Failure to feed first round.

Dr.

The first thing I would suggest and the easiest diagnosis of the problem would be to get a standard metal new magazine and see if you still experience the problem. My bet is as follows from your explanation and photos.
My thought is that is definitely the PMags. Not that PMags are bad but if you leave them fully loaded for a period of time they tend to spread out the Magazine Lips causing the problem you are speaking of. That is why the military does not use them as standard issue due to this problem.
If the standard magazine does not solve your problem which I think it will. The next issue to address would be the Buffer Spring and in that order. 1. Magazine Test with New Metal Mil-Spec or same quality magazine. And then the #2 CAR Buffer Spring getting weal although I doubt that this is your problem.
Also from the chamber pictures I was concerned that there may have been Wolf varnish coated ammunition fired in the weapon which builds up in the chamber and causes problems if not totally removed. However may just be a shadow from the photo process? Try a New Mag first!
Let us know what you find out!
03

 

Kinda looks like the case neck catches on the feed ramp. Does it always happen when feeding from the right magazine lip, because that right feed ramp doesn't look quite as good as the other. Sounds like something that will work itself out with more rounds down the pipe but this shouldn't happen in the first place.

 

DR.

Also make sure you Gas tube is in proper alignment. If the gun was a kit gun and the barrel nut was not properly aligned and slightly out of alignment. This will definitely cause the problem you are having. Misalignment can also be caused by cleaning and bending the Gas Tube in the Receiver causing misalignment with the Gas Tube. To check this remove your upper from the lower. Take your Bolt out of your Carrier and return your Carrier into the Upper and move the Carrier and Carrier Key back and forth over the Gas Tube with your hand. You will be able to feel any bind or flex of the Gas tube you have located your problem. If you do and it has a bind this could attribute to your problem you are describing. It happens all the time in our classes when the student does not properly align the Barrel Nut for the Gas Tube assembly. Alignment must be perfect! When proper alignment is achieved with the Barrel Nut when barreling a rifle the gas tube should be *Easily inserted into the receiver through the Delta Ring Assembly and Gas Tube Hole in the front of the Receiver. With the Gas Tube on one side or the other of the front sight when pushing it in to the Receiver no resistance should be felt. Either side is acceptable! Very few times will it fit with no resistance on both sides of the front sight! One side is FINE! Which ever side works with no resistance! If it is forced you will also get the same issue that you are experiencing. I do not know if this rifle was built by the factory or someone for you but something to check also. I suggested the Mag first because it is the easiest!
As you are aware it is hard sometimes to diagnose a rifle by posts! But we will help all we can. There are many here with a lot of experience with the Black Gun!
Send us a photo of the Gas Tube in the Receiver from a 90 degree angle shooting in the bottom of the upper receiver if you can! And also a shot from the rear down the Charging Handle channel of the Gas Tube end!
03

 

My PMAGs stayed loaded for like a year and they still work fine and there is no spread at all.

 

Still sounds like a mag problem to me!

But
#1 Check the Magazine first They are the #1 Cause of AR and M-16
Malfunctions.
#2 Check the gas tube alignment
#3 Check out another Buffer Spring

Good Luck and let us know if you need any additional ideas.

Sputnik that is good but we have seen several with the problem.

 

Get some steel cased ammo and let it work those sharp edges down

 

Next up try a buffer spring! Then so on! That eliminated the problem that it is a mag problem. Good Job on that! Wish I could be there in person to assist.

03

 

If you get a buffer spring.
I suggest a tubbs flat spring buffer spring

 

Even if it's a different barrel is there any chance Spikes uses same barrel extension on those barrels and yours? I would think the barrels and extension are done at the factory but something to ask them in case.

 

sticking first round in ar15

Hi
I also had an issue with the first round sticking and this is how I solved the problem. I am sure that there are those that will poo bah this but it worked for me.
It was not the gas tube, the buffer spring, or the mag, all I did (and this works every time for me ) was pull and release the charging handle and then give the bolt knob on the right side a very hard wack with the palm of my hand, that's all I do and it works every time for me on the first round of a new mag.
Maybe it will work for you ?