If the extractor claw is broken, what may happen?

When the extractor claw is broken, it significantly impacts the firearm's ability to hold and eject cartridges properly. The extractor’s primary function is to grip the case of a fired round during the cycling of the action, ensuring that the spent casing is removed from the chamber after firing. When the extractor is malfunctioning due to a broken claw, it may not securely hold onto the round as it moves out of the chamber.

As a result, the round may leave the chamber improperly. The extractor may fail to catch the rim of the case effectively, leading to a situation where the casing does not get fully ejected or is left in the chamber. This malfunction can cause various feeding and ejection issues, resulting in the firearm potentially failing to operate correctly. Understanding the role of the extractor is crucial, as it is integral to the cycling process of semi-automatic and automatic firearms.