K-C, What did IRG have to say about warranty? Can't they handle the return paperwork to ship it to Troy?
I can understand the aluminum deforming but I'm surprised how much the steep op rod has gotten preened by the softer aluminum?
I wonder if your chamber is a bit on the tight side as well as scored?
IRG didn't say anything about the warranty, In fact, they didn't say ANYTHING. My detailed letter asking for assistance which I sent to Rampart was forwarded to IRG but IRG never contacted me. I phoned them and was forced to leave a message but never heard back. My impression is that they're in the business of volume selling "bar-code on a box" and not much of a "service-orientated" business. Correct me if I'm wrong.
My close-up photos of the Op Rod (Guide Rod) damage are the FORE END where it clicks and locks into place into the "Guide Rod Lock" (which is Steel) and is held in place by the upward pressure from two springs. I am suspecting that these springs provide insufficient pressure for this design combined with poor tolerances.
Chamber size appears to be fine as there is absolutely no issue with extraction. The burr that scores each and every case neck is just beyond the top of the shoulder. I find this burr totally annoying as each and every case is rendered into scrap as I feel it would be foolhardy to reload these damaged cases. And yes, I'm a serious reloader. Well maybe not serious, more like obsessed ;-) As the Troy PAR uses a standard AR-15 Barrel (without gas port), Barrel Extension and A2 Barrel Nut, I will be dismantling soon to take a closer look at the chamber.
As far as feed issues go, I experienced this problem with several types of magazines also (mainly 10-round 'pistol' mags), until I used the included Troy BattleMag - it works flawlessly. I purchased several additional BattleMags (new production with included alternate "Ranger" floorplate). I had to file down most of the rivet heads slightly as the were binding on the mag well.
Re: Type 1 and Type 2 is my way of describing what a technician at Troy told me during an extended discussion. Here is a breakdown:
"Type 1" (initial production): Two "Action Guide Rings" in fore end; aluminum "Rod Block" screwed to Bolt Carrier; short lengths of cut tubing used as spacers in fore end; 3 x aluminum Picatinny Rails each dressed in Troy "BattleRail Covers"
"Type 2" (first modification): Single "Action Guide Block" in fore end; all other features as per "Type 1"
"Type 3" (current model and/or fitted "Upgrade Kit" models): Single "Action Guide Block" in fore end; Steel "Rod Block" screwed to Bolt Carrier; 3 x machined Delrin Spacers under a one-piece plastic "Pump Handle".
Circular and Octagonal cross-section free float handguards can be found on all 3 types. There are also hybrids of Types 1 & 2 with a Steel "Rod Block" but otherwise as noted above.
