Have you ever modified feedramps?

markm · #1 05-09-11, 11:39

I found this in a description for a stripped upper some cat is selling on one of the auction sites. It got me wondering if anyone has ever found the need to do work to his feedramps.

Quote:

The feed ramps were customized to its previous barrel and will likely require a small amount of work to fit flush with a new barrel. Anyone who has built an AR (not from a pre-fit kit) will not be surprised by this and likely have some experience in finishing feed ramps.

This guy actually had some bids on this upper... I know I wouldn't touch something like this.

SteadyUp · #2 05-09-11, 11:46

Definitely sounds like a "bubba gunsmithing" upper. I always thought that with a good upper and barrel no mucking around would be required.

SA80Dan · #3 05-09-11, 11:54

Is it an M4 feedramped upper? If so, from the wording in the ad, I should imagine what he is talking about is that he has filed the ramps slightly (possibly in conjunction with taking a couple of sharp edges off the barrel extension too) to get an absolute 100% super smooth fit with the particular barrel extension.

I've only assembled 4 rifles, but its not something I have felt the need to do; and all 4 rifles function without any hint whatsoever of a feedramp problem. If I was that OCD, that upper would have to remain with that barrel forever.....as a standalone item it's not something I'd buy.

markm · #4 05-09-11, 11:56

Shoot! I've seen COLT uppers where the Barrel Extension and Upper were off quite a bit and the gun ran fine.

87GN · #5 05-09-11, 12:02

The only time I received a barrel that needed to have work done to the feed ramps (poorly machined with a lot of burrs), I sent it back. I don't mess with feed ramps on uppers or barrels. Heat treating and anodizing is there for a reason.

markm · #6 05-09-11, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87GN

The only time I received a barrel that needed to have work done to the feed ramps (poorly machined with a lot of burrs), I sent it back. I don't mess with feed ramps on uppers or barrels. Heat treating and anodizing is there for a reason.

Exactly my thoughts... especially on the annodizing.

Dutchy556 · #7 05-09-11, 20:11

Yeah... granted I haven't built that many uppers but I've never felt inclined to mess with feed ramps, nor do I think its a great idea.

bp7178 · #8 05-09-11, 20:43

I don't get where this shit comes from that one needs a dremel in their AR15 toolbox.

seb5 · #9 05-09-11, 22:20

I agree with all of the above but do want to point out that several of us have dremmeled M-4 feed ramps when we ended up with an M-4 upper and non M-4 barrel back when they were just becoming standard. I did a few and never had a problem with them running. It has been several years and wouldn't think it necessary today.

nickdrak · #10 05-09-11, 22:30

For some God forsaken unknown reason, RRA dremel's the feedramps on their factory rifles. Some look decent, some look like total shit. Why the hell they do it I have no clue.

I once opened up a co-workers feedramps on his RRA upper. They came from the factory looking like a chimp with a chisel did their "Extended Feedramp" work. He was getting frequent rounds hung-up on the factory feedramp job. I opened them up a bit and polished them. Far from ideal, but much better than how it came from the factory.

87GN · #11 05-10-11, 02:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by seb5

I agree with all of the above but do want to point out that several of us have dremmeled M-4 feed ramps when we ended up with an M-4 upper and non M-4 barrel back when they were just becoming standard. I did a few and never had a problem with them running. It has been several years and wouldn't think it necessary today.

The solution would be to swap that upper for a non-ramped one. I've done that several times.

msstate56 · #12 05-10-11, 02:54

I've actually had to work on the feed ramps on one of my assemblies. This is will all BCM parts. Once installed, the receiver feed ramps were slightly too deep, and the barrel extension ramps stuck out just a "hair." Enough that I had to file the barrel extension ramps down just a little to make a smooth ramp. As it was originally, hollow points would catch on the ramp and fail to feed. The ramp is nice and flush and polished. I've yet to have any issues with 500-600 rounds since the ramp work (almost all hollowpoints). I don't think that taking off the anodizing will cause undue wear. Do I wish I didn't have to do that? Of course, but I works now where it didn't before. I have multiple other builds that went perfectly though.

seb5 · #13 05-10-11, 07:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87GN

The solution would be to swap that upper for a non-ramped one. I've done that several times.

I agree, several years ago the supply system wasn't what it is today as far as parts availability.

markm · #14 05-10-11, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickdrak

I once opened up a co-workers feedramps on his RRA upper. They came from the factory looking like a chimp with a chisel did their "Extended Feedramp" work. He was getting frequent rounds hung-up on the factory feedramp job. I opened them up a bit and polished them. Far from ideal, but much better than how it came from the factory.

That makes sense. Sounds like the gun was otherwise useless without the work.

MistWolf · #15 05-10-11, 18:13

If done correctly and by a skilled hand, there's nothing wrong with cutting M4 ramps with a Dremel. It's a risk to do so as the barrel assembly and upper could end up as junk. If successful, it would have to be shot quite a bit before being declared good.

Even so, a person doesn't really know if it will work until the job has been attempted. I'm willing to bet more than one upper was "bubba'd" by hand until they got the original M4 ramps to work. Today, cutting ramps by hand isn't necessary.

While a good dose of skepticism is healthy in this case, it's a bit foolish to assume a hand cut ramp is a "bubbafication" until the quality of the work has been verified