Dumbfounded - FTE to a different FTE

[Mohave-Tec]

You guys helped me fix FTE issue last week where my mid gas barrel was still over-gassing and the extractor wasn't catching the case rim fast enough. Tightened the adjustable gas block down and problem solved.
Now that my extractor has a good bight on the spent round I am having a different FTE where I am yanking and pulling back on the changing handle to convince a not fully chambered round to eject. What the heck is this?
This is my first AR and my first build. This rifle has a mid gassed barrel with an adjustable gas block. The gas block is wide open. Last week I partially closed the gas block to fix the initial FTE problem but I opened it up today after installing a new ST-T2 buffer weight. HELP! $2300 later I'd love to be able to shoot this rifle.
Oh, Wylde chambered match barrel and BCM BCG.

 

[carbine85]

If the round has not fully chambered then it's a FTF (Fail to Feed) and not a FTE
What ammo are you using?
In my experience the Wylde chambers are very tight and mostly intended for target shooting. If you are shooting reloads I would change over to commercial ammo and see what happens.
Another issue to check is the extractor and spring.
Use the standard buffer until you get any other issues worked out. It may very well be the heavier buffer.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

My mistake. I meant FTF then FTE. I am using one of two handloads I developed for two other rifles as they are all I have. I haven't bought commercially prepared ammo in years. Still, when I hand cycle this ammo it drops right into the chamber and by hand the bolt closes quite readily. I also used Go/No Go gauges in the chamber and I build my rounds by Wilson gauges. But to answer your question, the rounds I used are mimicking a Remington 55gr Power-Lokt hollow point.




Below is the rifle in question. It is a frankengun but largely built with reputable components. Below that are a few pictures of what I am seeing in the failures.




In this picture the round doesn't chamber 1 in 3 times after a live round fires and cycles out. Then I have to put the butt on a solid surface and use both hands to pull the un-chambered round with the charging handle.




In the next picture you can see that the extractor has a full grasp on the case rim. Here, I am holding the bolt in place with the charging handle in order the to get this demonstration photograph.




In this next picture you can see the brass is hitting the slick sided upper when rounds do chamber and eject. Last week, when the valve in the gas block was opened all the way and I had a 2.9 oz buffer weight in the rifle rounds would eject at 3 to 4:30 but I was having terrible problems with the ejector catching the rim so the FTE issues. I turned the gas block down and the ejector started catching but I started getting FTF issues. Then I added the ST-T2 buffer weight in hopes of having it correct speed issues and opened the gas block in hopes of using the gas block adjusting valve solely to fine tune the rifle's cyclic rate.




I talked to many here last week about the image below and I think it possible this next image displays possible reasons for feed issues but I was feeding with this ramp alignment last week so I want to it to be a last resort before I start in with a drimmle or replace an otherwise good upper.



I hope this post isn't to long but I am at wits end and I've got over 2k in this rifle. I've also built several other rifles (not ARs) and have great success with them.

 

[eastbank]

most builds come out all right,a few are bastards and this may be one of those. i don,t want flamed here,but will say i own three colts and have fired thousands of all kinds of rounds(reloads,cheap surpluse along with quality ammo) with out a hitch with normal maintance. eastbank.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

That was very helpful. Thanks.

 

[carbine85]

I noted in your original post that I didn't think your feed ramps looked good. From the picture it looks like the case good be catching on the barrel extension. Either the fees ramps are out of spec or the barrel extension is.
The round your are loading should be ok, however you might try a standard FMJ bullet and some factory loads. You need to take things out of the equation.
1) Use a standard buffer
2) Open the gas port.
3) Fix the feed ramps.
You might want to send your Bolt Carrier Assembly to Brave and see what they think. It's probably ok but you never know.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

I'm talking to some other guys too. My handloads are hollow points and their COL is 2.180. These could be bouncing off the feed ramps but I can't make that happen in my shop and I can't see it while firing the rifle so I don't know. First thing I'm going to find out is whether the ramps in the barrel are cut wrong or the ramps in the upper. I'm going to do this before I start hacking away at a $270 barrel. I'll buy a different upper if I have to. This one was $86.
I had a standard buffer in it but don't recall the results as I've not had good results since I built the rifle.
Gas port is wide open.

 

[ying pow]

Try a non M4 cut receiver to see if you have the same issue with the barrel. If not - get a better matching upper or use a non M4 upper.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

That is a very strong possibility. First I'm going to determine if the barrel or the upper ramps are out of spec. If it's the receiver then it will surely be s canned.