Hollow points snagging in my .45

[Rick]

Yeah, I didn't see any harm in using a polishing ball on my feed ramp. Now grinding or altering I wouldn't attempt. Ive read on numerous high end 1911 websites like Wilson Combat how they offer a "polished feed ramp" as an option. I'll probably stick to shooting round nose through it. I'll save the HP's for when I get my S&W 340 M&P .357
Thanks for all the help/advice
MS

I wouldn't feel under-gunned with FMJ out of a .45

Thats gonna leave a hole nearly 1/2" wide in you.

The 230gr. FMJ has killed thousands and thousands of people over the years.

I don't think the typical HP from a .45 is going fast enough to expand real well anyways.

[carpsniperg2]

any good hollow point bullet RICK is going to open up in a 45 without a doubt now if the range gets out there away which is not really pratical for personal defense past lets say 25yards then maybe they might not open as well but all the good self defense ammo thats hollow points will open up.

[MikeWalking]

I'd be interested to know if the problem rounds are Cor Bon. The last time I bought some I noticed the HP cavity was near.42dia, just a guess but they were the largest dia HP's I have ever seen with an edge that could cut your finger tips. I did. Never had any problem with them in my Glock 30.

Couple crows did...

[shaneman153D]

I'd be interested to know if the problem rounds are Cor Bon.

That's the round that smiley'd my feed ramp!

Happy Glock owner now, no question about reliability! 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Bro, you sound like a gunsmith trying to discourage someone from performing an elementary task!

I do realize that you didn't say 'classic 1911', but the following can hold true for just about any semi-automatic pistol

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=189756

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=185506

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=185769

I realize that you said polish. But power tools in the ramp area can lead to a ruined gun. I am not a gun smith. But I do some of my own little work on my firearms. I have seen some botched 'elementary' tasks over the years. Most all of them have been with the use of your common dremel tool. There are tried and proven processes using hand tools or other low speed abrasive devices to get the job done without taking too much metal or changing angles on surfaces that need to keep those angles so a gun functions as it should. -And the diagnosis of the issue is seldom a polished feed ramp.  Funny that some smiths offer this as a service. Only because it's something they can make money from. I don't blame them. Give the customer what they ask for, right?

What so many people don't realize is that a 'polished' ramp can actually lead to more feed issues than one that is 'smooth' or even a 'rough' ramp.  A polished ramp can lead to bullets exiting the lips of the magazine and kicking up too fast at the nose not allowing the heal to swing up at the proper time. A rough ramp from the manufacture aids in slowing the cartridge enough to get it to 'pop' from the mag and enter the chamber parralel to the centerline.

Often a hollow point bullet seating depth can be adjusted to feed in just about any autoloader.

now if the range gets out there away which is not really pratical for personal defense past lets say 25yards

Are you saying that a 45acp pistol is not accurate out past 25yds or that bullet effectiveness is not good enough at that distance?

A typical 45acp defensive load would lose about 150fps from the muzzle to 50yds. Still capable of delivering near 500 pounds of impact energy.  That's pretty good for me.

Granted, the following was fired with target ammo. But I do know guys that shoot their '45acp pistols' out to 50yds with regularity using jacketed and jacketed hollow point bullets.

The ten ring is 3" across. The Black is the same size as an 8" paper plate. Much smaller than a gang bangers chest. (Blame the flyers in the white on my shooting. Not the gun.) 50 rounds fired from a one handed standing position.  Plenty accurate for self defense out to 50yds. But then again, if you're 50yds away, you should be ducking for cover if a gang banger is spraying a bunch of 9mm at you in a horizonal pattern.  

-Steve

[high country]

good shootin' steve. I agree.....range is in the mind of the trigger man. heck elmer keith killed deer at more then 400 yds with a pistol, the gunman at fairchild AFB was shot from a looooong ways off....with a pistol.

I load 45super in my 1911 when I enter black bear country and am not specificly hunting them, but willing to take one opportunisticlly.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Thank you High Country,

Oh, I suppose that I might add that the target listed above was fired upon using iron sights.

It totally baffles me why municipalities and the FBI got rid of the 45acp for "more fire power" in the 9mm and 40s&w.

-Steve

[MikeWalking]

It totally baffles me why municipalities and the FBI got rid of the 45acp for "more fire power" in the 9mm and 40s&w.

In some cases, like NY it was the Politicians that mandated the 9mm. The .45 was "too big and scary"
Then the same people complain about that guy???gotta google some, who got shot 39 times. When NYPD thought he was the Rapist they were looking for.

[Huntbear]

I'd be interested to know if the problem rounds are Cor Bon. The last time I bought some I noticed the HP cavity was near.42dia, just a guess but they were the largest dia HP's I have ever seen with an edge that could cut your finger tips. I did. Never had any problem with them in my Glock 30.

Couple crows did...

We call those flying ashtrays!  If you ever shoot them into a phone book or two, you will be amazed at how much they open up!

JackOfAllTrades, I could not agree with you more about the polishing the feed ramp.  It is an unnecessary procedure most times.  I have done it for customers, but only if they INSIST after telling them it probably will do no good.  Adjust the feed lips on your magazines will help much more, especially on big hollow points like the Cor bons.  As will changing out the recoil spring, to a slightly heavier spring, so it slows the slide down just a smidgen.  Especially on 1911s.  But then, I am just a trained gunsmith, what do I know.  Customer is ALWAYS right.   

[Shootmoore]

Thank you High Country,

Oh, I suppose that I might add that the target listed above was fired upon using iron sights.

It totally baffles me why municipalities and the FBI got rid of the 45acp for "more fire power" in the 9mm and 40s&w.

-Steve

More reasons than you can shake a stick at.  People complained that the .45 was dangerous in the cocked and locked position (BS).  Most Police agencies used revolvers and when a lot of agencies made the switch, glock and 9mm were the new big thing.  The decision to switch weapons was usually made by administrations and not firearms instructors.  Very little time and money is spent in firearms training and emergency driving training in many many agencies. 

A nice example on how the money is spent, most county jails and all state facilities have weight equipment, the state ones are extremely nice.  The State Police acadamy has a converted closet area and the few pieces of weight equipment were donated.   

Shootmoore

[hillbilli]

if all else fails and it wont feed hollowpoints, then its no big deal, just order, or go buy a couple boxes of powerball ammo for carry. cor-bon makes it, has a plastic ball in the tip, so its shaped like ball. same principle of expansion as a ballistic tip. they definitely open.

[C-Money]

I had a similar problem with hollow points threw my Dan Wesson 1911. Took it back to One Shot in Wenatcee where I bought it and the Gun smith polished up the ram, problem solved. I think you are on the right track, maybe a little more work with your dremmel tool will fix it.

[TheSilverSlayer]

When 1911's were first designed the only load availible was 230gr FMJ.  A lot of 1911's are picky so I would suggest trying a less aggressive hollow point. IMO ball ammo is not ideal personal defense fodder.

[demontang]

I've had good luck with win sxt and pdx1. Some 1911's are picky and some arnt. I do like my xd45:)

[konrad]

My Colt Government Model had tooling marks on the feed ramp. Shined it up and now it eats anything.

I use lead round nosed for my "defense load". I want it to work every time no matter how slick it thinks it is.