Printable View
Finally got around to firing my A3 that I got from the CMP a few years ago. It went kaboom okay, but will not eject the spent shell. Extraction is okay, but it won't kick out. Initial exam indicates that the ejector spring is either missing or broken because the ejector just flops around.
Any suggestions on where to get one and how difficult to replace?
Thanks
daveboy
Ejector spring? Is the ejector broken or not? The bolt could be an issue. Is the bolt marked "CC" on ther top of the handle?
The ejector does not have a spring. It cams into the slot on the left side of the bolt as the bolt is pulled to the rear of the receiver. If you pull the bolt back slowly, the fired casing will not flip out. This is an advantage when you are shooting from a bench working up loads. If you pull the bolt back sharply, the fired casing will be ejected vigorously to the right. You might want to check the extractor to make sure that the claw is getting a good grip on the extractor rim of the cartridge case. If necessary neither a new extractor or ejector is expensive. HTH. Sincerely. BruceV.
Is the ejector bent or damaged? As the bolt is withdrawn, the ejector should slip through the slot in the bolt's left hand locking lug. The ejector is triangular in shape & should come to a fairly sharp point where it contacts the case.
Thanks for the replies. I was sitting here reading them and picked up my rifle. Noticed that the selector on the left of the receiver (don't know what it's called) was in the down or off position. I knew that this selector prevented cartridges from feeding from the magazine. What I did not know was that it also prevented fired cartridges from being ejected! I just learned something!
By the way, what is this selector called and what is its purpose?
daveboy
The cutoff absolutely should not interfere with ejection in either position. The ejector is designed to function whether single-loading or feeding from the magazine. Malfunctioning ejectors are most often worn or damaged, sometimes the bolt is a sloppy fit (especially on 03-A3's), and occasionally the receiver is worn.
Take the time to understand how the ejector works. Hint - it pivots when the bolt lug passes. Cramp the bolt handle to the right while withdrawing it. If ejection improves, something is worn or sloppy.
You have the "cut-off" in the off position. Single fire mode, only. Will not load through the magazine, but should eject the fired case. Clean the rifle and pull out any and all old grease. Have you ever taken the rifle out of its stock? Completely clean the rifle, good luck.
He is a link to a good site for 03 parts and everything else Bill is top shelf people
Bill Ricca's Home Page
Parashooter, I think you are on to something. I had thought ejection was dependent on the magazine cut-off selector. I incorrectly assumed that since the cut-off did not allow full bolt travel to the rear when in the off position, that was why it wouldn't eject.
But, after reading your post it seems like ejection depends on how much or how little pressure I have pushing the bolt to the right.
It seems to eject just fine if the pressure you mention is applied.
The ejector does not appear to be broken, but may be worn. I think I will try a replacement.
By the way, thanks to everyone for their replies.
daveboy
Next learning exercise is to watch the ejector in action as you operate the bolt slowly, first with pressure to the right, next with pressure to the left. See the difference? Does that help you understand how it works (or fails to work) depending on where the left locking lug runs?
In a good, tight '03, there isn't enough bolt/receiver slop to allow the lug miss the ejector, no matter how the bolt is pressed - but in a worn one (or an A3 with a typical undersize bolt) it's a different story.
Parashooter, try as I might I cannot see the difference no matter the pressure I put on the bolt. The ejector slides in the slot on the left boltlug in all cases, but when pressure is to the left it does not "snap" over it just sorta flops around.
I wish I had another one to compare it to.
Thanks for your insight.
daveboy
heres your fix.
the cutoff spindle is held in place by a set screw at the end of the cutoff, if this is loose or missing it will let the spindle move foward, keeping the ejector from working.
also, if the ejector spring{pin that looks like a screw} is missing, loose or puggerd, it will also keep the ejector from working.
check the screw first, loosen it, pull the spindle back to the point were you can see a notch , thats for a ord, tool offered, to grab the spindle and pull it out, that should be exposed just a bit,
then with the bolt removed, check for free play, set the ejector so it stick out, replace the screw in the cutoff, snug it down, and replace the bolt, run an emty case through the rifle.
see if it ejects this time.
In what way is the ejector pin a "spring"? Please explain.Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckindenver
the screw slot is actually a spring so that it wont fall out of the receiver or come loose.
its not a screw. and not really a pin.
maybe more of a pin with a spring head.
The late model M1903/A3 ejectors were manufactured using a “shortcut” that sometimes causes them to malfunction. If you will examine a true pre-war M1903 ejector, you will see that the cam on the ejector that contacts the bolt lug is not a straight line but has a slight cam cut to the right (right of rifle side) which causes more positive ejection. During war time manufacture, this slight cam cut was eliminated and the side of the ejector that contacts the bolt is straight without the cam. This made production faster and cheaper though it did adversely affect ejector operation. If you push the rear of the bolt body to the right, most of the time the bolt lug will activate the ejector. If you push the rear of bolt body to the left, the ejector will “late time” and hit the side of the case, generally just forward of the of the extractor recess and the round will not eject. Hope this helps. I can make any ejector work with a simple modification but would hesitate to offer unsolicited advise and possible “ruin” of a badly modified ejector. I have done it many times.
daveboy,
I cannot figutre out how to reply to your e-mail so I shall take a chance and post my reply here. Hope that's OK.
The fix is quite simple. If you look at the ejector when it is the full eject position, you will note that the ejector face is 90 degrees to the right from the bore. Since the original cam is not there it does not come to the 90 degree until too late. The solution is to grind the ejector face until is more than 90 degrees, probably from 91 to 95 degrees. Remember the old Chinese proverb, “Make Haste slowly.” Keeping the face straight grind the face to 91 degrees and then try it. If 91 is not enough, grind to 92 etc until the tip of the ejector comes in behind the base of the case. It is strictly “cut and try”. Continue this and reinstalling after each grind. With the bolt installed, lay the rifle on the left side and observer the action of the ejector when the bolt is brought to the rear with pressure on the rear of the bolt to the left. The tip of the ejector should “time” behind the bolt face prior to clearing the face. This will insure that the tip of the ejector “times” behind the case head.
Remember that in rapid fire you always have a tendency to push the rear of the bolt to the left. This is the worst condition for the unmodified late ejector.
I believe that this will work for I have used it many times.
Cosine26 I tried your fix and it didn't work. Made sense to me, but it just ain't gonna work. Am ordering a new ejector.
daveboy
Update!
Got an ejector from Springfield Sporters today. Compared it to my original and it was larger in every external dimension. Either mine was worn out, produced sloppily, or whatever, but the difference in dimensions was striking.
I installed it and my A3 will now kick brass all the way across my shop no matter how pressure is applied to the bolt. :thup: This is how I knew it should work.
Thanks for all your help.
By the way, this is my first time using Springfield Sporters but it will not be the last--good prices, nice looking parts, quick shipping. Looks like a good company!
daveboy