KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

[ROK]

I would like to begin by saying that I have an enormous amount of respect for KAC including their industry leading innovation and dedication to getting results. The purpose of this thread is simply to ask if anyone has seen anything similar. I do intend to reach out to KAC Monday.

This rifle was a recent purchase, ordered about a month before all the crap started, after much deliberation. I topped her with a Leupold 1-6/reticle TMR-D. I do not have enough time on the scope to review but first impressions overall are good glass and lightweight despite the 34mm tube -- my only disappointments... a daylight visible 1X and an option for 1-8.

The usual crowd was headed to the range on Saturday so I brought the KAC to Zero... mistake. I began having feed issues and put her up... I do not need 5 "experts" trying to assist me in trouble shooting. Today I came prepared to attack the feed issue:

ISSUE: When bolt recycles it does not strip a round off the mag. Most times the bolt closes completely although on a few occasions the bolt carrier closes half way with a round stuck under the bolt. The round in the mag has visible marks on the top that appear to go all the back.

Trouble Shooting:
1. AMMO: 20 rounds of each
a. M118 LR (white box from Sniper Central thought I ordered HSM)brass is marked WCC 7 (Winchester). I have previously received good results with this ammo.
b. M118 LR from American Ballistics. I have seen alot of talk of this ammo but when I cronied it previously I did not find it to be consistent.
c. Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr 762 X 51

2 Mags:
a. POF 25 round
b. C Products 10 and 20 round... The fight of the 10 round mag was to tight and bolt would not close.
c. 3 different PMAG 20 round

3. Other
Yesterday she had a thin coat of oil. To ensure there was not a friction issue I gave the bolt carrier an oil bath.

Results:

a. AMMO A, which I have previously had good results with, fed the worst. It did not feed with any of the mags. I stopped after trying each magazine with only a few rounds.
b. AMMO B, The American Ballistics fed better with one mis feed on most of the mags.
c. AMMO C, I had misfeeds 1 on the two metal mags and 1 pmag.

COMMENTS:
I double checked to make sure this rifle did not come with an adjustable gas block (like my old Steyr Aug). I am not sure what impact KAC's proprietary pressure reduction system might be playing? The issue to me feels like someone put a 308 Winchester buffer spring in this 762X51.
I will reach out to KAC tomorrow; however, I was wondering if anyone had seen this before.

Thanks.

 

[deadly0311]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Try the factory mag and see what happens.

 

[sgj2025]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Tagged, Keep us posted on outcome.

 

[BDHershey]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Definitely reach out to KAC.

I'm sure they'll get it squared away quickly.

Since you seem to have ruled out the ammo and mags by running several varieties of each, I wonder if the mag catch may be slightly out of spec leaving the mags sitting a hair too low?

 

[nexusfire]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Sounds under gassed. My sr25 eats any kind of ammo. All of the mags you mentioned should work fine. Out of all I have only had issues with c products. POF is hit and miss. Factory mag and p mag should be reliable.

 

[Oleshep]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

I agree it sounds under gassed. Any signs of gas leaking around the block?

 

[CWS1959]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Undergassed. I had the same problem in my FN-FAL. Simply put, with an empty mag is the bolt locking after firing one round?

 

[Oleshep]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Assuming the BCG is standard AR 10 design make sure the gas rings on the bolt have all thier gaps staggerd.

 

[ROK]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Yes, I suspect that I may have a gas leak in the block. If this is the issue I will let KAC fix it for warranty purposes.

The gas rings on these rifles are permanetely staggered.

I appreciate the feed back.

 

[KevinB-KAC]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Have you tried the factory mag?

It does seem like you may have a gas leak.
email [email protected] for an RMA for inspection.


Gas Block leaks are minor - the biggest issue is if your blowing gas at the carrier key.

 

[ROK]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

Hi Kevin,

I tried to PM you but you are over your limit. I purchased the rifle from Gun Gallery and the box was sealed when I picked it up. When I opened the box it did not include a KAC mag.

I did speak with Tom Presley this AM to assist in getting the rifle addressed.

Thank you!

 

[nexusfire]

Re: KAC SR25 ECC/Feed Issue

meh just send it back to KAC and they will take care of it. dont waste any more time on the "internets"

 

[ROK]

As requested I am updating this thread with an outcome... I contacted KAC regarding the under gas issue shortly after recommendations from this thread. Since it has been roughly 6 months since this process began I will provide a chain of events. It is important to note that I shoot my rifles clean with a light coat of oil.

a. After contacting KAC there was not any feedback as to how to resolve my issue. The initial response was more around trouble shooting me and not the rifle. I suggested that KAC send me a new bolt carrier key so I may trouble shoot the rifle myself. The first bolt carrier key was received defective -- it appeared to have been dropped. KAC later sent me another bolt carrier key. The bolt carrier key did not resolve the issue.

b. After some conversation I suggested that I hand carry the rifle to KAC. After more conversation I was told they would receive the rifle and I dropped it off at KAC. KAC indicates that the rifle did have a gas leak. Rifle was repaired and mailed back to me. Earlier in the thread I indicated I did not receive a KAC mag with my rifle. KAC was kind enough to provide me with a new KAC Mag (Thank you!).

c. Upon receipt of the rifle I fired 40 rounds (Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr and M118LR) using both KAC and Magpul mags. I experienced 2 short blows where the rifle did not strip another round off the mag -- 1 with the KAC mag and 1 with the Magpul.

d. After some conversation I received permission to again drop the rifle back off with KAC. KAC indicates that they could not reproduce the issue.

e. I received the rifle back about a week ago. I ran 60 rounds through her, of Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr with KAC mag only, and had no failures. I have some more testing to do with Magpul mags and M118LR; however, I did want to respond and update this thread.

Comments:
The KAC individual I engaged was great to work with; however, he had no power to make decisions and, instead, appeared to be a middle man in the process. My primary recommendation to KAC would be that they put in place a process which could more effectively address similar concerns and incorporates some elements of follow up. Had such a process been in place prior to my experience it would have reduced the number of contacts necessary with KAC, potentially defined the true issue earlier in the process, had a more positive impact on the client, and made their service arm more effective as they would not have had to respond to my numerous emails and phone calls.

In closing, I love my SR15. I know someone else who has an ECC and loves it. KAC makes fantastic products and when you do volume one could reasonably expect the law of large numbers will apply. A defining characteristic of any company is how they address issues when they do arise.

 

[997/2man]

I would be a little frustrated as well.

KAC mags or pmags should be gtg. 3/4 of the time a shitty mag is to blame.

When I bought my first JP .308, was sent with a crappy mag (DPMS?) fucking Jam-O-Matic. Pmags or KAC, simple as that.

Someone else asked "Does the BCG stay open after last round?".

KAC mags or Pmags, FGMM or BH.

It sucks to have to shoot to check reliability when ammo is $1+ a round.

Lube that bitch, use a known mag, send a hundred down range, see what happens. My EMC eats just about anything, and no, I' haven't shot any steel cased .308.

Keep us posted.

 

[kiwiaug]

army and police having problems with p-mags as the front of the mag get dimpled under recoil, then causes jams. police have some new p-mags with steel strip in the front to stop this. army testing other mags.

 

[Falsecrack]

ROK, sorry to hear about your SR 25. I too have an ECC, but I've only ever had feeding problems when using cheap ammo, which you obviously were not doing. I hope everything gets worked out to your satisfaction. I can relate to your experience as I had them with other firearms. It's tough to regain trust in a weapon that does not function correctly on a consistent basis.

 

[lifebreath]

Did you ever get it figured out?

I have an ECC and have had zero issues. I've got three SR-15s and did have issues with one failing to feed, but different than yours. Was taking a class from two very experienced and knowledgeable instructors and an armorer who all agreed there was a problem with the gun.

Sent it back to KAC, and had a very similar experience to yours. They were very nice, but couldn't reproduce the issue. The gun got progressively better with 1) time and 2) lots of lube. After a couple thousand rounds, it was *almost* 100% reliable. That's not really the outcome I had hoped for, but I didn't want to spend further time on it. It's not a gun I would want as my primary SHTF gun.

On the other hand, my two other SR-15s and the SR-25 have been super reliable, and they shoot great. Just shot the ECC out to 1050 yards this past weekend using M118LR with no problem hitting 2 moa targets. The ECC is such a great gun that I'd press KAC to make it absolutely 100%.

I run only the KAC mags, although I have a couple of P-Mags, which worked OK when I tried them.

You mentioned a "light coat" of oil. Oil that bitch up liberally and see if that doesn't help. If it's still short stroking just a touch, liberal lube may just put it over the edge. Also, as it gets broken in, things should loosen a bit.

I'd also find out what the buffer spring should measure and check that.

Good luck and get it figured out, then you will love that rifle.