Locating extractor cuts

[Keith Kilby]

Over the course of a year I do 4-6 Model 70s and many single shots, mostly original 1885 Winchester with a few No.1s as well. There is a thread already asking about how to locate/make the cut on a 1903. I came up with this pretty simple method a few years back. Works with bolt actions and single shots as well.
The photo shows a 1885 I’m working on. Receiver is held in vise. Barrel has already been tightened and witness marked. Mill table, vise etc are level. I clamp a vee block far enough from breech to clear vise later. Either level block as shown or use square off mill table. I’ve done both ways and they work equally well. When you remove barrel you have a repeatable reference. On M70s I level action utilizing the scope bases. I guess if you trusted bottom flat that would work as well.
Keith

 

[epc308]

Over the course of a year I do 4-6 Model 70s and many single shots, mostly original 1885 Winchester with a few No.1s as well. There is a thread already asking about how to locate/make the cut on a 1903. I came up with this pretty simple method a few years back. Works with bolt actions and single shots as well.
The photo shows a 1885 I’m working on. Receiver is held in vise. Barrel has already been tightened and witness marked. Mill table, vise etc are level. I clamp a vee block far enough from breech to clear vise later. Either level block as shown or use square off mill table. I’ve done both ways and they work equally well. When you remove barrel you have a repeatable reference. On M70s I level action utilizing the scope bases. I guess if you trusted bottom flat that would work as well.
Keith

I had to make extractor cuts on a pre 64 M70 today. I used your method with a vee block and level. The action was originally a 22 Hornet which has a stepped extractor. Main part was .420, stepped down to .240 for the claw that actually grabs the case. I made the wide cut first, then turned the vice for the angle cut. The planets must have aligned for me, as I hit things the first shot. No hand work or fitting was required except for deburring the threads and edges.
Thanks for the leveling tip. It worked just like you described.