[pale horse]

I am looking to have a barrel job done on my 1911.

I am wondering if there is any benefit to having a ramped barrel versus a regular style?

Are they more accurate?

Do they have any benefits or are they more of a gimmic?

I really want to know what would be best for my carry pistol. Thanks for your help.

[Navy joe]

I avoid ramped bbls like the plague. They don't feed any better than a correctly working std. bbl., often worse. The big negative is that you have to cut your frame to fit it, there is no going back.
Why do you need a new barrel? Maybe you just need to have a new tight bushing fitted to get a little better accuracy.

[pale horse]

The cutting of the frame I want to stay away from if there is no advantage. How do they work worse?

"Why do you need a new barrel?"
I dont know yet the two I have drop right into my SA loaded and shoot good groups if I can do my part. But one of them is leaving the lower lugs mark on the frame. The gunsmith said it was due to a poorly fitted bbl. I was thinking of getting an over haul on the pistol just because its a "Old Salty" to it. I dont think it needs a new bbl, but a new bushing would do the trick.

[Sean Smith]

Ramped barrels' main advantage in a 1911 is that they can help to contain chamber pressures better than an unramped barrel. Since almost all 1911s are in .45 ACP, and .45 ACP is an extremely low-pressure cartridge, there is no reason to use one most of the time. And they have the disadvantage of being less feed-reliable in .45 ACP. Remember, they are added on ex post facto to the 1911; they weren't designed in from the start like with a SigSauer or Glock.

Ramped 1911 barrels do serve a purpose with high-pressure cartridges with relatively weak cases like .38 Super or .40 S&W. They are marginally useful for calibers like 9x19mm or 10mm, and unnecessary for 9x23 (high pressure, but super-strong case) or .45 ACP (very low pressure).

[10-Ring]

Really depends who you ask. I know a couple people that swear by them & will only have 1911's w/ ramped barrels. They say fit & lock up is better resulting in better accuracy.

[1911Tuner]

Have to agree with Sean's assessment on this one. Ramped
barrels make it easier to get a non-FMJ round to feed in
a 9mm or .38 Super, and they do make for better head
support in these high-pressure numbers, but are needless
affectations on a properly set-up pistol in .45 ACP.

As far as reliability, I haven't noticed any problems with a ramped
.45 pistol. Any increased accuracy is likely due to factors
other than the ramped barrel alone could provide.

One real advantage to fully ramped barrels in .45's is in
the case of an alloy-framed pistol, such as the Light Weight
Commander. It negates the aluminum feed ramp's tendency
to be damaged by hollow-point bullets. Commanders
and other aluminum alloy frames have a problem with this,
and it is neatly solved with the ramp or a steel insert in the
frame.

Just my nickel's worth..
Tuner

[pale horse]

Thanks again guys.

Sounds like I may just stick with the standard bbl instead of ramped.

[critter]

I have a Para Ordnance P-16 (.40 S&W) and they came with ramped barrels. I have just installed an Ed Brown barrel in .357 Sig in the gun. Both rounds are high pressure ones and the supported chamber is better (safer?) for them.

Another advantage (it seems to me) is that the chambers are supported and (at least these two) seem to be cut to smaller deminsions. That cuts down on case head expansion (as is common on generously cut chambers as in the Glock and others)-NO flame intended. The advantage of that is less working of the brass FOR A RELOADER as it will not have to be resized down so much to reliably feed. I do reload for the .40 and feel it is an advantage. I have not (yet) started to reload for the .357 sig and may/may not. I am a little concerned that the short neck may be hard to make small enough to hold the new bullet tightly. Bullet setback could be a very bad thing in a high pressure round such as the .357 sig.

Your decision to stay with the un-ramped barrel in the 1911 .45 acp is probably a wise one.