Help me diagnose this malfunction

AR/M4 AR Technical Discussion
1
  1. What make and manufacture is your AR? Was it pieced together (Frankengun) or factory?

Factory Noveske 14.5" Middy w/ SWB

  1. What modifications were made prior to actually shooting it? Did you put in a super high speed 3lb. buffer or a 100lb. buffer spring?

Geissele SSA, nothing else that would affect function.

  1. What type of ammunition did you use? Did you use reloads or absolute crappy cheap ammo made in Transylvania?

Can’t quite remember, pretty sure it was Federal 193, though it may have been PPU 75 grain match.

  1. Did the weapon function out of the box?

Yes, round count was somewhere around 3k with only the gas rings replaced at about 1,500.

  1. Were modifications made to the gas port?

No.

  1. Take a good picture of the part or problem in question. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

http://flic.kr/p/fXJq9P - Video

I’m trying to figure out if the two malfunctions I had with my Noveske could possibly have been from a lack of lubrication (as in it had dried up). Both were experience during high round count sessions and while I ran it fairly wet with Militec-1, it was on the dryer side at the time of the malfunction in question. The issue was pretty simple: fired a round, big cloud of something grey shoots out from the weapon and the case fails to eject. Re-lubed it and had no more problems, so I am wondering whether it was too dry or maybe that specific round was just the issue. I’d appreciate any help as I am trying to decide whether I should give Fireclean a shot or just stick with Militec. If I know that at least this malfunction was due to a lack of lube, I’ll switch it up as it had not fired that many rounds since the previous application.

2

Were the failure to ejects on back to back rounds and then you lubed it and it ran fine after that? Or were they at different times? If they were back to back rounds, sounds like you needed to lube up.

NYH1.

3

Did you by any chance, inspect the casing responsible for the failure?

4

Seems to be an ammunition related problem.
Of course, a wet gun is a happy gun, but lack of lubrication wouldn’t cause the larger than usual smoke signature.
After such events I really like to check the bore for possible obstruction.

5

It was just one FTE that time. The other one I eluded to I mentioned in a different thread, completely unrelated.

I did not, there was a massive amount of brass on the ground so I didn’t bother trying to find it.

ETA - Edited the first post with the link to the video. You’ll notice I had to fight it a decent amount to get the casing out as the whole thing had locked up. In fact, IIRC, I had to mortar it.

6

If it was just the one round that was a FTE it could be a bunch of things. If you know you lubed it good enough then I’d count that out. Maybe just a bad (under loaded??) round. Keep it lube and try good ammo and see if it works any better. You have a quality setup.

NYH1.

7

I’m 99% certain that was an ammo issue.