Feed ramp polishing, help it or hurt it

[Kenk]

Morning, Have been doing a ton of research, here, as well as other places on the pro?s and cons of polishing your feed ramp. Some say, absolutely don?t do it unless your highly experienced in metal work, yet others say, if you run your dremel tool on low speed using a felt or wool bob along with a polishing compound such as Flitz Multi-Purpose Polish, and DO NOT push down or add pressure, your not going to wreck anything?Thoughts

[fltbed]

I have done hundreds (maybe thousands) of feed ramps using the method you describe with Flitz metal polish.  Two piece feed ramps, like on a Colt 1911, can be a bit tricky but solid ramps are fairly easy. 

Their is some debate on how much this helps but done properly, I don't see how it can hurt.

Jeff

[Kenk]

Thanks Jeff

[sqlbullet]

Jeff nailed it.

I have polished and not polished, and to be honest it doesn't really matter.  In my experience guys that think it matter are usually changing a bunch of things at the same time.  And probably they could have skipped the polish and gotten the same results.

The issue I have seen is guys that call grinding polishing.  Polishing removes material measured in microns and doesn't change angles or relative relationships in any meaningful way.  I have seen guys that are altering feedramp angles and geometries by removing thousands of an inch.  Such bulk material removal can definitely cause problems.

[Kenk]

Thanks sqlbullet!

[DDRiller]

 I have polished quite a few feed ramps on pistols and other than looking nice can't say if it helps or not, maybe in my mind.  On the other hand I have blended and polished feed ramps on AR's and it definitely helps.

[Dino11]

If it's not broke don't fix it.

unless you are having feeding problems their is no gain.

[Kenk]

Thanks Dino11, and Welcome!

[sqlbullet]

Even if you are having issues, polishing the feedramps is often a step a gunsmith takes because it is low effort and makes it clear they did things.  Usually the things that actually fix feeding issues aren't super obvious, and customers will complain that you didn't "do anything".  A nice bright feed ramp makes it clear you did things, even though the actual fix was something else like a different barrel link, or better fit on the bushing, or adjusting the extractor tension, etc.

[Hairtrigger]

If I am looking at purchasing a used handgun and I see a polished feed ramp I view it as a sign to carefully inspect the rest
The previous owner did not polish it because he enjoys polishing, it is a sign he had issues

[Longcarbine]

Dremel with a felt bob, Mothers chrome polish on every 1911 I own. Also do the chamber, smooth as glass, never had a problem.

[gnappi]

On supported chamber / ramped barrels, I generally give them a once over. The rub is if you don't polish it, you don't know until you have an issue whether polishing / cleaning it up would have prevented it. I say it can't hurt.

[Kenk]

Thanks Gary

[TonyRumore]

Most guys go after the feed ramp and completely ignore the breach face.  In order for a cartridge to feed from a magazine, the back of the case head must slide upward across the breach face or bolt in order to get parallel with the bore for feeding.  It doesn't matter if you're talking about a Remington 700, an AR-15, Rem 1100, or 1911.  If the case head can't slide upward smoothly, feeding will be problematic.

You can't imagine how rough the breach face is, on many semi automatic hand guns.

Tony Rumore
Tromix

[The_Shadow]

Tony Rumore is absolutely correct Breech face can be rough, firing pins that don't retract due to debris from primers or carbon build up can be stoppage also and also extractors can get damaged ma cause a bind on the casing being ejected and or the cartridge being fed to the chamber.

Placing a cartridge in the chamber and letting the slide go into battery where the extractor has to jump over the case rim can cause damage to the extractor on some firearms.