Beretta 22 conversion malfunctions

I have a 96FS that I have a newer model Beretta conversion. I bought it years ago but only shot a few times. I took it out recently and ran a couple hundred rounds through it. I had too many malfunctions. I had failures to extract. The casing was in chamber and the extractor could not grab it. I had to get a knife to pry it out. It wasn't particularly tight. It seemed the extractor just couldn't get a good grab on it. In looking at the barrel and slide I noticed what I think is an issue. A regular 92 or 96 barrel has a complete cut out for the extractor. This barrel has a tapered cut out- at chamber the cut out is nearly complete but an 1/8" or so towards the muzzle the cut out ends so it is tapered between. Now when I slowly push slide forward to meet the barrel, the extractor goes in this cutout, but it hits the taper before fully forward and this pushes it slightly outward, leaving less of it to grab hold of the rim of the casing. I called Beretta and not very helpful. Couldn't tell me if this is normal. It is past the 3 yr warranty. I could send it in, but they may charge me. I think it is manufacturing defect? but without seeing others no way to know if this is normal? I was hoping they could tell me over the phone but no such luck. Thoughts?

I would clean the chamber and the extractor well, that may fix it. If not, not much lost doing that at least.

Sorry, I don't have a new conversion so can't help ya there.

What you described is normal .22 extractor behavior.

Try cleaning as already recommended.

How old is the ammo, and did you try more than one type of ammo?

After a wee bit o’ a dirty chamber (or gunked up extractor recess / slot), the #2 culprit here is a weak extractor spring (followed by a slightly deformed extractor) so, as mentioned above, clean the chamber well, with a new .22 chamber brush if you’re willing to obtain one from Brownells; and, particularly including the throat … and hold yer breath while we all cross our fingers. (And try more than two brands / types Ammo (assuming you are not shooting high velocity although, who knows (yet) what that conversion kit prefers)


I seriously (very seriously) doubt the trouble is a tight chamber but, I’ll mention it just in case. I have a S&W Model 41 that has a chamber documented as tight (most recently by an armorer with the USMC pistol team at Camp Perry). But, the thing is eerie accurate, out of a Ransom Rest at 50-, let alone 25- yards. So accurate as a matter of fact that, as far back as the 80’s I’ve been cautioned: “Do NOT let anyone ever talk you into “reaming” that chamber, not even a little bit!” Instead, I was advised to, Big Breath here, shoot the gun, ”wet.” That is, to put a pencil tip sized dot of light oil on the nose of the first round of each two 5-rd mags during timed and rapid fire. And know what? That works like a charm.

Please keep us posted (and if you send it anywhere I’d send it to Wilson or a shop similar that is branded w Beretta, long before I’d ever send it back to Beretta. You might also check the forums at BullsEye-L or especially Rimfire Central .com - lots of rimfire extraction solutions to be found both places!

well I can certainly clean it. But it was clean when I began. I tried several different brands and types. I have a lot of different brands, although some are old-When my dad passed away 5 years ago he had some that I took. I will have to take a range day and just try many different brands/types and document it. I do have one spent case that stuck in chamber and one that didn't. I can put that one in and the extractor will NOT grab it. I want to try to take some measurements and see what the difference is. Maybe I'll sand the outside a little to loosen it up in chamber and see if extractor will pull it out then? thanks

and I did check the extractor on my browning buck mark and Gun Bum you are correct as the extractor goes out slightly as slide comes forward on that one too (on empty chamber)

If you can't buy an aftermarket extractor, you may have to file the inside of the extractor were it sits in the bolt. This will allow the extractor to reach further towards the case. When I made repairs like this, I usually put a stronger extractor spring in as well. I don't know how many Beretta 96 conversion kits are out there. You might find there is no aftermarket (Tandemkross, Volquartsen etc) parts available.

I thought about doing the same but decided to purchase Beretta 92in 22lr.

I have the conversion kit on my M9A3 and it works quite well. I have an occasional failure to feed, but most of the time it works well with Aguilla, Minimags, Federal BYOD and Federal Automatch. PM me if you want me to garb a few pics or measurements.

hammer67 said:

I have a 96FS that I have a newer model Beretta conversion. I bought it years ago but only shot a few times. I took it out recently and ran a couple hundred rounds through it. I had too many malfunctions. I had failures to extract. The casing was in chamber and the extractor could not grab it. I had to get a knife to pry it out. It wasn't particularly tight. It seemed the extractor just couldn't get a good grab on it. In looking at the barrel and slide I noticed what I think is an issue. A regular 92 or 96 barrel has a complete cut out for the extractor. This barrel has a tapered cut out- at chamber the cut out is nearly complete but an 1/8" or so towards the muzzle the cut out ends so it is tapered between. Now when I slowly push slide forward to meet the barrel, the extractor goes in this cutout, but it hits the taper before fully forward and this pushes it slightly outward, leaving less of it to grab hold of the rim of the casing. I called Beretta and not very helpful. Couldn't tell me if this is normal. It is past the 3 yr warranty. I could send it in, but they may charge me. I think it is manufacturing defect? but without seeing others no way to know if this is normal? I was hoping they could tell me over the phone but no such luck. Thoughts?

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I have one of these kits and the angled extractor cut out in the barrel is correct. The extractor should move out as the slide is closed. This is a safety feature so don't change that angle on the front of the extractor. Make sure the extractor moves out freely by pushing it out with your finger and returns fully to its resting place under its own spring pressure. Make sure the tip of the extractor is sharp and not chipped off. Clean the throat and chamber. Make sure the pin located across the outside top of the slide, near the chamber is intact. These pins were known to break in the early versions and cause problems.