Quote History Quoted:
I doubt the OP's "first AR" is running a can.
Are you shooting right hand or left hand?
What barrel length?
What gas system? Pistol, carbine, mid, or rifle?
What handguard? Is it a free float, or something else?
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I doubt it too, but it doesn't change the facts.
In OP's case, it simply sounds to me like the rifle is massively overgassed. Which will still cause premature unlocking of the bolt and removal of the case before pressures drop enough, thus resulting in more gasses escaping via the chamber. OP may need a heavier buffer to help alleviate that.
However, before doing that I would try switching the gas setting over to suppressed and see what happens. It probably won't cycle, but you never know. It will definitely fire, and regardless of whether it cycles or not, he should be able to tell a difference in the gas to the face. That would be my first test, if it were my gun.