I have several Mausers. 98s 96s etc.. I recently bought .280 Ackley Improved cases from Hornady. I loaded up 20 rounds for an FN Supreme action that has been in service with no problems for many years. On running them through the action prior to storing them I found the fell right out of the bolt face as they were extracted. I removed the bolt and tried to snap one into the bolt face and it slid in and out with not contact. I used a Nosler Case, Military Case, Remington Case and Winchester. No problem, snapped right in. One measuring the extractor grove diameter I found the Hornady grove diameter to be .394 the Nosler .404 and the rest from .406-.408. Everything but the Hornady worked fine. I checked the Saami standard and it said .407. I called Hornady to discuss this and they said that is our standard and we have no solution or comment.

My question to the Mauser experts. Is my extractor just worn so that it is not gripping the smaller diameter or is the case so out of spec that it is unreliable? One of my other FNs will hold it but just barely.

Easy choice - ignore Hornady brass in your rifle... If I got a bunch of that stuff measuring .394 I'd probably send it back.. JMHO.

Thanks for the reply. Yes that is the quick and EZ logical solution for now. I tossed the Hornady loads, into the Rem 700 box, they will eat anything, and loaded up a bunch of Nosler brass for the Kids Mauser. The Hornady Brass is half the price of Nosler and a hell of a lot easier to use than fire forming. Did that for years and can always go back to it. I will not say you get what you pay for. And I was a little surprised at Hornadys response of lack there of. Lots of .280 AK fans out there and factory brass is good. I am a Mauser tinkerer and no gunsmith so the question of whither or not I should be checking something on the extractor or peening a detent on the hook, changing out the extractor etc. thus the plea to the Mauser experts.

A new extractor is only gonna run you $25 - $35, and it's a 5 minute job to change if you are as clumsy as I am.