And the rings come separate, not packaged together. Both have the same results.
EDIT: And it has been several months since I bought the rings, therefore I can't return them..
I just received my Leopold VX-HOG, http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/hog-riflescopes/vx-hog-1-4x20mm/, which is supposed to have a 1" tube. This is supposed to be for my Ruger Mini-30, which I was intending to hunt with this year. Anyway, I had ordered new Rings from Ruger, the 5B...
Except factory loads are supposed to be cycling fine. If it was the gas tube being 'buggered,' it wouldn't make a difference on the round. I would think you would have the same results, regardless.
Are these rounds from the same batch as the ones that were working before you cleaned the gas tube? Just doesn't sound like a gas tube issue if they won't even chamber properly and are difficult to extract after trying.
I painted my M&P 15-22 with Rustoleum, finished it off with a clear coat. Seems to work well. Without the clear coat, the areas that are touched the most rubbed off real fast.
I was going to do the same thing, and I had a gunsmith tell me it would cost $150, and claimed this was a discounted rate for friends. I just opted to not change barrels.