by wrangler » Thu Sep 20, 2018 6:50 pm
So....I got the ejection port opened up. The rifle would barely eject a spent round. Anemic on gas so I tore the rifle down and measured the gas port. It was .070" (#50 drill). I opened the port with a #49 drill to .073" and went to the range. Still anemic! Back home, tore the hand guard and gas block off AGAIN and opened the port to .076" (#48 drill) and NOW the rifle ejects out at 1600 and the bolt locks back! Wouldn't have been such a big deal if I had a range in my back yard or better yet, the manufacturer of this barrel had the specifications on gas ports tested and proven before shipping them to Midway USA! Ha! Read a review there on this barrel earlier. The fella reported the same issues as I am having. Wait until I post my review!
Now to address the feeding issues! With Nam era 20 round mags with the blue follower from eBay, the 240 gr. Hornady XTP mag bullets are getting hung up on the large feed ramp at 6 o'clock. I put a round in a mag, insert the mag into the lower and hit the bolt release and BAM.... the round jams! I can see a copper speck on the center of the barrel extension feed ramp. I did cut a U notch in the front of these mags. These were functioning mags in a standard AR with 223 rounds prior to installing the blue follower over the GI follower.
Looking at the random cuts on the lands, I can see copper fouling sticking in them. At 38 rounds fired .... on functioning issues, I have at best a 1 1/2 moa barrel at this point.
Any suggestions on the feeding issues as to what tweaking of the magazines may need done would be appreciated. I guess I am going to have to remove the barrel and polish the feed ramp too. What a problem "child"!