I can find on Army Safety, references to a 2008 report that involved the M3 gage being used to headspace the M2 resulting in an explosion. In that, they specify use of the correct gage (NSN, 5220-00-535-1217).
I haven't found anything about a bad batch or production lot.
May this be what you are thinking of?
Here is a link to a pdf I found:
LINK....see page 3.