Volquartsen coming out with an 870 extractor

[Chief Brody]

Check this out:
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015 ... extractor/

https://www.volquartsen.com/products/11 ... 0-and-1100

As brought up in the comments below the Firearms Blog article, will it be a significantly better part than the Police/WM extractors? That remains to be seen. Either way, I'm sure they'll sell. There are two brands of shells that my gun doesn't like at all, can't help but wonder if this would solve the problem.

[badboybeeson]

well crap, I guess the cat is out of the bag we were just working on this same project....

[Synchronizor]

I came across that TFB article last Monday, and was wondering myself if this kind of premium aftermarket extractor would really offer better function than the three factory extractors. A2 steel should stand up pretty well in this application, but it's not like the steels used in factory extractors were lacking. My MIM extractor once tore right through the steel rim of an over-pressure handload without any visible damage or wear. I have heard anecdotes of factory extractors breaking due to abuse, such as dropping the breech bolt assembly on a concrete floor. A tool steel extractor might hold up better in that sort of situation. Otherwise, the differences would probably only show up after very high round counts that few 870 owners ever achieve in their lifetimes.

On the other hand, a hardened A2 extractor would probably be significantly harder than an 870's receiver & bolt. This could lead to wear issues, especially if the Volquartsen extractor isn't chamfered like the factory extractors. Some firearm parts are supposed to be replaced periodically, to preserve other parts that are more difficult or expensive to fix. Aftermarket companies love to market high-dollar replacement parts that "last forever", but if that part is meant to be a wear part, it can end up doing more harm than good. If an A2 extractor lasts for a million rounds, but gouges a hole in the receiver or wears out the notch in the bolt after just a few thousand cycles, I think I'd rather stick to factory extractors, and pay $10 every decade or or two to keep the system reliable.

Material aside, I was more interested to note that the Volquartsen extractor has a somewhat different profile to it, which may or may not make a difference in how positively a shell rim is held.



I have had problems with my factory extractor slipping off the rim of one brand of target shells. While I consider that to be an ammo problem since the shell rims proved to be undersized when I measured them later, I would be interested to know if this different extractor shape could improve things.

[Synchronizor]

Brownells is now carrying these aftermarket extractors, and they've uploaded several new images of the part:




Looks like the Volquartsen extractors are not chamfered to conform to the shape of the 870s bolt like the factory parts are. In fact, the top side looks to be completely square-cornered all-round. You'd think for a $25 part, they'd finish both sides of the thing, or at least do the side that actually needs it.