1911 Aluminum frames and non-ball ammo?

[3Crows]

I have never thought I am in any way an expert on 1911s thus I defer to you all. I have always just shot ball ammo in my three 1911 pistols. One of them is an alloy frame Kimber and my concern is the aluminum frame feed ramp. Will hollow point ammo or ammo such as Hornady Critical Duty damage the aluminum frame feed ramp? The pistol feeds the Critcal Duty fine but I am concerned about gouging and damaging the frame ramp. Why not just continue with ball ammo? Well, I was given ten boxes of the stuff. it has nikel cases, sealed primers and looks like ammo one could trust even after years of carry and exposure to elements. I would not worry of course with my two steel frame 1911 pistols but I try tp treat my little Pro Carry nice because it is among my favored carry pieces due to the four inch barrel and light (relative) weight.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

I install an EGW steel feed ramp insert in every aluminum frame 1911 that uses a non-ramped barrel to eliminate the possibility of a gouged up aluminum frame ramp.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Will hollow point ammo or ammo such as Hornady Critical Duty damage the aluminum frame feed ramp? The pistol feeds the Critcal Duty fine but I am concerned about gouging and damaging the frame ramp.

Is it currently gouging or even hitting the ramp in the frame?

 

[fxvr5]

If it's a single stack 1911, rounds will nosedive as they are fed. The more rounds in the magazine, the more they nosedive.

https://americanhandgunner.com/gear/nosedive-and-feed-angle-in-the-1911-45-acp/

I've seen where a HP bullet (Barnes all copper) hits the fed ramp below where a ramped barrel fits, leaving a ding in the frame.

 

[Anchorite]

I thought- and I may well be mistaken - that all “modern” (ie, post 1980s) aluminum framed 1911s had an insert at the feed ramp to cure this issue??

My only LW Commander is a Para Expert, and it has an insert. Every other LW Commander I’ve ever handled that I can think of has some sort of insert.
Are non-protected feed ramps in aluminum frames an internet thing?

 

[3Crows]

Is it currently gouging or even hitting the ramp in the frame?

No, I see no indication that the few Hornady Critical Duty rounds fired (about two magazines) have done either. I think I will just set the HCD ammo aside and stick with 230 ball. All fall to ball!

 

[9mmepiphany]

No, I see no indication that the few Hornady Critical Duty rounds fired (about two magazines) have done either!

Then you're really looking for a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

I've owned several alloy framed 1911s, although never a Kimber, and this issue never arose

 

[Rule3]

Does the Kimber owners manual indicate any ammo restrictions??
or call Kimber

 

[halfmoonclip]

Seems a no-brainer; hollow points aren't a recent innovation (unless you live in 'Joisy, in which case, just saying the word will get you 5-10... ). Surely, it won't come as a shock to Kimber that owners might use them.
I'd be in touch with Kimber.
Moon

 

[3Crows]

Then you're really looking for a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

I've owned several alloy framed 1911s, although never a Kimber, and this issue never arose

Thanks. I was just wanting to be preemptive. I would rather avoid a problem, if it exists, than deal with the damage afterwards. My take on this now after some additional study plus responses here is that the use of most HP ammo is not going to be a problem for the Kimber Pro-Carry.

No, I do not see a restriction in the OM. However, I could not count all the threads over the years of the www regarding ball only ammo in 1911s and several discussions of HP ammo and gouged frames. Not just specific to Kimber.

My ProCarry has been 100% reliable post the 200 round break-in and a Wolf Spring specific to the 4" Kimbers. I lost track of the round count but I shoot it a bunch for practice and I do carry it. Wear? Damage? There is none anywhere. Just want to avoid the unknowns thus I thought to ask here for additional insight. Thanks to all.

Happy New Year too!

 

[9mmepiphany]

I could not count all the threads over the years of the www regarding ball only ammo in 1911s and several discussions of HP ammo and gouged frames.

Do a search for the geometry of the feeding of a cartridge into the barrel/chamber of the 1911 and it may set your mind more at ease

 

[Walkalong]

My old Colt 4 1/4" Commander has an aluminum frame with no damage, as does my Kimber 3" Ultra, no damage. Magazines can make a difference.

 

[jmorris]

Magazines can make a difference.

Yes they can.

 

[JDGray]

I thought it was the follower that damaged the feed ramp? Use an anti tilt type follower with aluminum frames.

 

[3Crows]

Kind of changing subjects now but I do think the magazines types that do not have the anti-tilt can possibly gouge into the feed ramp. Maybe.



Not an actual gouge (yet), just a smudge in the carbon, but you can see where the follower contacts the ramp.



Once I noticed this I switched to Wilson and Kimber Pro magazines with the anti-tilt follower.

 

[Charlie98]

I've run Chip McCormick mags in my Kimbers for about 20 years... first in my 4" stainless, and now my 4" Pro Carry. Yes... the mag follower does hit the feed ramp, but it seems like it would take thousands and thousands of rounds to make it a problem.

 

[CapnMac]

As a general rule, bullets will be "softer" than firearm metals.

Now, if a person loaded tungsten carbide ball ammo, then all bets are off (it would not be kind to the rifling, either).

Now bullets, as a rule, are not butter soft. Unless you freeze the butter--knife still "wins" it just takes effort. Gilding metal used as jackets, particularly for JHP is stiffer than the lead within, but no where near firearms alloys.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Checked the magwell of a Colt 9mm Defender, which has seen a fair amount of shooting; their is no damage to the alloy frame, but the carbon is scuffed off the feed ramp.
Moon