M1 Garand - problem chambering the first round

[Seamonkey]

oh wise ones, guardians of the Internetz knowledge base, I humbly ask for your guidance and bring offerings of spent brass.

Having an issue loading the first round on an M1 Garand. It appears as if the ejector is getting caught on the first round and I have to do either of the following to get the first round chambered.
- pull the bolt back and release several times
- gentle nudge forward

Rifle is a CMP1, functions properly in all other aspects.
Rifle has been cleaned several times, currently using Tetra gun lube and Tetra gun grease

En bloc are from the CMP, I'm having this issue with all 25 as well as some other's I've tried.
M1 Garand enbloc clip - newly manufactured to military specifications.
http://estore.thecmp.org/store/catal...oduct&ID=PC014

Ammo is Korean surplus M2 ball. I've fired approximately 300 rounds with this issue. Next up is the Greek stuff from the CMP.
I thought this might be a problem with the en block so I left a dozen clips loaded for a month thinking it might stretch out the clips but still having this issue.
Some pics of the marks on the brass.

Suggestions?