Polishing barrel ramp - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Bill in San Jose · 09-22-2007, 01:06 PM

I was cleaning my XD45 this am, decided to try and polish the feed ramp. My digital camera would not focus that close for pictures.

I used 800 grit wet/dry paper wrapped around an arrow (I'm a bowhunter), and worked it both front/back and rolled it side/side. I allowed the paper to polish the back of the barrel by lifting it off the ramp.

Then I rubbed with auto polishing compound on a rag for a few minutes.

Under a jewler's loupe for magnification, the factory finish went from lots of "scratches" in the direction of the ammo feeding, to a shiny silver surface. To the feel with my finger, it was noticeably smoother to the touch.

Not hard at all, and about 15 minutes work.

**agalindo** · 09-22-2007, 01:46 PM

Thanks for the write up. Try the macro setting on your camera.

nuj · 09-23-2007, 05:47 AM

polishing the feed ramp is ok but if you used to much, it will probably remove the metal treatment called melonite or bruniral. i once did that to my glock 21 and when i tried firing in the rain at our local shooting match, guess what, it got rusted. so, don't over do it, anyway, its ok without the polishing, the gun feed everything from hardball to hollowpoint bullets.

Bill in San Jose · 09-24-2007, 05:58 AM

I looked like the polishing at the factory had removed the melonite already from the ramp. Oil it like a regular gun to keep the metal from rusting.

Bree · 09-24-2007, 11:15 AM

I'll bet it will show scratches when viewed under the loupe once you shoot it again.

oldboyshooter · 09-24-2007, 06:10 PM

I polish all my semi autos with a dremmel tool, felt wheel and rouge(takes roughly 30 seconds). Mirror finish. No scratches from the ammo. Does get black from powder though. I clean my guns after every shoot and would always clean it if I had been out in the rain. No rust or FTF allowed.

**agalindo** · 09-24-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldboyshooter

No scratches from the ammo.

+1 bass doesn't scratch steel.

Don · 09-24-2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuj

polishing the feed ramp is ok but if you used to much, it will probably remove the metal treatment called melonite or bruniral. i once did that to my glock 21 and when i tried firing in the rain at our local shooting match, guess what, it got rusted. so, don't over do it, anyway, its ok without the polishing, the gun feed everything from hardball to hollowpoint bullets.

If the metal is Tennifer or Melonite treated, you will not be able to change it unless you remove several thousandths of surface. If the metal is thus treated then the color will be some strange greenish-brown color. The black color that we see is something over the top of the basic nitriding treatment that is Tennifer/Melonite.

Even on a Glock the barrel itself is not nitrided, if it was you would see the chemical discoloration from the process.

rogerxd45 · 09-24-2007, 10:12 PM

i used "heavy metal polish" http://www.heavymetalpolish.com/
that i got from les schwab and used a dremel with a felt wheel and it gave me a mirror finish and no rust so far

Bill in San Jose · 09-25-2007, 04:53 PM

The 800 grit made it as smooth as a baby's a$$, I don't know how much smoother it would get with a dremel wheel and polishing compound. If I had both, I'd try- why not?

09-22-2007, 01:06 PM	#1
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,298	Polishing barrel ramp I was cleaning my XD45 this am, decided to try and polish the feed ramp. My digital camera would not focus that close for pictures. I used 800 grit wet/dry paper wrapped around an arrow (I'm a bowhunter), and worked it both front/back and rolled it side/side. I allowed the paper to polish the back of the barrel by lifting it off the ramp. Then I rubbed with auto polishing compound on a rag for a few minutes. Under a jewler's loupe for magnification, the factory finish went from lots of "scratches" in the direction of the ammo feeding, to a shiny silver surface. To the feel with my finger, it was noticeably smoother to the touch. Not hard at all, and about 15 minutes work.

09-24-2007, 11:15 AM	#5
Bree XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,210 Blog Entries: 5	I'll bet it will show scratches when viewed under the loupe once you shoot it again. __________________ Shoot Straight and Ride Safe! Bree XD .45 Compact -- Ruger SP-101 .357 Mag. -- Keltec P3AT .380 Rock River Arms 20" Varmint A4 AR-15 w/4-16x56mm MilDot Ruger 10/22 Black Stainless Mossberg 590 Mariner 12 Ga w/Knoxx SpecOps Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide Patriot Guard Rider Iron Butt Association Member The 60's Can't Die As Long As I Won't Leave Them!! I support McCain-Palin with CA$H!

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09-23-2007, 05:47 AM	#3
nuj XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 143	polishing the feed ramp is ok but if you used to much, it will probably remove the metal treatment called melonite or bruniral. i once did that to my glock 21 and when i tried firing in the rain at our local shooting match, guess what, it got rusted. so, don't over do it, anyway, its ok without the polishing, the gun feed everything from hardball to hollowpoint bullets.

09-24-2007, 05:58 AM	#4
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,298	I looked like the polishing at the factory had removed the melonite already from the ramp. Oil it like a regular gun to keep the metal from rusting.

09-24-2007, 06:10 PM	#6
oldboyshooter XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 13	I polish all my semi autos with a dremmel tool, felt wheel and rouge(takes roughly 30 seconds). Mirror finish. No scratches from the ammo. Does get black from powder though. I clean my guns after every shoot and would always clean it if I had been out in the rain. No rust or FTF allowed.

09-24-2007, 10:12 PM	#9
rogerxd45 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: boise ID (its boy-see, not boy-z) Posts: 3,592	i used "heavy metal polish" http://www.heavymetalpolish.com/ that i got from les schwab and used a dremel with a felt wheel and it gave me a mirror finish and no rust so far

09-25-2007, 04:53 PM	#10
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,298	The 800 grit made it as smooth as a baby's a$$, I don't know how much smoother it would get with a dremel wheel and polishing compound. If I had both, I'd try- why not?