I have an extraction problem with a PWS .308.  Sometimes the extractor rips the case and the case gets stuck in the chamber and need to get it out with a cleaning rod .  Randomly happpens on reloads and factory ammo.  Any advice would be appreciated.

gas system length? chamber dry? Clean?

Chamber clean and dry.  Tell me more about gas system length.

I don't know what model you have, but some PWS .308 rifles come with an adjustable gas regulator with 3 settings.  Have you tried other settings -- assuming you have an adjustment?

Some have reported the same issue as you, and switching to a heavier buffer helped.  One review I saw said the lowest gas setting was over-gassed, and the other 2 are under-gassed (won't cycle). 

He seemed to believe this is a common issue with .308 Win. Semi-Autos.


One thing you could try as a test is shoot some lower velocity, lower pressure ammo.  Reducing the pressure might be the fix. 

A heavier buffer is intended to slow the cycling speed and reduce felt recoil.  Before going that route, you might want to call customer service.  They can gather enough info to tell if that's the best course of action or not.

I will try different settings on the gas block.  Also I will reload some rounds with a few grains under the minimum.  I have heard not to do that.  What do you think?  Thanks for your help.

I will try different settings on the gas block.  Also I will reload some rounds with a few grains under the minimum.  I have heard not to do that.  What do you think?  Thanks for your help.

Do one thing at a time so you aren't experimenting with more than one variable at a time.  Try the gas adjustment first.  That might be all you need.  If that fails, try lowering the powder, but do it in small increments -- maybe 50 rds ... 10 rounds each of 5 load amounts.  That's 5 levels of pressure to test.

It's low risk to reduce the powder as long as you're being vigilant in case of a squib.  There should be a bare minimum load recipe for your caliber.  Stay above that and below the current one you use.

If you get no jams with any of the ammo tests, then the highest pressure test load is probably a good benchmark to use.  Keep using that unless you see jams again.  Then drop to the next highest.  Trial and error will be expensive, so take your time, be meticulous, and keep good notes. 

Hopefully the pressure adjustment will save you from needing to do the ammo tests.  Good luck!

some sources:
https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/-/118-379072/

https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/66895-dpms-lr-308ap4-failure-to-extract/

some sources:
https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/-/118-379072/

https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/66895-dpms-lr-308ap4-failure-to-extract/

That second link has a lot of great info.     

Thanks guys, you gave a lot of good advice.

What factory ammo have you tried? 

I don't own a .308 semi-auto, but in general I problem solve/test with "known good" ammo.  Understand the ammo situation can be tough right now, but there are many on here who are very helpful, especially if we (2a board) hear a need.   

I have an extraction problem with a PWS .308.  Sometimes the extractor rips the case and the case gets stuck in the chamber and need to get it out with a cleaning rod .  Randomly happpens on reloads and factory ammo.  Any advice would be appreciated.

so the extractor is not holding on to the brass, thats why the brass is still stuck in the chamber?  extractor problem?

does it load the next round?

do you have another BCG you can test the rifle with?

castle nut is secure? 

An expert can help me with this thought. Could the case be expanding enough to stick in the chamber? Does the case slide easily into the chamber after being fired? Or does it stick? If it is stuck, how many times have they been reloaded?

Most of the time I don't know what I'm talking about, jeep that in mind. Just giving a direction to explore

An expert can help me with this thought. Could the case be expanding enough to stick in the chamber? Does the case slide easily into the chamber after being fired? Or does it stick? If it is stuck, how many times have they been reloaded?

Most of the time I don't know what I'm talking about, jeep that in mind. Just giving a direction to explore

OP:  "Randomly happpens on reloads and factory ammo."

If it happens with both reloads and factory ammo, it logically rules out this being a reused case -- unless "factory" includes "remanufactured."

 

I had a PWS .308 about 6-7 years ago.  Great gun.
Had same problem.  Sent it back to factory.
It was a dirty chamber seizing up the brass, resulting in the same problems you had.
Factory cleaned it very well, returned to me and in turn, I kept it very clean after that.
No problems since then.
Sold the rifle a few years after that to someone in the mainland.