7.62x54r brass stuck in a Lee Enfield .303.

G

Griff123

Inactive
Here's the deal. Me and a friend went shooting a month ago. He brought his M44 mosin Nagant and I brought my M1 and my two Enfields. We were shooting and he wanted to shoot my Enfield. So he loaded the magazine and started firing. After the 3rd or 4th round he shot and there was an earringing bang he went to eject the round and the rim with the primer, basically the entire bottom of the case tore off. He then told me when he pushed the bolt forward to lock in the round it took a bit more forcing. So now I have a 1942 Enfield with a Russian brass stuck in it. How (if at all possible) can I remove it?
 
Sure it was not a bad .303 round. The body diameters are so different I would think it would take a hammer to get it in a .303 Brit chamber, especially if it was a steel case.
 
Stick a brush, large enough to engage the case walls, on a cleaning rod, stick it into the case, and yank.

If that doesn't work, buy some CerroSafe. Follow the directions with the CerroSafe for using it to remove stuck cases.
(Basically.... Plug the bore just in front of the case, disassemble rifle, clean thoroughly, heat and pour CerroSafe in without getting it in the action, let set, knock it out from the muzzle.)

Edit: Here's Larry Potterfield, demonstrating both methods: Removing a Broken Case From a Rifle Chamber
 
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Simple. Pack down in the neck area with some patches, Fill the case most of the way up with bondo, When it fully hardens drive the case out.
 
Broken shell extractor. They're out there, and more common than you might think. Also, essentially any of them for a .30 cal should work.

I had a complete head separation with a .303 case, and a 7.62mm NATO ruptured case extractor (broken shell extractor) worked just fine to remove the stuck case from the .303 chamber, and as I recall, didn't take much effort.

Seriously, get one, they don't cost much. Toss it in your "gun tools" box. If you never need it, you're not out much. IF you do ever need it, or something like it, it can be nearly priceless.
 
Case extractor is what is needed but in a pinch a thread tap can be used.
I don't have the size at hand but find a tap that will thread into the back of the broken case.
Once you have 5 or 6 good turns in take a cleaning rod and pass it down the bore and tap the case and tap out of the chamber.
It works and some times just the action of turning the tap into the broke case will cause it to break free and fall out.
 
essentially any of them for a .30 cal should work.
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I have to disagree with that point.You need one that will enter the chamber enough to push the split end (which grabs the case) all the way through the ruptured case. It also needs the correct rim shape & diameter to grab the extractor so it'll pull the case back out.
 
.. It also needs the correct rim shape & diameter to grab the extractor so it'll pull the case back out.
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I have to disagree on this point.

Yes, obviously it has to be long enough to get a "bite", but a rim isn't needed. I'm sure I have one around here somewhere that doesn't have anything for the extractor to grab on to.

Nice to have I guess, but not needed, you just poke it out with a rod.
 
Thanks for the help guys! I'll go to academy tomorrow and see if they have an extractor. The closest bass pro is 40 minutes away and cabelas is even further. So to save the trip I might try the thread tap idea. If that doesn't work then I guess a trip is needed. And I'm not sure it might just be a bad .303 round but the only thing that makes me think it was a 7.62 was the fact he said it took a bit more effort to push the bolt forward and chamber the round
 
Well, if it was a 7.62X54R cartridge, your friend is very strong. The head dimension and shoulder dimension alone would be enough to keep the cartridge from chambering fully, even with considerable effort. That said, a bit of corrosion on the inside of the case neck would easily make it difficult to chamber. 303, IMO.
 
If the rim isn't needed why are all case extractors fitted with them, even the "rimless" ones?

.303 British:
i1531296-303-Rupture-Case-Extractor-Militaria.JPG


7.62/.308:
762%20NATO%20Clearing%20Plug%202.jpg
 
If the rim isn't needed why are all case extractors fitted with them, even the "rimless" ones?
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Because it gives you more options for use.

Just because something adds utility doesn't mean it is needed, though.
 
ahh, that sounds like a pickle. the best advice I can give is a penetrating lube like seafoam and a fine toothed tool like a pair of hemostats.
 
If you get your gun fixed, some basic firearm safety rules should be explained to your "friend". Next time he, or you might end up a statistic.
Ralph
 
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