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Wasn’t that partially related to the use of a different gun powder when they ramped up ammo manufacturing? You would have though they would have learned . Maybe they m-4s were being over lubed?

Early M-16 use in Vietnam suffered from several problems, most of them named here: incorrect powder in the round, failure to train the troops in proper maintenance, troops either too lazy to clean their weapons properly or ignorant of the need to do so, etc. Several internet forums frequented by current and recent operators have listed several means of reducing the frequency of problems with the M-4, to include the use of dry lubricants and "lubes" that are actually finishes that provide a slick glaze on moving parts. Additionally, reducing the barrel length of the M-16 to create the M-4 makes the weapon more prone to problems due to the faster, harder cycle time between rounds.

The military could back-fit the M-4 to use a piston system (like the Garand and M-14) or make the barrel and gas tube a bit longer (mid-length system) and improve things by quite a bit. Unfortunately, we have too much inventory invested in the 5.56 round to make a quick change to anything other than the 6.8 SPC.

Piston gas systems and a change to the 6.8 SPC would get my two votes for improving the current infantry arm. YMMV.