Quote Originally Posted by darkker View Post
I would LOVE to see any tangible evidence of that.
The "jamming" issues were a combination of things.
1) a "Least-costing" decision to change powder, AFTER the testing and contract was issued.
2) No cleaning equipment issued
3) addition of chrome lined chamber and bore.

I question the timing of "Winchester losing the contract" for operation of the LC plant, but the military buys from several sources regardless of that. Winchester sold it's powder production facility around 2000. They sold their brass cartridge business about 2007.

ATK has the contract to operate the Lake City Arsenal, and has been running the Radford Arsenal up until a recent JV with General Dynamics. It appears now at least, that the Lake City Arsenal is little more than an assembly plant; with components coming from various sources. As an example The gunpowder is coming from GD out of Florida.

darkker
You need to read more about the M16 rifle and the history of that time. The brass is a higher quality and it needs to withstand higher than normal .223 chamber pressures, 62,000 psi for the M855 round.

Page 265

The case hardness problem.




M-16
THE RIFLE AND THE MYTH

http://www.bobcat.ws/rifle.htm