Any expert advice on polishing a feed ramp?

[maroonandwhite]

Well if it's that easy I may have to consider it then. There are just so many conflicting opinions on which way to do it! Thanks guys. I'll post pic later on to show the damage. haha

[mikegideon]

Amazon.com: Dremel 684-01 20-Piece Clean & Polish Rotary Tool Accessory Kit With Case: Home Improvement

Bought mine at the Home Depot.

[Jonnin]

You cannot hurt the outside of the barrel if you don't abuse it, polish away. Here, even if you are a little heavy handed, it will still be ok. Just avoid borking the crown, feed ramp, and chamber areas.

[maroonandwhite]

I think I will dremel the outside first and hone my skills.

[peejman]

There are just so many conflicting opinions on which way to do it!

That's because there are lots of ways to do it. You know how opinions are...

I think I will dremel the outside first and polish my skills.

Fixed.

[Caster]

I don't know what a PF9 barrel even looks like but stay away from any square edges on the outside chamber end. Those act as locking lugs and any wear there can change headspace.

[maroonandwhite]

Thanks. I may try to do those places by hand.

[maroonandwhite]

Well I could not find a felt tip at either home depot or lowes and I didn't want to wait and order it so I bought a pack of 600 grit wet or dry and an assorted pack of 1000,1200,1500, and 2000 grit. The feed ramp came out nice and smooth which was my main objective. I was also able to get a smooth and reflective (but not mirror) finish on the top of the barrell but I can still see machine marks. I used the 600 grit followed by 1000 grit and finished with mothers mag polish and a cloth. I can't get those marks to go away!! I tried to take a pic to show you but it's hard to get it to show up. I didn't want to keep sanding before I got more advice. Help?

[DaveTN]

Don’t try to remove machining marks from the barrel (other than the feed ramp); you are changing size and shape. How many rounds did you put through this gun before you decided it needed this? How many FTF or FTE’s did you have?

[maroonandwhite]

I've only put a little over 50 rounds through it since I've had it with a combination of FMJ and JHP with no FTF or FTE's. I just wanted to have that peace of mind that my feed ramp is as smooth as it can possibly be since it is a self defense gun. I only did what was needed to smooth the feed ramp and no more so I am not worried about that. I agree that more sanding results in more metal coming off and thus changing the shape. I just figure there has got to be a way to "buff out" those marks. If not then it is what it is. It's looks way better than it did and I am happy with it. Just curious if I could go farther without damaging anything.

[NRA]

I would not condider myself an "expert" but I have done this on some pistols that have had failure to feed issue and found this cured the problems. So with that said everytime I clean a pistol and see any machine marks I will polish the ramps, not change the shape but polish to a mirror finish. This is not a hard job to do and really is not a big deal .............. IMO. Watch some vidoes and you will see it is really nothing to be scared of.

Google

[maroonandwhite]

I have watched the videos online and even though I haven't tried the dremel option people have had good results using automotive sandpaper. I actually had good results this way and have a smooth shiny finish but some machine marks still remain. Not pits or anything the finish is smooth to the touch just visible marks remain.

[East_TN_Patriot]

A Dremel tool is for repair work; not for polishing. Use something that will form to the shape that is already there. Like polishing compound on a rag wrapped around your little finger.

I would trust almost any new, out of the box firearm over one that someone had taken a Dremel tool to.

The gun shop I used to work for regularly referred to customers with screwed up firearms as "another fool with a moto-tool."

[East_TN_Patriot]

I've only put a little over 50 rounds through it since I've had it with a combination of FMJ and JHP with no FTF or FTE's. I just wanted to have that peace of mind that my feed ramp is as smooth as it can possibly be since it is a self defense gun. .

Seems to me that you'd be much better off putting a couple hundred trouble-free rounds through it rather than diving in with sandpaper and a Dremel. That's all the "peace of mind" that I have ever needed in a firearm. I've owned multiple firearms over the years and I've never polished up a feedramp that wasn't causing me trouble. If it's feeding fine out of the box, there is very little likelihood you will ever experience a problem with the feed ramp. More people have ruined a barrel and/or frame by grinding and polishing too much metal away or changing the angle of parts that shouldn't be messed with. Just my 2 cents worth.

[DaveTN]

Just my 2 cents worth.

That's all you can do.

[crashgordan]

interesting thread.

have several Kahrs, no Keltecs.

Agree generally with most above posters.

my experience:

Any polish that you give it that give you peace of mind is fine.

A dremel with a felt tip or wheel will not hurt it.

Flitz is good stuff.

Agree with polishing the ramp the direction of travel with your very fine paper and by hand.

Final polish with Flitz and the felt bullet tip will put a supremely slick mirror finish on, no matter what direction you polish. no meaninful metal is removed with this combination, only finishes the work you have done and brings the ramp/barrel to a super slippery shine.

BUT

whether you polish or not, true peace of mind will come from only one thing:

range time.

run the gun.

200-300 rounds before you bet your life on it.

and you must run it at least a mag or two with the round you intend to carry.

in my Kahrs, for example, the feed ramps are steep.

they will run all day long with ball ammo, but get a little picky with certain HP (some, not all) Oddly enough one hates Hydroshock, one loves it. they all run great with Hornady Critical Defense, which is my carry of choice in 9mm. YMMV.

so, before you trust it with your life, be sure it's happy with the round you have chosen.

shoot it and let it become an extension of you.

THAT is peace of mind.

Keep us posted!!!!

Edited April 19, 2011 by crashgordan
typo's

[maroonandwhite]

Since polishing I have put at least 200 rounds through it of ball ammo and one mag of golden sabres with no failures of any kind! as posted before I didn't have failures to begin with but now I have that peace of mind (and a shiny barrell). Thanks for all the info!

[crashgordan]

awesome. Carry on Sir.