I have 4 mauser 98's from various manufactures that will close on, and extract, a hand chambered round. I have one, a GEW 98 that won't close on, much less extract a chambered round. All the extractors look the same to me. Help? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

The mauser action is not primarily designed to close on a chambered round; rather, it's supposed to pick up a round from the magazine.

Slight modification will be needed to the nose of your extractor in order for it to snap over the rim of a loaded round.

IMHO, I'd try to use it as designed..

If you HAVE to close the bolt on a chambered round (say some fool dropped one in the pipe), do what Paul Mauser designed it to do in that situation.
With your right hand pushing the bolt forward, use the fingers of your left hand (palm aganst the left side of the stock) to squeeze the extractor bow towards the bolt body. This will lift the nose of the extractor enough to clear the case rim.

Absolutely correct. But it doesn't take too much modification to allow the extractor to slip over the case rim.

Good info!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Don