Rust on extractor??

[Rick L.]

Hello all I don't post here alot mostly just read.

I purchased a XD40SC about 2 weeks ago. I brought it home cleaned it, nothing unusual. I took it out this last saturday and shot about 240 rounds through it. I didn't get around to cleaning it till yesterday ( tuesday ) when I did I noticed that the extractor is completly a rust color (almost like a deep violet color) along with the striker locking plate. Not sure if its rust or what, Im a lil confused. Its not any where else on the gun I have a v-10 service 40 and there is no color to the extractor its black just as the slide so I know something is wrong. I keep the gun well oiled its only been about 2 weeks.

Has anybody else came across somthing like this or similar? I did a search and all that comes up is spotted rust on the slides. I called springfield and there sending out a shipping label for me to fed ex it to em but still figured I'd ask around the forums. I have pics but I can't figure out how to post them. Usually there is an attach file deal but I don't see one.

[APismoClam]

I've noticed the violet color of the extractor too...it must be normal because all 5 of my XDs have it. It's definitely not rust...that's a different color...it's just the color of whatever chemical coating it's been treated with.

[Rick L.]

Thats odd seeing that my other service model doesn't do that and nor do my buddys to xd's but its some relief to hear. I just took a closer cleaning to it and im finding that rust is seaping out from under the the striker saftey also! what a let down. Im gunna send it away and see what they'll do. I'd really feel comfortable with a new gun with no rust other than a new gun that had rust and springfield cleaned it all up, just don't feel/seem right. We'll see though

[thelongone13]

My extractor's just fine, and the gun was sitting for over 2 years before I took it home...

[mongoose33]

Originally Posted by Rick L.

Thats odd seeing that my other service model doesn't do that and nor do my buddys to xd's but its some relief to hear. I just took a closer cleaning to it and im finding that rust is seaping out from under the the striker saftey also! what a let down. Im gunna send it away and see what they'll do. I'd really feel comfortable with a new gun with no rust other than a new gun that had rust and springfield cleaned it all up, just don't feel/seem right. We'll see though

Rick, I'll bet you $10 it's not rust.

Mine had similar stuff when mine was new. I cleaned out both the extractor hole and striker safety hole and since then it's not been a problem. I'm pretty sure it's just a kind of grease or other protectant that is put in those slots when they are assembled.

If you remove those parts and clean out the stuff in those holes, it'll go away.

[DWARREN123]

Yep, both my XD-40s have it. Not rust but mayhaps the bluing has changed color due to heat or other reason.

[Rick L.]

Im hoping ya'll are right. Springfield was quick on the fed x label so I dropped it off and it ships tomorrow. Mine as well have them take a look at it just to be safe. There was some scuffs on the outer portion of the slide that I asked if they could refinish it anyway so... Its just real akward, my service never had these problems at all. Why is the extractor changing color? My buddy has a subcompact 9 and a xdm40 which both the extractors on them remained black.

All of this started last night when my girlfriend and I had a run in with the Gilbert police. We're watching her parents house and the alarm went off at around 11:00 at night so we head over there to check things out and of course I grab the xd. We get there I take my firearm out the holster and we go inside shut the alarm off get a call from the alarm company making sure we are alright which we verified and they said they wouldn't dispatch. So we take a look around the house. Then I move out to the backyard, all is clear the weather must have set the alarm off. So we lock up and head out the garage right when I step out the garage I hear DROP YOUR GUN! gun meets warm concrete we both get cuffed he call's for back up. Totally understandable. So im sitting in the back of the police vehicle while they sort things out and the officer's in the front seat checking out my pistol. He must have been a glock guy cause all I was hearing him tell the other officer was "yeah, they tried to copy glock" Then I hear him go this thing is dirty as **** (which it was 240 rounds last saturday and hadn't touched it since) you need to clean it, it starting to get rust. To my self Im thinking "rust! I just bought it around a week and half ago 2 at the most, I cleaned it before I shot it and didn't see rust This guys nuts. Anyway gun checked out along with My girl and I. So I went home and couldn't sleep lol. Had to see what he was talking about. Took er apart cleaned her up thats when I saw the deep violet extractor and crapped a brick.

I guess it all makes sence with the heat from a smaller gun, its just weird how it would only color that part of the gun. I didn't think of taking those parts out cause I honestly could see a way to get them out. Guess I should have looked on youtube.

[mongoose33]

Originally Posted by Rick L.

I guess it all makes sence with the heat from a smaller gun, its just weird how it would only color that part of the gun. I didn't think of taking those parts out cause I honestly could see a way to get them out. Guess I should have looked on youtube.

Actually, it seems to me that the extractor must be made of some specialty steel due to the stress it takes jerking that shell out of the chamber each time. So I'm not surprised it would be a different color--heat treating maybe, or some such.

BTW, here's a thread on how to remove the extractor. We discuss making a few different tools to do it. Check the whole thread:

Trouble removing extractor from XD .45 (tactical)