Police Carbine Horror Story
I'm currently attending a police carbine instructors course. Most of the officers are using some variety of M4/AR-15.
One officer today was experience one stoppage after the next. The rifle would fail to extract and then double feed. This happened repeatedly. I inspected the spent casings and they showed signs of polishing and the rim showed distinct extractor marks and deformation where the extractor had grabbed it.
The rifle in question was an M16A1 with an after-market 16" M4 profile barrel, YHM rails, and M4 stock. The fire control assembly had been rendered semi-auto by swapping out the selector switch and hammer. I could find no markings at all on the barrel so the make, twist rate, and even chambering was unknown. I don't know of any first or even second tier barrel maker that doesn't stamp their barrels. The bolt still had the blue extractor insert and the extractor tension was weak enough to easily move with my thumbnail. It had a cheap looking, though roll pinned, carbine weight buffer. The action spring was a full inch shorter than mine. I suspect Chinese manufacture. The castle nut was also loose and un-staked.
The officer stated that his department bought the rifles from the DOD and had a "custom gunsmith" in the area convert them into carbines. Great job.
I staked the castle nut, installed a D-fender, and one of the staff instructors let him borrow a heavy buffer and action spring.
The rifle ripped through two 30rnd magazines without a hiccup.
This is an Ohio agency, so I've printed off a shopping cart from G&R Tactical for the officer to take back to his department showing them what they need to buy to get those rifles up to speed.
Unbelievable.