Abstract: A hand operated projectile extractor to remove unspent projectiles from 155 mm howitzers, which extractor is generally cylindrical, about 18 inches in length, with a handle extending from the rear thereof and with an overall weight of at least about 30 pounds, to provide enough momentum to eject the projectile. When rammed into the muzzle of a howitzer and down the barrel thereof, the ogive of the projectile enters the open front of the extractor's cylindrical body and will be impacted by a compression ring along the extractor's front edge, which compression ring has a minimum internal diameter of 4.75 inches and is formed of particular flat and curved surfaces which will not bind to either the projectile or the barrel.