11.5” Colt FBI Barrel Ejection

**OldState** · 06-02-19, 15:53

Built my first pistol upper. I bought a 11.5” Colt Heavy Commando barrel from Arms Unlimited. Came with shaved and pinned FSP gas block from Colt. AU claims this is an FBI HRT overrun.

Went with this barrel because of its reported .069 gas port and accuracy. Also the price was great. Swapped out my unfired 16” barrel from a new 6920 I bought a few years ago...so upper, barrel, and BCG are all Colt.

I wanted a properly gassed rifle for 50/50 suppressor use when I get that. Using a H2 buffer from SOLGW and the Colt buffer spring.

Fired Federal XM 193 and the rounds are ejecting at 2 o’clock about 3-4 feet away with a slight but noticeable ding on the cases from the brass deflector. Fiocchi .223 ejects at 4 o’clock as does Brown Bear .223. No dings.

With an H2 buffer and a .069 gas port I didn’t expect the ejection pattern from the full power ammo. I didn’t have a way to measure the GP when I had the GB off to put the rail on.

Is this normal? Seems like it’s cycling pretty fast with FP ammo for a .069 GP. I understand ejection patterns have a lot of variables. Recoils feels similar to my 16” 6920.

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Side note- swapped an Aimpoint pro off my other rifle and the first shot from the 11.5 upper was in the X at 50 yards! No need to rezero. Never thought that would happen! Barrel is about 1.5 MOA with a red dot and Geissele trigger

**MistWolf** · 06-02-19, 17:24

Short Version- Replace the extractor spring with either a Colt M4 extractor spring or a Sprinco extractor spring.

Why The Extractor Spring Needs To Be Replaced- The spring isn't placing enough tension on the extractor to hold the rim of cartridge to hold the cartridge against the bolt face through the entire cycle. The extractor is letting go of the case early and the ejector isn't able to fling the case out of the ejection port with enough speed. The case gets bounced forward and the mouth is catching on the leading edge of the ejection port causing the mouth to get dinged. The extractor spring will get weaker with use and the AR will start exhibiting a bolt over base malfunction and get worse from there.

Replace your extractor spring with either a Colt M4 extractor spring or a Sprinco extractor spring with the black polymer insert. DO NOT USE AN O RING. Nearly all other extractor springs are marginal. Some makers will use an O ring, but that only covers up the fact they are using a marginal extractor spring to begin with. A friend and I did some troubleshooting on a newly built rifle made with quality parts with one exception- the extractor spring. The BCG group supplier used a marginal spring and an O ring and the AR exhibited a more advanced stage of the bolt over (cases were bouncing off the leading edge of the ejection port and bouncing back into the action) from the very start. This was confirmed by examining slow motion video of the malfunction as it occurred. Replacing the extractor spring fixed the problem.

It's important is that AR owners learn to recognize the signs of marginal and failing extractor springs and how to properly solve the issue. Mouth dings are an early sign, followed by bolt overs & stovepipes, then bolt overs with an empty case caught in the action. If an extractor spring needs an O ring, the extractor spring is failing and needs to be replaced. If an O ring is used with the proper spring, too much tension will be placed on the extractor.

Personal experience with my personal ARs and ARs of relatives and friends show that using Colt extractor springs ends bolt overs and empties caught in the action. I have never used Sprinco springs, but I.G. has plenty of experience with them and gives them his stamp of approval. Sionics uses Sprinco extractor springs in their ARs. Most other extractor springs are marginal at best and should be replaced.

**OldState** · 06-02-19, 18:08

Originally Posted by MistWolf

Short Version- Replace the extractor spring with either a Colt M4 extractor spring or a Sprinco extractor spring.

Why The Extractor Spring Needs To Be Replaced- The spring isn't placing enough tension on the extractor to hold the rim of cartridge to hold the cartridge against the bolt face through the entire cycle. The extractor is letting go of the case early and the ejector isn't able to fling the case out of the ejection port with enough speed. The case gets bounced forward and the mouth is catching on the leading edge of the ejection port causing the mouth to get dinged. The extractor spring will get weaker with use and the AR will start exhibiting a bolt over base malfunction and get worse from there.

Replace your extractor spring with either a Colt M4 extractor spring or a Sprinco extractor spring with the black polymer insert. DO NOT USE AN O RING. Nearly all other extractor springs are marginal. Some makers will use an O ring, but that only covers up the fact they are using a marginal extractor spring to begin with. A friend and I did some troubleshooting on a newly built rifle made with quality parts with one exception- the extractor spring. The BCG group supplier used a marginal spring and an O ring and the AR exhibited a more advanced stage of the bolt over (cases were bouncing off the leading edge of the ejection port and bouncing back into the action) from the very start. This was confirmed by examining slow motion video of the malfunction as it occurred. Replacing the extractor spring fixed the problem.

It's important is that AR owners learn to recognize the signs of marginal and failing extractor springs and how to properly solve the issue. Mouth dings are an early sign, followed by bolt overs & stovepipes, then bolt overs with an empty case caught in the action. If an extractor spring needs an O ring, the extractor spring is failing and needs to be replaced. If an O ring is used with the proper spring, too much tension will be placed on the extractor.

Personal experience with my personal ARs and ARs of relatives and friends show that using Colt extractor springs ends bolt overs and empties caught in the action. I have never used Sprinco springs, but I.G. has plenty of experience with them and gives them his stamp of approval. Sionics uses Sprinco extractor springs in their ARs. Most other extractor springs are marginal at best and should be replaced.

I appreciate the advice but the BCG is a brand new Colt. BCG, Barrel, buffer spring, and Upper receiver were all brand new never fired Colt parts

**MistWolf** · 06-02-19, 20:25

Originally Posted by OldState

I appreciate the advice but the BCG is a brand new Colt. BCG, Barrel, buffer spring, and Upper receiver were all brand new never fired Colt parts

Excellent choice of parts. While I'm a fan of the Colt springs and they've never given me a lick of trouble, I won't pretend they are infallible. The malfunction your AR is having is due to weak extraction and/or ejection. Colt coats everything with a preservative that can gum up the springs. I've had four Colts- two ARs and two 1911s- that wouldn't work right until I cleaned out all the preservative. It's possible your extractor/ejector is sticky from the goo. It's also possible it's got a bad spring.

**OldState** · 06-02-19, 20:40

6857D187-FD45-4231-A0F2-0F9ADD40E00B.jpg 3BA5E20B-D413-4A0B-97D8-38C282EF7A6E.jpgOk. I can take apart the BCG and clean it and see what that does. My gut feeling was that the gas port is larger than what I was lead to believe since ejection moved back as I shot weaker loads.

This project began as a Colt 6920 OEM 1 so that is where the parts came from. The gun was new and in my safe for three years...so maybe the oil gummed up.

I swapped the 16” barrel for the 11.5” Colt...which is supposed to be their FBI spec’d one. Then I put it on a LMT stripped “pistol” Lower I built up with a SOLGW LPK and a Geissele trigger and bolt catch.
You may be able to see the mark on the Federal 193 brass. The cases from the other two loads had no such marks.

**Clint** · 06-02-19, 21:41

The 069 port is a good size for non-suppressed use only.

For mixed suppressed use, you're going to want smaller.

Our EZTune gas tube is what you're looking for.

**Sparky5019** · 10-21-19, 17:40

Originally Posted by MistWolf

Short Version- Replace the extractor spring with either a Colt M4 extractor spring or a Sprinco extractor spring.

Why The Extractor Spring Needs To Be Replaced- The spring isn't placing enough tension on the extractor to hold the rim of cartridge to hold the cartridge against the bolt face through the entire cycle. The extractor is letting go of the case early and the ejector isn't able to fling the case out of the ejection port with enough speed. The case gets bounced forward and the mouth is catching on the leading edge of the ejection port causing the mouth to get dinged. The extractor spring will get weaker with use and the AR will start exhibiting a bolt over base malfunction and get worse from there.

Replace your extractor spring with either a Colt M4 extractor spring or a Sprinco extractor spring with the black polymer insert. DO NOT USE AN O RING. Nearly all other extractor springs are marginal. Some makers will use an O ring, but that only covers up the fact they are using a marginal extractor spring to begin with. A friend and I did some troubleshooting on a newly built rifle made with quality parts with one exception- the extractor spring. The BCG group supplier used a marginal spring and an O ring and the AR exhibited a more advanced stage of the bolt over (cases were bouncing off the leading edge of the ejection port and bouncing back into the action) from the very start. This was confirmed by examining slow motion video of the malfunction as it occurred. Replacing the extractor spring fixed the problem.

It's important is that AR owners learn to recognize the signs of marginal and failing extractor springs and how to properly solve the issue. Mouth dings are an early sign, followed by bolt overs & stovepipes, then bolt overs with an empty case caught in the action. If an extractor spring needs an O ring, the extractor spring is failing and needs to be replaced. If an O ring is used with the proper spring, too much tension will be placed on the extractor.

Personal experience with my personal ARs and ARs of relatives and friends show that using Colt extractor springs ends bolt overs and empties caught in the action. I have never used Sprinco springs, but I.G. has plenty of experience with them and gives them his stamp of approval. Sionics uses Sprinco extractor springs in their ARs. Most other extractor springs are marginal at best and should be replaced.

Keep fighting the good fight brother. Lol. I’ve put Sprinco extractor springs in some really crappy guns over the years. Solves all kinds of badness. Lol.

**prepare** · 10-23-19, 07:00

Originally Posted by MistWolf

Short Version- Replace the extractor spring with either a Colt M4 extractor spring or a Sprinco extractor spring.

Why The Extractor Spring Needs To Be Replaced- The spring isn't placing enough tension on the extractor to hold the rim of cartridge to hold the cartridge against the bolt face through the entire cycle. The extractor is letting go of the case early and the ejector isn't able to fling the case out of the ejection port with enough speed. The case gets bounced forward and the mouth is catching on the leading edge of the ejection port causing the mouth to get dinged. The extractor spring will get weaker with use and the AR will start exhibiting a bolt over base malfunction and get worse from there.

Replace your extractor spring with either a Colt M4 extractor spring or a Sprinco extractor spring with the black polymer insert. DO NOT USE AN O RING. Nearly all other extractor springs are marginal. Some makers will use an O ring, but that only covers up the fact they are using a marginal extractor spring to begin with. A friend and I did some troubleshooting on a newly built rifle made with quality parts with one exception- the extractor spring. The BCG group supplier used a marginal spring and an O ring and the AR exhibited a more advanced stage of the bolt over (cases were bouncing off the leading edge of the ejection port and bouncing back into the action) from the very start. This was confirmed by examining slow motion video of the malfunction as it occurred. Replacing the extractor spring fixed the problem.

It's important is that AR owners learn to recognize the signs of marginal and failing extractor springs and how to properly solve the issue. Mouth dings are an early sign, followed by bolt overs & stovepipes, then bolt overs with an empty case caught in the action. If an extractor spring needs an O ring, the extractor spring is failing and needs to be replaced. If an O ring is used with the proper spring, too much tension will be placed on the extractor.

Personal experience with my personal ARs and ARs of relatives and friends show that using Colt extractor springs ends bolt overs and empties caught in the action. I have never used Sprinco springs, but I.G. has plenty of experience with them and gives them his stamp of approval. Sionics uses Sprinco extractor springs in their ARs. Most other extractor springs are marginal at best and should be replaced.

Sprinco has a enhanced and a extra power, which one is recommended? with or without the insert?