Apprehensive about waiting on my 300 blackout upper bc of reported feeding issues....List of things to look for and try

PSA Products JAKL
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Hey, folks,

I have received the Jakl lower, and I am waiting on my upper as the title says.

Now, I know there have been a couple of posts here about feeding issues, but I figured it would be all right to start a new thread…

A few days ago, I ran across this:

This vid, as well as other vids and accounts elsewhere, got me to thinking of what all to look for as potential causes if, gosh forbid, my upper (ordered on 29Dec) has issues.

So, here is a working list for various feeding issues (obviously some will no apply if I have feeding issue right away):
-check feeding ramps. Polish the heck out of 'em
-make sure to clean and lube the heck out of this firearm
-use liberal amounts of grease on the sled
-have the bolt back and held open for a few days (apparently, this helped a few folks per other sites/forums)
-check gas block system to ensure it is situated properly
-shoot a couple hundred ($$$$$) good-quality supersonic rounds and see how things go (???)

I am not sure about the bolt carrier angle “problem” mentioned in the vid above. I saw that some folks with the same apparent non-90 degree angle did not have any feeding issues.

I really want this firearm to operate reliably as I need it to be my go-to in certain situations. As they say, I need it “to go bang every time”.

So, I continue to wait to get it in my hands with fingers crossed.

I would like to get folks’ input, insight, etc. here. Thanks in advance, y’all. Be safe.

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@GamecockOperator and i shot our jakls a week ago. Other than not liking his daniel defense mags (his is a 5.56) there were no issues. I had zero issues out of my 300blk using lancer and hera mags.

Most of the issues i have seen are mag related. Lancer seems to be the best choice for reliability.

I used a lot of grease on the charging handle and sled but have done nothing to the feed ramps.

Shoot your gun first before any modifications.

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i bet it works fine if you order one… don’t trust internet actors, youtubers have lots of psychological issues

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Gotcha. Thanks for the reply.
Did y’all try 5.56 pmags and 300blk pmags?

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Thanks for the reply. Mine is already ordered; fingers crossed.

Don’t we all got psych issues…just varying degrees? :yum:

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I have been running a .300blk for about 7 months and about 2500 rounds in. I would have more but I’m poor and ammo isn’t cheap. I’ve tried many different manufacturers of ammo and even some reman subbies. The only problem I had was cycling issues off the rip with subbies but after 3-4 mags of AAC 110 v-max it cleared out all the cobwebs or whatever and it has been running like a top with subs, supers, suppressed, and unsuppressed. I’ve used P-mags (gen3) exclusively in it and have shaved a hair off the front of them after having feed issues with another AR and seen that fix on the interwebs. I have recently switched to an Aero lower because I did SBR it. But I haven’t had any issues with it. First production runs of a new weapon system have their quirks and they are often hit or miss. I recommend not getting too worked up over it since you have done your research so if on the off chance you get a hiccup than you will know how to address it.

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I always run 300blk in 5.56 mags. I am big on the “thats how it was designed to work” train and i stick with that. Ive been shooting 300blk since 2013, prior to any 300blk specific mag.

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I received my 300 BLK JAKL upper earlier this year as well.

So far the only issues I had with it were my fault for not properly adjusting the buffer depth (protruded about 2 mm further into the receiver which caused bolt hold open & jamming (open) issues.

With supers, there has been no feeding or ejection issues with either PMAGS or Lancers, only when using subs (mostly PMAGS, Lancers less issues). So I recently ordered several 300 BLK PMAGS to see if these resolve the issue.

No other issues with mine, but I do keep it lubed generously and it runs like a champ with my AAC 762 SDN-6 on it.

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I have an 8.5" 300 BO upper that I ordered back in September of 2023. I had pretty significant cycling issues and sent it back to PSA for warranty. They reported that the piston was slightly mis-aligned and was dragging - they fixed this, and they as well polished the chamber (had the neck of a round break off in the chamber…). It was returned to me and I took it out to shoot, it is significantly improved, but still has some hang ups that left me disappointed as this was going to be my “go to” gun, and as you said it has to go bang every time.

Just initiated a second warranty claim to see if there is more they can do. The majority of these that have been sold are running without issue, you just tend to hear more about it when some one does have an issue. Hoping they can get mine situated and I can rely on it.

Sorry if I add to your apprehension, just wanted to share my experience.

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Welcome to the PSA community forums @Michael.mick17

  • Jammo :us:
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What kind of feeding issues, types of magazines and types of ammunition are you have issues with?

I have been shooting 300 BLK for around 10 yrs and find that certain guns and ammunition can be fussy about magazines.

MY JAKL will fire supers fine using Lancers and PMags, but not subs which I had to order 300 BLK mags that resolved that issue.

My DI Ar 15 will feed flawlessly with Lancer or PMag 556 magazines and supers or subs.

Another thing I am finding with my 300 BLK JAKL is that the bolt likes to be well lubricated, after extensive shooting and the oil starts to dry, I start having some feeding issues.

Before you drive yourself crazy or have it spending more time back at PSA, try some Magpul or Lancer 300 mags to see if that helps.

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At first it was all kinds of issues, failure to extract, failure to feed, would not seat the round / return to battery. This was with a mix of ammo as I had just gotten it and was breaking it in / testing different ammo (115 Vmax, 125 gr supers various brands, 150 grain supers ammo inc. and then AAC 220 grain subs). I even had neck of a casing break off in the chamber (could be the ammo’s fault not the gun).
image

After the first repair it really has only been the failure to return to battery, it will extract, and feed the new round, but not seat the bolt. Again, I have tried several types of ammo. Have only used the standard Pmags didn’t really want to have to buy different mags to make it work but I’ll try it for science.

And yes, while out at the range I tried making sure it was well lubricated, usually my first troubleshooting step for issues like this. Did not seem to make a difference.

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Sounds like an overly tight chamber.

The going into battery issue could be that the sled needs more lube, I found that to be the problem today at the range …… needed cleaning and the surface along the receiver was dry (user error lol).

My DI AR has a match barrel that does not like reloads if the necks have a burr on them them, would catch and tear open the neck requiring a rod & hammer to unseat.

If you decided to shoot a lot of subs, I recommend the 300 BLK Pmags/Lancers to avoid any potential issues so far I have had no problems with them so will order more ($15 @ PSA).

Decided I am painting all of my black 556 mags for non-300 BLK use going forward. I am color coding for 556 (FDE) vs 300 (Black/Grey) so there is no confusion between the 2.

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Thats not a jakl which is what this thread is about.

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Tell me more about this buffer depth thing. My JAKL upper came with no printed material of any kind. I test fired mine with a lower that still had the standard collapsible stock and buffer tube assembly on it. I wonder now if that had something to do with why the thing refuses to cycle at all under any circumstances.

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Yep. You cant use a jakl upper with a buffer tube. You need the specific jakl end and buffer. You need to inspect everything and make sure you didnt mess something up.

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Well, I checked everything out, and aside from just the most minor and almost imperceptible impacting on the leading edge of the buffer tube threads forward of the buffer tube itself, there is no indication of the bolt carrier impacting anything or any damage. I pulled the buffer tube and installed the F5 folding stock. I lubed up everything liberally with penetrating oil. In the interim since I first attempted shooting this thing, I also acquired a Ruger American in .300blk, which came with 2 Magpul .300blk mags and one Lancer .300blk mag. I just returned from the desert to try out the JAKL in the new stock configuration, and here’s what happened.

I had suspected that the little leaf spring attached to the upper inside of the receiver that applies downward pressure to the charging handle slide bar was perhaps what was causing the failures to go into battery, since it was right at about the point that this spring begins to engage the slide bar that the carrier would cease to go forward. I made sure there was liberal penetrating oil on that spring and the slide bar. I also douched out the bolt and carrier with the penetrating oil.

I brought along the exact same ammo, made by MEAD, 220grn. Berry’s subsonics, as well as the suppressor. But since this time I had .300blk specific magazines, I tried using them first. I also made sure they were loaded only with 5 rounds to make sure there wasn’t any heavy spring pressure issues. I used the bolt hold-open to hold the bolt to the rear, then inserted the 20-rounder .300blk Pmag and let the bolt fly. And once again, the carrier would’t go fully into battery. Grrrr.

I pulled the Pmag out and mortored the round in the chamber to extract it. I inserted the 30-rounder Pmag and let the bolt fly. Exact same result,…again. @#&%!!!

Mortored that round from the chamber as well, and inserted the .300blk Lancer mag and let the bolt go,…and it actually chambered! Oooooh,…well,…that was probably just luck. So I checked to make sure the gas setting was at full open, settled behind the stock and pulled the trigger.

It fired,…but dang that was loud! I’ve used this same suppressor and ammo on my H&R AAC branded single-shot Handi-rifle, and it was nicely quiet. So much so, no hearing protection was required. So I hadn’t bothered putting any ear plugs in when firing the JAKL with the same suppressor. I’m guessing the gas plug is a very loose fitting and allows an awful lot of escaping gas, because my ears were ringing as if I had just shot an unsuppressed .22 pistol. REALLY!!! I wouldn’t be surprised if the JAKL was a LITTLE bit louder than the H&R, but DAYUM!!!

I checked the ejection port;…the carrier was fully forward in battery. Hmmmm,…what do you know? So I pulled the trigger again,…and it fired, and it fired, and it fired until the 5 rounds were expended. No hiccups! Hmmm.

OK, so maybe now it’s finally breaking in? I inserted the shorter Pmag and hit the bolt release. No dice. Again, failed to go into battery. This getting very aggravating.

I tried the longer Pmag. No goodski. Again,…failure to go into battery. So loaded up the Lancer mag again, with 10 rounds this time. Insert the mag, let the bolt fly home,…SUCCESS! It goes into battery. I fired off all 10 rounds without a hitch. What the hell?!

I pull the Lancer and load it fully up with 30 rounds. Ate it up like it was chocolate pudding! I load the small Pmag with just 2 rounds,…insert it,…let the bolt go forward. NOPE!!! Still won’t go into battery. So I pull the Pmag and single load a round into the chamber and close the bolt. Then insert another round into the Pmag so it has only 2 rounds and insert it in the magwell. I pull the trigger. JAKL goes bang. Brass ejects. I look at the ejection port,…and the carrier is once again not fully forward in battery. Getting on my last nerve!

Obviously, this JAKL just hates Pmags with a purple passion!

I load up the Lancer fully 2 more times and the JAKL burns through it both times with no problems. Well, that’s kind of a relief,…sorta. I mean, it’s nice to know if I just use Lancers, I’m fine. But it also sucks, because Pmags are cheaper and more paintable. I’ve got probably 40 Pmags lying around and only a handful of Lancers, which are already dedicated to another rifle setup.

After the suppressor cools, I decide to put the A2 birdcage flash hider back on to test fire without the extra back-pressure of the can and verify the JAKL can run without. NOPE!! Despite the gas set to wide open, the bolt never makes it back far enough to eject the brass and rechambers the empty case.

So I cannot sufficiently put into words how deeply disappointed in this thing I am. I obviously can’t keep it. If the gun has this many issues, it is worthless and nothing but a $1000 boat anchor. Even if it ran 100% with all mags,…the fact that it is incapable of operating quietly defeats the entire purpose of the damned thing. .300blk is supposed to be MORE quiet than a 9mm of same size, not LESS. My MP5 and CMMG Banshee are far quieter than this and far more reliable.

I got to shoot a buddy’s SIG MCX Spear LT 9in. .300blk and it was an entirely different (better) experience. All mags worked, the gun was quieter, lighter and never once failed to go into battery. Not once did the gun go click instead of bang like this disaster. I really don’t want to have to pay $2000 to outfit myself with one of these. But since the JAKL is garbage, it’s either the SIG or the BRN-180. And since the new Gen3 BRN-180 also has no forward assist just like the JAKL, I’m pretty hesitant to consider that. The 4-position gas lever is an improvement over the 2-position of the Gen2s, but,….

I don’t know where on the Pmags the bolt-carrier is dragging or rubbing or whatever. It seems PSA should have function checked their product with more than one magazine brand before releasing it. I’m sure that wherever that contact is occurring, it would probably just take a small bit of grinding or polishing on the carrier at that spot to slick things up and fix this horror show. But again,…with that loud and angry non-function gas plug fitment and setting,…what would be the point?

Another annoyance that will require me to send this back even if none of the rest was going on;…when I went to unscrew the screws holding the lower handguard on (so I could try to inspect where the parts must be rubbing and to try to troubleshoot this dog), they were all affixed with red Loctite!! The 2 bigger ones in the rear came free with difficulty, but did at least come free. And one of the smaller ones up front also was difficult, but ultimately did unthread. But the last one,…that small little head just couldn’t put up with the torque and stripped off the allen wrench, remaining stuck and requiring to be drilled out. Fortunately, with only that one pivot point, I was still able to partly hinge the handguard downward enough to gain access to the interior. And perhaps some blue Loctite would have been warranted, but what stupid doofus committed this sin?

So I’m gonna box up this abortion and ship it back to PSA and see if they have any lessons learned that they can apply to fix the damned thing.