6.5 Short Stroke? Update: Problem Solved

[Rusty Shackelford]

I had to open up the gas port on a 20" 5.56 rifle length Faxon barrel. I called Faxon and they gave me permission to proceed before I sent it back..They were great to work with. I have the correct chucking reamers-drill bits and pin gauges to do it properly.. If you try this, place a steel cleaning rod in the bore before you drill so you won't hit the side of the bore opposite the gas port.. I gradually opened the gas port, while test firing after each increase to get the proper port size..If all things were equal, a standard size gas port would work..Most rifles and ammunition are not equal..Drilling the gas port is the last option I will use..If you over size the gas port, you will have to adjust the gas some where a long the process, adj gas block, adj bolt carrier, adj gas tube, install a new gas tube with a smaller port, etc..

Awesome. So it can be done. Thanks for the info.
R.

[LRRPF52]

Thanks again.
I just got finished with a bore scope and there is no miss-alignment of the gas block.
It looks like now my next step is to pull the gas block off and measure the port.
If it's under-sized, can I just drill it out with the proper size bit in a drill press. Surely it's not that simple. But I aint afraid to try it.
R.

[Rusty Shackelford]

So, measuring the gas port in true hillbilly fashion, I used the shaft of drill bits. An .078" would pass with a little wiggle room. An .094" would not enter. I used it to open the port up to 0.94" then used an .109" to open it a little more.
Preliminary testing firing a few rounds in the back yard shows ejection at 4oclock about 6' away. That's with a carbine stock and H buffer. No hiccups with FTFs or locking back on the last round. I am encouraged.
I'll try to get to the range this week and try it with the rifle lower, but it looks like a rainy week and a full work schedule may get in the way.
Again, thanks everyone for the help. It looks like I'm on the right track now.
R.

[Harpoon1]

If you try this, place a steel cleaning rod in the bore before you drill so you won't hit the side of the bore opposite the gas port.

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[Rusty Shackelford]

I finally got out to the range yesterday and can happily report that this rifle now flows like water. With the rifle stock and buffer back in place it feeds all 4 kinds of ammo I have, plus three different hand loads, from all my mags. Yes, Wolf steel case too. And, it locks back on empty every time.
Ejection pattern with Hornady American Gunner 123g was 7-8 feet away at about 5 o'clock in a neat little pile about the size of your average kitchen sink.
Accuracy aint bad either. With Hornady Black I got a three shot group of 1.2" at 100 yards. I'm no bench rest shooter, so I feel like that's pretty good using a bi-pod rested on the hood of my Jeep. The American Gunner at 50 yards went three shots into a group that I could completely cover with a dime.
Now that I have all this empty brass, can get to work on some more hand loads.
Thanks all, R.

[LRRPF52]