Unsupported chamber

[karagrig]

Ok I'm new to the 1911, just got mine a few days ago, but I have a question that might sound stupid. When I remove the barrel and insert a round in the chamber, I can see that the lower part of it is left unsupported. It looks like a Glock chamber. Should I worry or not?

[DanTheEldest]

I'm going to go out on a limb here (not being a 1911 expert myself) and wager that you'll be okay. The kaboom events in Glocks were primarily using the .40 S&W (let's not even get into the whole factory vs. reload thing), which operates at a much higher case pressure than the .45 ACP, which I'm assuming your pistol is chambered in. I'm betting even with a partially unsupported chamber (probably to help feeding reliability), the low operating pressures will render your gun safe to operate without worry. I'm sure more knowledgeable folks will chime in eventually, though.

[karagrig]

That's what i was thinking also. Another problem I had with it is that after i brought it home, cleaned it and reassembled it. I tried to chamber an FMJ 45 ACP round, and even though it chambered it it felt rough. When I tried a JHP, it got stuck on the feed ramp and the slide stayed open.
So after using some metal polish and 600,800 and 1000 grit sandpaper to polish the feed ramp to a mirrir finish, it works great. I put 100 rounds through it the next day and it worked perfectly. I am a bit worried about the finish though it doesn't look that durable. Does anyone have any problems with it?

[DanTheEldest]

Originally Posted by karagrig

That's what i was thinking also. Another problem I had with it is that after i brought it home, cleaned it and reassembled it. I tried to chamber an FMJ 45 ACP round, and even though it chambered it it felt rough. When I tried a JHP, it got stuck on the feed ramp and the slide stayed open.
So after using some metal polish and 600,800 and 1000 grit sandpaper to polish the feed ramp to a mirrir finish, it works great. I put 100 rounds through it the next day and it worked perfectly. I am a bit worried about the finish though it doesn't look that durable. Does anyone have any problems with it?

Polishing the feed ramp is one of those "necessary" tweaks I think pretty much every 1911 gets--it's like adding chrome on a Harley: you just have to do it.

When you say finish, are you talking about the overall finish of the gun? And which one did you end up getting?

[mullanman]

Originally Posted by karagrig

That's what i was thinking also. Another problem I had with it is that after i brought it home, cleaned it and reassembled it. I tried to chamber an FMJ 45 ACP round, and even though it chambered it it felt rough. When I tried a JHP, it got stuck on the feed ramp and the slide stayed open.
So after using some metal polish and 600,800 and 1000 grit sandpaper to polish the feed ramp to a mirrir finish, it works great. I put 100 rounds through it the next day and it worked perfectly. I am a bit worried about the finish though it doesn't look that durable. Does anyone have any problems with it?

Not really one of the best things to do to your gun. Better to break it in for 500 rounds or so, then try different ammo and see what type runs well and what doesn't..Lightly polishing the feed ramp and throat area with a dremel and jewelers rouge is fine.

Never take metal away from this area, the 45 is unsupported, and excessive polishing, or use of 600 grit will remove too much metal and impair feeding and reliability.

I 'owned' a springfield loaded model that i bought from a friend, he had polished the throat and feedramp and brought them way out of spec. gun would not feed most ammo reliably.. i took it to a smith who informed me of the problem, the gun would need a new barrel and the frame welded up to replace the metal lost. I sold the gun to a fellow who i informed of the problem, at a big loss to what i had payed for it.

[karagrig]

I have the Springfield loaded parkerized model with night sights.When I say finish I refer to the coating of the slide and frame, which is a matte dark gray material. It just seems to wear off a little too easy. I bought it last Friday and after a few draws from my Blackwater CQC holster, I can already see some points of wear. My XD 45 compact doesn't seem to have any similar problem.
I didn't really take any metal of the feed ramp. When I first field stripped it to clean and inspect, I saw transverse tool markings on the feed ramp, which wouldn't allow JHP rounds to chamber, and FMJ rounds would barely chamber.I used a small piece of 600 grit just for a few seconds, and then the 800 and 1000 grit to smooth things out. I agree though that if you overdo it will bring the gun out of spec and definately ruin the gun.

[mullanman]

Any gun finish i've had will wear. Kydex is really hard on gun finishes.

Even hard on hardchrome, i've got a couple of marks on a 1911 STI .40 that have burnished in due to Kydex, I use leather with it now.