polishing the ramp

[nicky]

I was wondering what do you use to polish the feed ramp. I've been having a few ftf's with 230 fmj Fiocchi that are from their Belgam plant I believe. This is a used 97b dated 1998. Don't know what has or hasn't been done to this pistol. don't have any idea how many round this baby has eaten. I've feed her at least a 1000 rounds since I get her. So I thought that I would start with the feed ramp.

[schmeky]

If you are only having an issue with this particular brand of ammo, try something else. 

You would have to be more specific on your FTF as well.  Is it a 3-point jam, hang-up on the lower ramp, incomplete return to battery, first round in a full mag, last round, all rounds, are you using a lighter recoil spring, etc. 

[nicky]

l'll try different ammo. This is a used pistol so I don't know about the recall spring being  the original one or not. If a change in ammo doesn't help I might try changing the recall spring. they should be cheap enough. If I remember correctly a13# spring would have been originally installed. Do you think that a 16# would be too strong? I'll try to see exactly where it's hanging up.

[schmeky]

There is a specific method for selecting a recoil spring.  Don't arbitrarily select one.  Ideally, a properly set up .45 pistol (of any make and model), should feed ammo effortlessly with the recoil spring removed when slowly cycled by hand.  I suggest removing the firing pin for this, just to be safe, or put a #008 0-ring over the back of the exposed head of the firing pin to prevent potential hammer contact.   

[nicky]

Thanks Schmeky.
Tried what you suggested. Fed ammo fine 99% of the time. Had a few of the last rounds(#10)seemed that the round might have gone high & would not go into the Barrel( I know. Wrong term)

[nicky]

Went to the range yesterday & everything fed fine using federal white box & Fiocchi. (Go figure.) I did have about 3 fail to fires out of about 150 rounds. Did't pay attention as to which ammo.(dumb me) I'm not to concerned. I was having issues with the slide not locking after the last round.. Also the  slide stop would drop when  I would released an empty mag which  made the slide shoot foward. I removed  the the slide stop spring & wiped it down. Seems to  be working fine now.