4Likes
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With QuoteI have never used tools to do so, but I have applied some metal polish to smooth it out completely.Originally Posted by FloridaBlue
Polishing Feed Ramps I recently came across a few youtube videos that talked about polishing feed ramps and stated that it could assist in feeding. So I am curious if anyone has tried this before and have they noticed improvements afterwards?
| |  |
polishing feed ramp I have never used tools to do so, but I have applied some metal polish to smooth it out completely.
I recently purchased a new Ruger SR1911, and the feed ramp was a train wreck. After firing about 350 rounds of hardball through it, I used emery paper and a dowel rod (wrap the emery paper around the dowel and secure top and bottom with tape. After 3 hours of gently polishing, the machine marks are still there, but are far less noticeable and much of the feed ramp is mirror finished. I also polished the slide rail guides on the frame, as they exhibited some machine marks. I cleaned out all of the emery debris, carefully lubed the gun, and ran the slide 40 or 50 times. I took it apart, cleaned out what little emery grit remained, relubed, and oh hell yes it makes a difference. Hardball ammo will feed unless you have a real clunker. The trick is to get defense loads with hollow points to feed reliably. They do now. There is no way, unless I'm looking at a high end Kimber or Ed Brown, that I would carry a .45 of any manufacturer without putting lots of hardball through it, polishing the feed ramp, rebating the barrell, lowering the ejection port, and flaring it as well. Ruger did a great job on the ejection port, a lousy job on the feed ramp. Now that I've got hours of range time and hand polishing time done, I consider it a worthy defense gun. You can bet, whenever I have time, the feed ramp will continue to be polished until it is totally mirror finish. For you machinists out there, thats RMS125 or better.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
A small percentage of feed problems are caused by the ramp needing polished.
A much larger percentage of feed problems are caused by idiots with dremel tools trying to polish the feed ramp instead of taking it to a qualified gunsmith for diagnosing and repair.
I know that of which I speak. I managed to turn somewhat functional Tokarev 9mm into a non-functional Tokarev 9mm in my early 20s.
S&W M&P 45; Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum; Charter Arms .38 Undercover
It can definitely help but you might want to leave it to a qualified gunsmith if you aren't sure what you're doing.
The Constitution shall never be construed … to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.
--- Samuel Adams
Under the instruction of a qualified gunsmtih I've polished the ramp on my old Llama .380 and it was a two fold improvement.
Just make sure you get some advice from a qualified gunsmith or let them do it if you're not confident in yourself.
It's not hard to do it right. Then again, I've been around firearms and the mechanics of, and fixing them for about 13 years...
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know.
It does help, but if it isnt needed, dont do it!
I have done it to two of my pistols that had feeding problems and was successful in curing them. I used a dremel with a polishing pad and some rubbing compound... You need to VERY careful not to polish too much, or you really will have a jam-o-matic....
Leave me alone... and I will leave you alone....
Don't poke a wolverine with a sharp stick unless you want your balls ripped off.
Don't start nuthin, wont be nuthin.....
I used heavy metal coarse and fine. Mine are mirror finished and it makes a huge difference. I also polished the rails, all my guns run like warm butter
I read you all loud and clear. Trust me, the feed ramp on the Ruger requires much polishing. Since its stainless, and those of you who have worked with stainless know this, using a Dremel is a bad idea. You have to do this by hand. Using coarse, then fine, papers on stainless is a reciped for disaster as well. Emery paper, and perhaps after I've got the chatter marks eliminated, jewelers rouge or lapping compound, and a very slow and deliberate lapping of the feed ramp will be in order. I agree with Phillip. Leave the Dremel in the box. This is tedious work, and takes a steady hand and plenty of patience. Your reward is a finely tuned ramp that will digest nearly anything you feed it. I also agree that the feed ramp is just part of the deal. Spring pressure on the magazine, the ejection port, and the barrel all play a part in the process. Thankfully Ruger rebated the barrell and its perfect, including the very tiny gap between the ramp and the barrell.
I've been shooting, and doing light gunsmithing, for over 40 years, and this .45 is not my first rodeo. I do however, appreciate the folks who warn that you better know what you're doing.
Banned
I won't polish any of my feedramps, the sheepdogs might slip on their way to the water trough if I did.
