Star PD .45acp question.

[firestar]

For any of you that own or have owned a Star PD, what did the feed ramp look like? The reason I ask is, I recently saw a nickel PD that looked like it was in great shape except the feed ramp looked like it had been ground with a dremel or something. It was uneven and seemed not to match the rest of the machining so I thought someone had messed with it.

Did you Star PD look like this or is it something to worry about? I am thinking about buying it but not if someone has been grinding on it. I don't know what else they may have done to it. If you can post a pick of your unmodified feed ramp, that would be helpful.

Also, what is the deal with the shock buffers on these guns? Do you need them?

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. It's been a long time since I've seen the inside of a Star PD, but do seem to recall that the feedramp portion of the frame was bare aluminum on both of the blued guns/black anodized frames that I recall.

Best.

 

[Gordon]

Feed ramp is kind of rough machined from factory. BUT is just a radius and nothing weird! I bought a Colt officer's .45 from an estate sale recently that has barrel 'dremmeled' with a funky groove in center. It probably is ruined but it seems to feed everything so far. Maybe that PD will. I personally feel a PD is superior to any less than 5" 1911 for real world defense!

 

[sgt127]

The feedramp seems kind of soft on them. Mine is a little banged up from hollowpoints. Any good smith could buff it out a little. A good plating on the frame, and feedramp, should help. Its kind of a classic. I just picked mine up a few weeks ago.

 

[Bren]

I've owned the PD and two M-45's. The PD is alloy and the feed ramp can get chewed up with hollow points, polishing is just going to me temporary.

YES, you NEED the shock buff or you will beat the aloy to death, my uncle still has a PD that is mashed to hell in there. You can use the clip on kind (replacements) if you can still find them. I have some but not for you.

You can use 1911 buffs but will have to take the guide rod apart, when new,, these are glued and you have to heat it first, then you have to fight the spring and try not to bugger the ends unscrewing it. LOL! (something to check on that one(buggered ends)

The bushing is also designed to crack as ANOTHER way to protect the frame. @ about 5000rnds (check for cracks,, I've seen a few like that)

The rear sight blade can move so sight it in and drop some lock tight in there.

I've had a feed lip catch on a the mag catch holes one but that was fixed by rouning the nose.

BE CAREFUL when the grips are off, if you lower the safety, the little plunger underneath with fly and be lost forever.



The PD was the first compact of it's kind and are good reliable little guns. They can be flippy and I wouldn't give it alot of range time or hot loads. Bren

 

[1911Tuner]

Funky Groove in Colt Barrel

...a Colt officer's .45 from an estate sale recently that has barrel 'dremmeled' with a funky groove in center...
-------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon, that sounds like Colt's new design for the barrel throat...
called the "Dimple Throat". If it is, the barrel isn't ruined. It looks
a little like a standard throat job, but there's a small dip in the
middle, and the whole thing has a "melted" appearance, like
somebody overdid it with a Dremel buffing wheel and the Flitz.

The design allows feeding non-ball type ammo, while giving
better case head support than the full throat you're used to
seeing. The first time that I saw one, I was like...***???

If you can post a picture....

Cheers!
Tuner

 

[Gordon]

Wow both the PD info and 1911's 'enlightenment ' made my day! I'd had no idea Colt did anything like that. I wish I was more help full with the PD advice most of those things I had experienced myself. Thanks guys.