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Did you know that you can damage your gun by polishing the feed ramp poorly? Yes, many firearm problems are caused by improper feed ramp polishing.
Following the proper procedures and using the right tools for feed ramp polishing can be a worthwhile activity that can increase the longevity of a rifle.
The feed ramp is an integral part of a firearm, so it needs to be polished with utmost care.
The correct polishing procedure is: Learning how to polish the feed ramp, getting the right tools for polishing, and understanding the benefits of having a well-polished feed ramp.
How To Polish The Feed Ramp
Traditionally, gunsmiths were entrusted with polishing the feed ramp. However, with time, gun owners learned this technique.
When feed ramp polishing is done correctly, the functions of the gun operate well, and feeding becomes smooth and easy.
With a well-polished feed ramp, you can barely detect that it is fed. Here are some feed ramp polishing techniques:
Prioritize Angles Of The Frame And Barrel Throat
When carrying out feed ramp polishing, it is crucial to prioritize the frame’s angles, which is a critical part of the feed ramp.
The barrel Throat is the second most critical component after angles and should be polished with utmost care. Experts advise on 31 degrees+30 minus-zip.
Avoid Polishing Too Lightly Or Too Roughly
Wrong feed ramp polishing can pose risks such as rolling or rotating, especially in the top corner of the feed ramp.
Polishing the feed ramp too lightly or roughly can alter basic settings and damage the lug corners.
Use The Right Polishing Kit
While some guns come as a complete package with feed ramp polishing kits, there are recommended polishing kits in the market bought separately.
Complete feed ramp polishing kits also come with a manual guide.
Understand The Feed Ramp Type
Feed ramp polishing calls for meticulousness in many areas, including understanding the gun type and its feed ramp. It will guide you on the best technique to polish it.
For instance, some feed ramp requires a pumice polish, while others may need a paste polish.
Avoid Using Too Much Force
Feed ramp polishing should be a gentle activity that should ease the gun.
It is essential to ensure all the parts within the feed ramp stay intact even after a thorough polish.
If the semi-wadcutters or hollow points prove problematic, a forceful feed ramp polish could worsen the issue. Thus, a gentle polish is always advised.
Tools For Feed Ramp Polishing
The ideal polishing tools for the feed ramp should leave the gun feeding quickly after the polish. Feed ramp polishing tools are dependent on the material of the ramp.
For instance, some feed ramps are stainless steel and others brass.
The former calls for more delicate or soft polishing tools, while the latter can be polished using buffer or grinder materials.
Some of the recommended feed ramp polish tools include:
A Dremel Tool
A Dremel tool is a handy piece that smooths out the feed ramp polishing, assisting the break-in period.
A Dremel tool is ideal for all gun types, including the 4506 with a mirror-smooth feed ramp. Dremel tool with a tapered, felt tip is an ideal polishing power tool.
Wet Or Dry Paper
Wet or dry paper is an inexpensive tool for feed ramp polishing. In this case, you use paper with a lot of grit.
You will have a smooth polish without abrading the feed ramp. If you decide to use paper, ensure that the piece of the dowel is the exact diameter as the bullet.
Slowly rotate it around the round feeds instead of polishing back and forth.
Q-tips And Flitz
Q-tips and flitz are cheap items for polishing the feed ramp. Users are advised to polish from side to side and back and forth until the ramp is fully polished.
Unlike Q-tips, however, flitz can be a bit abrasive and must therefore be used gently to avoid any damage.
Rotary Tool
A rotary tool is recommended for feed ramp polishing, especially for a quick yet thorough polish.
A rotary tool with a felt wheel does the job without causing damage to the ramp. When used correctly, a rotary tool can give a much smoother effect.
Craytex Wheel And Jewelers Rouge
If you decide to use the Craytex wheel, try shooting between 100 to 150 rounds of the ball before polishing your gun’s feed ramp.
On the other hand, Jewelers rouge should be extremely light and gentle. Otherwise, it can damage the feed ramp, especially if it is 1911.
Benefits Of Feed Ramp Polishing
There are numerous benefits associated with feed ramp polishing. Some of these benefits are:
Counters Frequent Jamming
Feed ramp polishing helps to ease up any jamming.
It is advisable to inspect the pistol before polishing the feed ramp to ensure that parts such as the recoil spring stay intact.
An effective feed ramp polishing using fine-grit sandpaper (600+) should help achieve a smooth and easy finish when polishing.
Easier Feeding And Extraction
Feed ramp polishing can help remove tool marks and smoothen the extraction process, especially for Astras and Rossis.
If you have issues with feeding rounds in or out of the magazine, feed ramp polishing can help ease the problem.
To Identify Parts That Need Replacement
Feed ramp polishing involves disassembling and reassembling back the firearm.
A user is better positioned to identify any parts, such as recoil spring, that need fixing or replacing.
For instance, mirror polishing of the wedge ramp can indicate the parts of the chamber that may need to be fixed and copper streaks that require thorough polishing.
Hones The Edges
When feed ramps go for long without polishing, they can become sharp and grind the brass cartridge, thus shortening the life span of a gun.
Most Kimbers have this effect and can be resolved by applying the polishing paste on the bottom of the rails, and you can yield honed edges and extend the life span of the feed ramp.
Enhanced Performance
Feed ramp polishing can enhance the overall performance of a gun. Polishing using Dremel that comes with a felt wheel, for instance, can enhance a rifle’s performance.
In this case, you can start by learning where the bullet nose meets the ramp to understand how it integrates into the chamber.
Polishing the feed ramp also improves the performance of the magazine release.
Takeaway
Feed ramp polishing is a sensitive activity that should be carried out.
Using the wrong tools or too much force can cause irredeemable damage or breakage of parts such as the extractor, the chamber, or the casing.
Thus, the ideal way to do feed ramp polishing is to use the recommended tools and do it by hand.
Sanding drums can be detrimental to the feed ramp, while cotton fobs can give a smooth glossy finish.
For instance, when using the Dremel tool, knowing how much is enough is advisable.
In this case, you have to strike a perfect balance between polishing and sanding the feed ramp.
