Well, 14.5" LW mid-length with an H buffer and LMT spring. Nothing special, just needed to get it’s moth balls out. I have ONLY run steel through the gun up to this point because I am a cheap bastard and I like shooting. I just have been broke due to several recent events that has soaked up my expendable assets that would normally have gone towards ammo.
I was just sharing my personal experience where the ammo definately WAS the problem. It was Herters… no idea what the coating was, but it was sticky as HELL. It was not the same type of “brass” coating as the OPs.
This may or may not be the OPs problem, but I thought I would share and possibly help him out.
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I can’t say for sure, but I think any time you alter how the original system was designed to run, you always risk the chance of creating multiple/bigger problems. The midlength gas system was designed to run reliably with a midlength buffer.
Will do.
“H” buffers are usually standard.
What is a mid-length buffer?
I thought there was such thing as a midlength buffer?
Seriously?
Probably best to post when you KNOW something, not when you THINK something.
Read more, post less.
Alright, I made a mistake. Do you never make mistakes?
We all make mistakes.
It’s just that this forum works hard at stopping the spread of misinformation.
Please guys, back on topic. He was trying to help and anyways I read it as an “H buffer” 
If you want to run the stuff now, find a CAR buffer and run that - less reciprocating weight will reduce the pressure required to reliably cycle it.
Throw more lube in too - I suspect this issue has more to do with the lower pressure from lower powered ammunition coupled with the steel casing not doing any favors during extraction - if the lubing isn’t there, and the rifle isn’t broken in (i.e. the phosphate parkerize on wear points hasn’t worn in enough to reduce drag), it’ll only run with good stuff - e.g. the M193 that the OP stated runs the rifle fine right now.
I think it’ll cycle junk just fine, but only after half a case of quality brass stuff, even if lightly lubed - again, this is assuming lube wasn’t the primary cause of current frustrations.
there.
Not to back-track the thread, but
I don’t understand why HP bullets would cause a problem…
Do others have issues with HP ammo?
I have had issues with FTF recently with Tula but it seems GI type mag (Fusil 30 rd.) related. Cleaned and some dry lubed the mags and it seems to fixed it so far.
Try the Carbine buffer. I have several friends with BCM Middys and they have no issues with steel cased or underpowered ammo using Carbine buffer.
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The shape of the bullet largely determines the feeding characteristics. The AR15/M16/M4 were originally designed with ball ammo in mind. Tula ammo has sporadic quality. I don’t see how cleaning and lubing the magazines would fix a FTF. The round has already left the magazine and proceeded into the chamber.
People, this is a gas/buffer system problem.
I think in my situation, the mags were dry and hesitating and/or sticking.
I’m super poor, so I shoot a crap ton of steel case. My BCM middy has never given me an issue, Pmags or otherwise…
Another vote here for the carbine buffer. It’s an eleven dollar part, for Pete’s sake. At least try it and see if the problem magically goes away. It may be that you need to use a carbine buffer when shooting weaker ammo, and then switch back to the H buffer when shooting full power 5.56 ammo.