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gunsmithing advice for 1911

DocHolliday331DocHolliday331 Member Posts: 48 ✭✭
edited July 2002 in Ask the Experts
Hey guys - I would like to polish the feed ramp on my 1911 pistol.
Is this something that a competent yet in-experienced person can do without any danger of hurting pistol.

If so, please explain how I go about it.
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Comments

  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My two cents. I think you would be far better off to let a Gun Smith do this.You could cause permanent damage. And it shouldnt cost much to get it done by a Gun Smith.



    Best!!

    Rugster
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  • azgunnut2@yahoo.comazgunnut2@yahoo.com Member Posts: 305 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello ,
    yes you need to let an expeirenced "smith" do the work , we see many pistols with problems from "home-gun-butchers" , we can and will do this job at a very reasonable rate ,please contact us if interested .
    Thanks & Good Luck !!!!!!!
    azgunnut2@yahoo.com
    d.a. stearns
    gunsmith
    sweetwater , tn


    Join / Support the NRA
    Guns are my friends !!!
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  • punchiepunchie Member Posts: 2,792 ✭
    edited November -1
    I disagree! If you are just going to polish the feed, do it yourself. Nothing like the satisfaction of a job well done.

    Step 1. UNPLUG THE DREMEL TOOL and put it away.
    Step 2. Use pink rouge on a cotton patch.
    Step 3-10. Rub, rub, rub, changing patch when needed/
    Step 11. Lightly lubricate and reassemble.

    REMEMBER STEP 1. The Dremel has screwed up more guns than anything I know of. You may think you can control it but unless you have LOTS of experience you are going to take away metal that you shouldn't.

    AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY
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  • jaoobjaoob Member Posts: 441 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Doc,
    I assembled 2 .45s with gi parts on essex frames. I figure I have less then 200.00 in each. These are for fun shooting and tinkering. Both would not feed hardball when I put them together. I used crocus cloth and steel wool on the frame ramp and the barrel ramp. I did not use a dremel tool to grind away any metal. I did the same on my commander. Mostly what I did was to remove small bumps on the ramps and took off the parkerizing. I only shoot hardball so this solved problem. I see nothing wrong in doing this. If you shoot other then hardball you might need more drastic measures. Hope this helps.

    Jim
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  • mballaimballai Member Posts: 1,280 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't think there is anything that a careful shooter cannot smith themselves, but the chances are they do not know how to do it correctly or they lack the tools to do it. Most shooters do not have a gun vise. It usually takes one wrecked gun or one very expensive repair to cure them of this shortsightedness.

    Many shooters don't have the patience to do reloading, much less gunsmithing. Let a pro do it.

    Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I say unless you want to get into gunsmithing, and pratice it, then have a gunsmith do it. You can honestly mess up a perfectly good gun by attempting to do such, if you don't know what your doing.

    I've seen many of 1911's where people bought every aftermarket "drop-in" part that claimed to fix everything and when it was all said and done, they have a $1200 trout line anchor that worked just fine before they messed with it.

    If you are going to attempt this, then do it right. Go out and buy a book on gunsmithing handguns, or gunsmithing 1911's. Read it. Find a very cheap junk gun to practice it on. Then do it.

    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

    The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !
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  • RSERSE Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Doc............. I am a Master Gunsmith, (30+ years) and what is of concern with ramp polishing is the ramp angle. Nearly anyone can polish metal parts with any different number of tools and or accessories whether it's mechancial power tools or hand work with sand paper, rouge, wooden dowls, steel wool, etc. Once again the important thing is ramp angle and if you change the ramp angle improperly you may experience mis-feeds and your pistol may begin jamming........

    Just wanted to help clear this up.......... In order to destroy the gun (barrel) you probably would need a grinder.......to mess up the barrel feed ramp so that it jams etc. is easliy done if you are inexperenced.....

    If your reason for wanting to polish the feed ramp is because the pistol is jamming now.......chances are something else may not be quite right with the pistol........

    Happy Shooting...........

    erase@ispwest.com
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    Lots of good advice here. Nothing much more needs to be said, so I would like to offer some gereral gunsmithing advice.

    Polishing is the removal of metal. You remove the uneven or high spots, leaving only the even (smooth) material. It is done using abrasives or cutters of different kinds. Most gunsmiths do it by hand using files and stones. Some mechanical polishing is done, but it requires a lot of experience not to round corners or damage markings. Remember, once the metal is removed, it can't be put back. If you remove too much or at the wrong place, you can distroy a good gun.

    I have worked as a Tool Maker and a Gunsmith. There are lessons in Gunsmithing that even a Master Machinist must learn. I have seen beautiful guns of all types ruined by Dremmel tools, Drill Presses, Buffing or polishing wheels, Wire wheels, Files, and sand paper. If you are not a metal worker with experience in fire arms, PLEASE take it to a gunsmith. You won't be sorry.

    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
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