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Many times, the barrel of a malfunctioning gas-impingement AR is dying. If you take a borescope and look towards the top of the barrel near the gas block, you will find that the gas tube constricts the amount of gas that flows through for reliable timing. The pressure that backs up begins to erode a channel that forms just before the gas port. As the channel grows longer and deeper, the AR's timing changes sometimes resulting in a double feed. Excessive gas flow carries with it carbon aerosol that carries back and excessively fouls the receiver, resulting in poor ejection and jamming.

The other primary cause of jams is an over-wound magazine latch spring that prevents magazines from being fully latched in. Especially on three shot burst, the mag works slightly loose and the later rounds may misfeed.

Most armorers think that the tighter the latch, the better. That's generally true except when you are in a firefight and swapping mags in a hurry, a softer latch will more likely allow the mag to bottom out and stay tight.

Bottom line is that worn and dirty weapons may work fine on the range but not in battle.

The other primary cause of jams is an over-wound magazine latch spring that prevents magazines from being fully latched in. Especially on three shot burst, the mag works slightly loose and the later rounds may misfeed.

Most armorers think that the tighter the latch, the better. That's generally true except when you are in a firefight and swapping mags in a hurry, a softer latch will more likely allow the mag to bottom out and stay tight.

Just curious how this causes the mag from being fully latched in? Not doubting you, just wondering?

Barrel overheating could be the cause of a number of the malfunctions. Talking to Korean vets who had to weather mass Chinese assaults on their positions I’ve been told that their BAR barrel was melting and rounds were firing out at the point of the bend.

Weapons malfunction is not a new problem but one that needs to be investigated for the sake of our troops. I’m not a big fan of fully auto main battle rifles. Even the M-249 should be used in bursts. Is the M-4 fully auto or is there a three round burst on it like the M-16? I think that was one of the best enhancements between the A-1 and A-2. Fully auto is inaccurate and can cause malfunctions much more rapidly.