upper part of the receiver and is provided tension by a small spring and plunger in its upper portion. The hammer has a safety (or half-cock notch) and a full-cock sear notch on its peripheral surface behind which the sear notch on the trigger can engage. The hammer has a sharply serrated spur by which it can be manually operated. A socket-head setscrew in the upper part of the hammer can be adjusted to limit sear engagement. On

custom .257 Roberts rifle built on Fix action produced line accuracy, as 100-yard, 5-shot group indicates.

24 RIFLE Magazine

my Model J action the sear surfaces were smoothly hand-honed and the trigger pull a smooth two pounds.

The Model J action operates and functions as follows: To open the action the finger lever is grasped and swung down and forward. As the finger lever begins to swing down, the link attached to it and the breech block also begins to pivot, and being positioned directly in front of the hammer, as the link pivots, the hammer is pushed back away from the firing pin, allowing the firing pin under tension of its retractor spring to retract before the breech block begins to move down. As the finger lever is swung down, it pulls the breech block down into the receiver to expose the chamber, while at the same time the link has pushed the hammer back beyond the safety notch. . . but not quite to the full cock notch, and holds it back far enough so t h a t ’ a cartridge or empty case can easily pass over its spur and nose. When the action is nearly fully opened, the breech block contacts a shoulder on the lower part of the extractor and causes it to tip back to extract a cartridge or case from the chamber. If the action is opened smartly, the cartridge or case will be ejected from the action.

On closing the action by pulling the finger lever back and up, the extractor is relaxed, the breech block is pushed upward and the link allows the hammer to move forward until stopped when the trigger engages in the “safe” notch. When the finger lever contacts the bottom of the

snugly against the receiver. At this point I carefully faced off the breech so that with the barrel screwed tightly into the receiver, there would be less than .001-inch space between the face of the breech block and the barrel. When this close fit was achieved, I chambered the barrel, cutting the chamber just deep enough so that the head of a new .257 Roberts case lay flush with the breech. Although some will disagree with this technique, saying that a headspace gauge should be used, it should be kept in mind what headspace gauges are for. Normally, headspace maximum/mini- mums are set up and chambers cut to allow for working tolerance among cartridges which may vary slightly in dimension without allowing an excessive headspace condition to exist. By taking my lot of new cases and using the factory case as a gauge, I’m adjusting my rifle’s

receiver the action is fully closed, placing headspace for my particular cases. A the firing pin centered on the bore line more skeptical shooter would say that I’m and leaving the hammer in the “safe” not allowing for the distance between the position. To fire the rifle, the hammer is barrel face and the breechblock when the pulled back as far as it will go to allow the block is in the rearward position as on trigger to engage in the full cock notch. firing. But as I mentioned earlier, this The hammer can easily and safely be was held under .001-inch. Also, most lowered from the full-cock position to the factory cases are at or slightly under “safe” position. minimum tolerances to allow for smooth

As mentioned in the earlier article, I feeding in all guns, so my rifle may have had already built a rifle on the Model Z slightly under minimum headspace - action in -30-40 Improved Krag caliber. I according to SAAMI specifications. But did considerable shooting with this rifle with this setup, I get minimum and fired hefty loads in it. On receiving headspace for my particular rifle and lot the action, I examined it of cases; although 1 could have problems carefully - especially the extractor, and if I tried to chamber Other cases. decided it would be possible to make this The chamber cutting was done with the extractor function with a rimless barrel separated from the receiver. After cartridge- To fill out mY Iine-uP of -25 the chamber cutting was .finished, I

the Model J action to make UP a -257 carefully scribed lines on the polished face Roberts rifle. of the barrel where the extractor cut had

I started with a Herter.s ,25 caliber, to be made. 1 then removed the barrel twist barrel blank, I turned it down from the receiver, set it up in a milling

in my small lathe to give a light, but fairly attachment On my lathe* and using a stiff, barrel. The cylindrical breech end 3116-inch end mill, carefully milled out

the extractor cut to a depth of ,185-inch. was made 4.5 inches long for three

possible at the breech, to provide an with a rimless cartridge its hook has to

able to install almost any scope mount I the ,257 case, move about ,035-inch. Thus chose, and to have a large diameter I made an extra pass with the mill on the section of barrel to which the forearm left side of the extractor cut to widen it to anchor block could be seucrely attached.

I then turned the shank on the barrel, making it about ,010-inch longer than necessary, and threaded it so the barrel fit

caliber single shot rifles, I decided to use turned the barrel into the *receiver and

reasons: to make the barrel as stiff as For the extractor to function properly

unbpered top surface long enough to be have room to swing and with

This is the bottom of De Haas’ rifle. The forearm is attached by a single

10x32 screw threaded into an anchor block, which is in turn attached to the

barrel by two 6x48 scope mounting screws.

Mav-June 1975 25

rod for the stock bolt. only a shallow reces; hole has to be drilled into thebutt as shown here. A pressed horn butt plate is favored by De Haas for single shot rifle stocks.

After the cut was made and finished smooth with files and emery paper, I reset the barrel into the receiver for the last time. I then fitted the extractor, first filing its hook so that the breech block would close with the extractor in place. I then carefully hand-filed the concave on the right side of the extractor hook so that with the extractor in place and swung to the left, a case could be inserted into the chamber. At this point I used a 1/2-inch end mill in the mill setup on my lathe to cut the rim recess into the face of the extractor, with the extractor out of the action of course. This has to be .050-inch deep or slightly more. Lastly, I used a

’small half-round file to bevel the front edge of the concave so that the extractor would engage in the extractor groove in the cartridge case.

about .225-inch. The cut can be narrower In keeping with the rather light barrel, than this, but in this event enough has to I wanted the stock and forearm to be as be filed off one side of the extractor hook trim as possible without being skimpy. to achieve the .035 extractor swing. Fajen, Inc. of Warsaw, Missouri, makes a

semi-finished stock to fit the FBW Model J action, but the one I received from them did not suit my needs for this particular rifle, so I made the stock and forearm myself from scratch. I elected to use the sunburst horn pistol grip cap and the medium sized pressed horn butt plate (available from Brownell’s, Inc., Monte- zuma, Iowa) for this stock. I dislike using the headed-type stock bolt furnished with this action, preferring to use a much longer bolt threaded a t both ends. The use of the long bolt makes it much easier and simpler to fit and make the butt stock, especially for the amateur stockmaker. With the long bolt threaded into the receiver and a jam nut to lock it from turning, the bolt can then be bent near the jam nut as needed, and I found that bending the bolt upwards was needed if the stock was to have the droD I wanted

The accompanying drawing shows how while having the stock bolt hole come out I supplied spring tension to the extractor centered someplace between the two butt so that the hook can snap over the plate screws. So, to save yourself some cartridge rim as the action is closed and problems and make the job easier, get a to hold the hook in the extractor groove piece of 5/16-inch rod 12 inches long, two as the action is opened. I t is merely a hex nuts and put about an inch of threads thin piece of metal bent and filed as on each end. shown, and held in place by a 1/16-inch I won’t go into details of making the cross pin on which is also the coil spring. stock in this article except to mention that

I started with a butt blank about 2 1/4 The rear end of the lever is slightly

inches thick, 7 inches wide and 13 inches beveled and just long enough to push the extractor hook to the right for most of its short travel, moving off when the long’ extractor is tipped back to allow the With a drop (measured from the top extractor hook to relax and move to the line of the receiver) of 1-inch at the comb left so it won’t interfere with loading and and 1 1/2-inch at the heel, and laying the ejection. barreled action with stock bolt in place

26

against the blank, I found that the bolt had to be bent upward an inch or so. After doing this, I then marked the placement of the stock bolt hole. Then I drilled a 3/4-inch hole about 1 1/2-inch deep, and using the lathe with stock against the tailstock center, drilled a 3/8-inch hole halfway through one end and then reversed the butt to drill through the other end. When this was done, I fitted the stock to the receiver, cut the butt end off at the length and pitch desired (for me this is 13.5 inches length of pull and two to three inches pitch) and attached the butt plate. The rest is hard work.

I started with an 1 1/2 x 1 1/2-inch square forearm blank 11 inches long then grooved it out with chisels and rasps to fit fairly close over the barrel and slightly over half its diameter. To attach the forearm, I used a 1 1M-inch length of 5/16 square rod, filed it concave to fit the barrel, drilled and countersunk two holes in it for 6-48 scope mounting screws and after drilling and tapping the barrel attached the block to it. After chiseling an oversize recess in the forearm for the anchor block, drilling the forearm, as well as the anchor block, for the 10x32 forearm screw and escutcheon, I Acra- glased the forearm in place. Then I shaped it as shown.

I elected to use Buehler mounts on this rifle and ordered them directly from Maynard Buehler, Orinda, California. The rear base is a short one and flat on the bottom to be mounted on the receiver ring; it is .325-inch thick. The longer front base has its bottom cut to match the 1.17-inch barrel diameter, and it had to

RIFLE Magazine

be made .575 thick to be level with the rear base. I spaced the bases 3.314 inches apart, although with most scopes the spacing could have been greater.

Except for polishing the barrel and receiver and blueing them as a unit, and finishing the wood, the rifle was finished.

The fun came when the rifle was finished and I could shoot it. I put a SPI 6x40 scope with duplex reticle on it which proved to be a good match for this particular rifle. The rifle then weighed 8 1/2 pounds, although with its trim stock it feels lighter. After I found out how well it shot, I sent the stock and forearm to Alhman’s, Inc., Morristown, Minnesota, and had them checkered.

On my initial trip to my range with this rifle, I took along 20 hot handloads (40.0/48%/100 Sierra), or at least they proved to be very hot in this rifle. There was no primer cratering and by this I considered these rounds safe enough to fire in this rifle ahd firing them would “prove” the rifle. The primers really flattened out and most of the fired cases tended to stick in the chamber even though I had polished the chamber very smooth.

Everything went well, the rifle digested them in stride, and although I had to thump the finger lever to extract some of the cases, the extractor never failed. Five shots wefe used for sighting-in, and then I fired three 5-shot groups which weren’t bad either.

The fully opened action at right shows the modified extractor tipped back and a cartridge fully in the chamber. In this extended position, the extractor has moved back so that i t is no longer under tension of the extractor lever, and i t is free to move to the left as shown here so that a cartridge can be easily inserted into the chamber. On closing the action, the breech block pushes the extractor forward and i t is then immediately put under side tension by the extractor lever, and as the block rises, the beveled front edge of the extractor hook causes the hook to move to the left until the action is fully closed. The hook then snaps to the right in the extractor groove in the cartridge, as shown at left. On opening the action smartly, the extractor pushes the cartridge or fired case partly out of the chamber and the inertia of the case then pushes the hook to the left and free of it.

this rifle I took along more sensible loads. I felt safe behind this big action; I I tried 4831 with the 100 and 117-grain would have also felt safe behind it had I bullets, and 3031, 4895 and 4064 with 60, chambered it for the .25-06 or .257 75, 87, 90 and 100-grain bullets. All gave Weatherby Magnum. After firing it 20 good accuracy, but the point of impact of times I had a sore thumb from the sharp the different bullet weigHts changed serrated hammer spur, but corrected this considerably. The best accuracy was by rounding off the sharp edges with a obtained with the 75-grain Sierra HP hone. It’s not really a fault, but I bullet with a charge of 43 grains of 4895 would like this action better if it had been powder. I also obtained MOA accuracy made with less drop as I think this would with the 60-grain Speer, !%-grain Sierra have improved the looks and handling u

The next two trips to the range with BTHP and 87-grain-Sierra SP bullets. (Continued on Page 53)

This sectional view drawing of the Falling Block Works Model J action shows De Haas’ modified extractor for rimless cartridges. The inset is a top sectional view of the action and extractor parts below Line E-E. It shows [A ] the extractor lever, [B] the extractor lever pin, [C] the extractor lever spring and [D] the extractor. The extractor is shown in i ts forward [action closed] position, with the extractor lever holding tension against the extractor so i t

rides in the extraction groove of a rimless case. As the action is opened and the extractor is tipped back, Carrying the case, the extractor clears the end of the extractor lever, relieving the tension and allowing a case to be easily withdrawn or inserted into the chamber. The photograph of the front of the action provides another view of the parts.

Mav-June 1975 27