ltwguns.com

I would like to hear your opinions regarding the merits of installing a supported barrel in a commander-sized pistol with a .45ACP caliber. Would this significantly improve the feeding reliability of this pistol? I will be using 185 gr and 200gr swc, as well as 230 gr rn. Thanks for your help and for all your opinions

A supported barrel is not necessary to contian the meager pressures that the .45 ACP cartridge generates. If you use a ramped barrel in a .45, it takes some extra work to shape the ramp correctly to feed 100%.

Your pistol will feed just fine in the standard barrel configuration.

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shop.HarrisonCustom.com
www.HarrisonCustom.com

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

Yeah, what John said. That makes it easy.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

Ditto on what John and Steve said.

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CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

Thanks for the information, I thought that you might answer that way, but I just wanted to be sure.

Let me ask about the other alledged plus of ramped barrels, since they came up.

What about in aluminum-framed 1911s- or any other non-steel frame for that matter?

Specifically, the story/rumor that alum frame feedramps get "chewed up" by hollowpoints.
Personally, I think that if the hollowpoint is contacting the ramp in that manner, you have a serious feeding problem.
But, I have seen some magazine's flat followers that can be driven into the feedramp when the slide closes on the last round. I think the soluton is to spend more than $10 for a magzine.

But what are the professional's thoughts on this end of it? Does this really happen?

Barry, McCormick mags in particular have a nasty habit of "dinging" the feedramp area with the follower when it moves forward, though it is normally below the strike point of the rounds. As far as the rounds themselves chewing up the feedramp, this won't normally occur if the ramp is anodized (as it's supposed to be), but in the event that occurs on an alloy frame, one can either replace the barrel with the integral ramp type, or machine the frame for a steel feed ramp insert such as those made by EGW, or our own Chuck Rogers. Best,

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Barrel ramps only extend down .315" from the frame top. Some mags/guns/ammo induce contact as low as .420". The steel feed ramps
extend down .500".
The cost of a ramped barrel and the frame mods easily exceeds that of
an insert, and do not always cure the problem.

I hope this helps!

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http://www.rogersprecision.com

Thanks gentlemen! I got my answer.
Basically, you're saying the damage CAN happen, but a ramped barrel is NOT the fix- at least the total fix.
One can buy a box full of good magazines for the cost (money, time, and aggravation) of getting a ramped barrel and having it installed.