I have a BSA Martini Cadet action I inherited from my brother (RIP). I had a new barrel made by a 'smith who said he had worked on such actions, and had the extractor modified to fit the .222 Remington Rimmed cartridge.
Using light loads (at least according to my reloading manuals), the cases became harder and harder to extract, such that by the third firing, I had to tap the action open with a plastic hammer. Not good.
Judging from the primers, my thought is that the firing pin hole is too large and the primers are extruding back into it. (Why it takes three shots to get really bad I have no idea.)
Apparently, bushing the firing pin hole and turning down the tip of the firing pin was a common practice to deal with pressures higher than that of the .310 Cadet cartridge, but also apparently, the job required an experienced 'smith. (I talked to one nationally-known 'smith who does a lot of this type work on bolt actions and he said "never again" and threw holy water and garlic cloves at me through the telephone line. Not a happy camper.)
So, are there any 'smiths left who have the experience to do this job? I hate to have the rifle just sitting in the safe.
Thank you,
Richard