M-16

We had heard stories about M-16's having a jamming problem. So the CO decided to set up a test range (at our next rest stop) to verify if there really was a problem .

We found out a large number of weapons did in fact jam (I was never able to get more than 3-4 rounds off before mine jammed). It was quickly determined that jam's mainly occurred with those using corroded ammo (the ammo that the previous FO gave me was basically green in color). Ammo right out of the box never gave a problem, but ammo that was a week or so old - did (even if the rounds appeared to still be shinny). So we wrote home to have our loved ones to send us jeweler's rouge polishing cloth's.

While on patrol some time later, several CH-47s dropped out of the sky and a bunch of ordnance type people ran over to us, grabbed our weapons, disassembled them, and replaced the bolt buffer mechanism that was in the M-16 stock. Of course, to see what they had done, I disassembled my weapon and checked out the replacement part they had installed. When I tilted the part back-and-forth, some thing inside slid back-and-forth (this never happened with the original buffer part). This solved the jamming problem (I believe by slowing down the rate of fire). Later M-16's also had the chamber chromium plated.

The History channel had a program on the M-16 jamming problem some time ago. This documentary got some things right and other things wrong. The basic problem was the Army changed the basic 5.56 mm AR-15 ammo from ball to stick propellant for the M-16. The stick powder was slower burning and the cartridge casing was still fully expanded in the chamber when the bolt tried to extract the spent casing. The extractor, in this case, rips the edge out of the brass. Repeated attempts to extract the casing with the bolt are now impossible and it must be knocked out with the cleaning rod.

The History Channel program went on to say that troop failure to properly clean their weapons was also a factor, this part was essentially B.S.