DPMS LR-308 Failed to Eject Today

[bluewater]

Today, while chronographing some new loads with my LR-308, it stopped ejecting spent cases. I had to manually pull the charge bar back to get the spent cases out. Other than that, it performed flawlessly.

I checked the bolt, etc., and everything looked OK so I kept on shooting, as I needed the chronographed data. Anyway, after ~50 more rounds, I noticed that the front gas tube had become disconnected and was sliding forward, toward the muzzle. The two (2) allen screws that securely fastens it to the barrel had loosened and consequently created the gas leak causing the failure to eject condition.

Naturally I didn't have the appropriate size allen wrench, so called it a day. Got my DPMS back home, cleaned it up and securely fastened the gas tube to the barrel. Everything looks fine now and I will finish up my shooting tomorrow.

I had never checked the tightness of the allen screws but will now keep an eye on them. Has anyone else experienced this condition?

;?

[pieceofstink]

No-but I had almost the same problem with an LEO M4A3 made by DPMS. During assembly at the factory, someone had forgot to put the gas tube roll pin in. Same result: Failure to eject spent brass, and lots of gas venting out a loose gas tube. Q/C issues with DPMS??

[Rob96]

Q/C issues with DPMS??

Read all of the different sections at ARFCOM, and you will see, every maker is experiencing this. They are cranking out so many rifles to meet demand, some lemons slip through. I wish I could remember where I read it, but supposedly the DEA has been experiencing some problems with their Rock River AR's.

[Skintop911]

Originally posted by bluewater
I had never checked the tightness of the allen screws but will now keep an eye on them. Has anyone else experienced this condition?

;?

If you're going to demand any reliability from such a configuration, torque the screws to spec and stake them in place.

[aubie515]

The allen screws can come loose on ANY AR. I find it ironic that it's a simple fix, but yet people make it into this huge issue. This happened to a Bushmaster that I own...did I blame BM and say they have QC issues because the screws came loose? No, I fixed the problem and the rifle shoots. I think if people had more knowledge about the firearms that they used, than there would be a lot less complaints.