Sako 85 extractor/ ejection issue

[Andy seatrout]

Well before i research the issue further or have an ill advised dismantling of my bolt, I thought I’d ask this forum for advice…. Essentially yesterday firing a few practice shots the cases stopped being thrown clear of the action, one minute they’re throwing two foot right, the next minute I’m picking the cases out by hand…. Nothing appears broken…. Any ideas?

 

[long_range_rob]

Are the case necks dented from hitting the scope? (Common problem bug I’m not sure of any easy cures)

 

[Night òwl]

Maybe worth stripping down and cleaning.
Mine was absolutely filthy inside

 

[dasherman]

If it’s pulling the cases out of the chamber it’s not the extractor, might be your ejector is damaged. Take the action out of the stock, takeout the one screw holding the trigger on (5mm Allen key) and the ejector is the spring loaded U shaped bit hidden under the trigger.

 

[scotch_egg]

Were you being lazy with your bolt manipulation? Remember the 85 is a mechanical ejection and relies on how vigorous you are when you manipulate the bolt.


Your bolt face looks fine.

Put a case in the chamber and pull the bolt back hard all the way to the bolt stop. If it doesn’t fling the case you know there is a problem.

If this is the case it will be the ejector pin that’s in the rifle action and not the bolt face like your tikka’s and remmy clones.

The reason I chose a Sako 85 was so I could capture the case easier when shooting at night.

 

[Tim1]

If it’s pulling the cases out of the chamber it’s not the extractor, might be your ejector is damaged. Take the action out of the stock, takeout the one screw holding the trigger on (5mm Allen key) and the ejector is the spring loaded U shaped bit hidden under the trigger.

I would say Neil has nailed it. I had the same problem a few years ago with one of my 75s. Mike Norris sorted it in about 15 minutes.

Tim

 

[zambezi]

throwing two foot right, the next minute I’m picking the cases out by hand…. Nothing appears broken…. Any ideas?

Does your rifle have a scope fitted?

If so, it is well documented [videos below] that some Sako 85s throw cases so close to vertical that they sometimes foul the windage turret on even svelte scopes.

My Sako 85 failed to eject maybe 1-in-5. Per Sako factory instructions, I replaced the extraction claw. Problem persisted. The issue on my rifle was:

Sako 85 ejection issue, dented case neck

An FYI for all who claim the 85 does not do this: Maybe it only happens when you shoot a proper cartridge? ;)

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

And I fixed it this way:

Sako 85 ejection issue, dented case neck

It’s an issue when the casing falls back in the chamber and you’ve got a runner 🏃‍♀️

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

Video evidence of how some Sako 85s foul on ejection:

 

[Andy seatrout]

Are the case necks dented from hitting the scope? (Common problem bug I’m not sure of any easy cures)

Not that I can see….

 

[scotch_egg]

Does your rifle have a scope fitted?

If so, it is well documented [videos below] that some Sako 85s throw cases so close to vertical that they sometimes foul the windage turret on even svelte scopes.

My Sako 85 failed to eject maybe 1-in-5. Per Sako factory instructions, I replaced the extraction claw. Problem persisted. The issue on my rifle was:

Sako 85 ejection issue, dented case neck

An FYI for all who claim the 85 does not do this: Maybe it only happens when you shoot a proper cartridge? ;)

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

And I fixed it this way:

Sako 85 ejection issue, dented case neck

It’s an issue when the casing falls back in the chamber and you’ve got a runner 🏃‍♀️

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

Video evidence of how some Sako 85s foul on ejection:

It’s not the S action that has the issue.

S action is the .308 family of cartridges.


Its the long action they has the issue with ejection angle.

 

[Andy seatrout]

Thanks for all the replies, I think it must be the ejector spring as;

1) it doesn’t throw the cases into the scope, it was consistently throwing them clear ( every time) one minute, then not the next

2) the bolt fade is drawing the fired case out and back, it’s just not flinging it out of the action ( and I’m not being gentle with it)

Mike Norris is 45 mins away…. That may be the solution!

 

[HonestJohn]

Thanks for all the replies, I think it must be the ejector spring as;

1) it doesn’t throw the cases into the scope, it was consistently throwing them clear ( every time) one minute, then not the next

2) the bolt fade is drawing the fired case out and back, it’s just not flinging it out of the action ( and I’m not being gentle with it)

Mike Norris is 45 mins away…. That may be the solution!

ejector springs don't just stop working. I have mauser rifles well over 100 years old with perfectly working springs that have been fired god only knows how many times. ok, not ejector springs as they are CRF, but still, springs don't just 'stop working'. strip it and clean it.

 

[scotch_egg]

Thanks for all the replies, I think it must be the ejector spring as;

1) it doesn’t throw the cases into the scope, it was consistently throwing them clear ( every time) one minute, then not the next

2) the bolt fade is drawing the fired case out and back, it’s just not flinging it out of the action ( and I’m not being gentle with it)

Mike Norris is 45 mins away…. That may be the solution!

If you push the ejector with your finger does it move?

 

[HonestJohn]

If it’s pulling the cases out of the chamber it’s not the extractor, might be your ejector is damaged. Take the action out of the stock, takeout the one screw holding the trigger on (5mm Allen key) and the ejector is the spring loaded U shaped bit hidden under the trigger.

THIS ABOVE. check it.

 

[Andy RV]

I had the same issue with my 85 in 223, it would leave the fired case sat on top of the rounds in the mag which would then jam up if you tried to reload without realising. I almost launched the rifle down the field one night in disgust when it did this after having a runner!

I guess it’s due to muck and gummed up oil underneath the extractor which prevents it from firmly gripping the rim, I tried to remove my extractor to clean it but couldn’t get it out. In the end I left the face of the bolt soaking in white spirit for a few hours while occasionally wiggling the claw which seemed to do the trick.

 

[HonestJohn]

hence, buy a mauser 98 based rifle they'll not fail you 100, nor 200 years after production....they're sloppy on bolt wiggle, but they work, and will NEVER stop working.

that said, I'm a Mauser 98 whore and proud of it.

 

[long_range_rob]

I would suggest a full strip to component parts and clean, sometimes it’s just crud clogging springs or stopping part’s moving freely.

 

[HonestJohn]

I would suggest a full strip to component parts and clean, sometimes it’s just crud clogging springs or stopping part’s moving freely.

agreed - and the benefit in folds is to possible avoid meeting Mike Norris

 

[SussexShooter]

I had the same issue with my 85 in 223, it would leave the fired case sat on top of the rounds in the mag which would then jam up if you tried to reload without realising. I almost launched the rifle down the field one night in disgust when it did this after having a runner!

I guess it’s due to muck and gummed up oil underneath the extractor which prevents it from firmly gripping the rim, I tried to remove my extractor to clean it but couldn’t get it out. In the end I left the face of the bolt soaking in white spirit for a few hours while occasionally wiggling the claw which seemed to do the trick.

I had the same in my 243. Fine one minute, then not the next! Cleaned the extractor and it was fine again. Only needs a very small amount of crud to prevent it working properly.

 

[Andy seatrout]

Well I’ll try a clean first then….thanks for all your replies

 

[Ronin]

As described - examine the ejector - if it’s stiff and not rising under the bolt on cycling the pin ans eJector are likely to be dirty and gummed up

Happens quite often and is probably the cause of the issue

The part needs to be free moving to work in unison with the bolt coming rearwards on extraction