Odd-shaped extractor stars

[peterg]

Hi there. Curious if anyone knows why the industry shift towards extractor stars that are oddly-shaped. By that, I mean where the individual arms of the extractor "star" are each of different lengths/shapes. It used to be that they were all the same, identical from arm to arm. Then, S&W started using extractor stars that had differently shaped arms. I am sure they work fine, but to me it looked like it was done to mill out the extractor star recess in the cylinder more quickly with a CNC mill that is operating in a typical X and Y axis milling pattern controlled by a computer. Now Ruger comes out with their very appealing .45ACP/.45 Colt Redhawk and I see online pictures of the same thing. Ugh. My 5.5" .45 Colt Redhawk has a normal (i.e., all arms are equal in length/shape) extractor star. Does anyone know why the companies are making these guns with odd-shaped extractor stars? It looks terrible and screams "cost-cutting measure." It is the worst (most obvious) on 5-chambered S&W cylinders. If they want to save money so bad, why not just sell the guns without grips? At least that can be correctly remedied by the owner. I'm open to correction if there is a good technical reason for it. Is there?

[Snyd]

You mean the pinless extractors like Ruger went too a few years ago? Here's a pic of one compared to the ones with the pins. I seem to remember reading somewhere that Ruger went to this design because it's a more reliable way for the extractor to be in proper position. The design/shape of the new extractor centers/lines it up. Something to that effect. Here's a 45 Colt Redhawk with pins and one of the first stainless (non-grey) 454 SRH cylinders. It now resides in my Redhawk

[peterg]

That makes sense. I have wondered if it had to do with alignment, and I suppose reducing the number of small parts can be a good thing (though I miss S&Ws with pinned barrels, too).

[paul105]

I don't know. But, Ruger doesn't seem to be consistent in application. Here is the most recent production run (2014) of the .480 SRH Alaskan.



FWIW

Paul

[bradshaw]

Ask whitworth. Maybe he can give you the skinny. In that last photo, arc of SRH .480 Ruger extractor appears cut to slightly greater diameter than chamber diameter, which should help to prevent bind from a blimped case. A double action extractor must seat perfectly lined-up, and hold alignment during the stroke. A gambler might slap a bet on these asymmetrical stars as costing less to manufacture.
David Bradshaw

[rgates]

I seem to remember reading about the extractor in the first picture. The star goes around the brass greater than 180 degrees. A bulged case could get locked into the extractor similar to a moon clip. If the ejector does not push the case completely out of the cylinder it could make it pretty difficult to clear the empties. Just say'n.