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I've seen a couple custom or semi-custom 1911 pistols around my local area lately that have ramped barrels in both 4-1/2" and 5" barreled .45acps. Is this normal or better than the standard setup?

I didn't think it necessary or desirable to use ramped barrels on the 45 like you see in 38Super and 9mm and 9x23.

Just looking for people's opinions who know more than me.

Thanks.

Unless there are unusual circumstances, I'd steer you toward a conventional 2 pc ramp in .45 ACP pistols, regardless of length. Smaller calibers can go either way, although I personally prefer ramped barrels in .40 and smaller.
A .45 spec feed ramp needs to go deeper (.400" or more) into the magwell from the top of the rails than any of the ramps go (.315" typ.) in ramped barrels. This makes you have to blend the barrel's ramp back into the frame's ramp to keep optimum feeding. By the time you do that and keep a reasonably similar angle to the ramp, you loose most if not all of the support at the rear of the chamber that the ramped barrel theoretically gives you.
So even with a ramped barrel in .45, you usually wind up still with a 2 pc feed ramp, just jointed in a different place. And it took more work to get the same end result.

If you have an alloy framed .45, the better way to get a steel feed ramp is to install an insert. These typically go .500" deep from top of the rails and will give a complete steel feed ramp, where the ramped barrels would be partial.

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Thanks for the explanation John.

This place is a wealth of good information!

OK... went back and double checked this pistol. It's a custom piece f/ Nowlin firearms. I've never had any bad reports f/any of the Nowlin handguns so that's why I'm back double checking.

I also spoke to the guys that work there and their take w/that the 45acp would be more dependable w/a ramped barrel. I discussed what has been mentioned here and they said like ALL competition pistols would have ramped barrels (in 45acp). Also that this one was the pistolsmiths prior carry gun and they know it is very dependable. (I'm not saying it isn't, I'm just a bit concerned that most/all the great pistolsmiths here say that a ramped barrel on a steel framed 45acp isn't necessary). What was said is that he put the extra time in fitting the ramped barrel properly so that it would be a better set up.

Would any of you have reservations about buying a ramped barreled 1911 in 45

I can only see the ramped barrel being as reliable as a non-ramped barrel in a .45 caliber pistol. Not more so. And only as reliable after extra work over what it takes to set up a 2 pc feed ramp system correctly.
If the ramp is done right, there's nothing wrong with it, if it isn't, then it may be jam-city. SInce it sounds like a used pistol, maybe you could function test it before you buy it.

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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.

I had a Colt commander with a ramped barrel, and ran into SERIOUS issues with hollowpoints catching on the bottom of the ramp. I finally had to have the mag catch welded up to hold the magazine higher, the it fed reliably. I would take John's advice and get a pistol with a standard feed ramp in .45. Just my .02

I have one .45 1911 with ramped barrel and it works as well as my other non-ramped 1911s. I don't know why it was built with ramped barrel (I didn't specifically ask for it), but the gunsmith who built it for me knows a heck of a lot more about 1911s than I do, so who am I to argue? I will also have another .45 built with ramped barrel in the near future (and believe it or not, John is the one tasked with that project ), but it's only because of the "unusual circumstances". Otherwise, I would have gone with non-ramped barrel. However, ramped barrels are almost a must in other calibers 1911s, in my experience.

I totally agree with Mr. Harrison on this. I've had several 1911s w/ramped barrels and most required an extra effort from a good 'smith to get them running well.

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All... thanks for the advice.

I couldn't get comfortable w/the idea of buying this 45 w/ramped barrel and couldn't get the chance to put at least 50 rounds thru it before buying (I understand the economics for the seller, however this kept me from buying it)

On a GOOD NOTE... I found a nice YB Elite *1 w/extras in a LTW Commander model and made the jump. Hopefully I'll have it later this week. I'll be sure and post pics when I get her. I think having a Lightweight model will be a nice change for carry purposes.

Thanks again all.

I had a single-stack race gun built on a Springer way back before the .38 Super and widebodies. It runs like a charm and is still one of my favorite guns to play with. I used a Bull-X 150 gr. RNWC bullet loaded hot to work the comp and that gun cut the cleanest holes you can imagine.

You were smart NOT to buy the ramped gun unless you could test drive it a lot.

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Bob

Smiths and 1911s are what it's all about!