Feed Ramp Polishing

Nanaimo Barr · April 16, 2002, 08:58 PM

I'm looking for advice on what Dremel attachement to use to clean up a feed ramp on a old M1 Carbine, not to grind it down, but to smooth it up

is a Dremel the best tool? or is there something else thats better

(or is it just best to take it to a pro?)

Dfariswheel · April 16, 2002, 09:22 PM

Duplicate post...deleted

Dfariswheel · April 16, 2002, 09:24 PM

Brownell's sell Cratex rubber bonded abrasive cones. You will need to make a longer screw-tip mandrel from a long wood screw.
This will allow you to get to the ramp.
Use a Moto-Tool or flex shaft.

OR:
You can do an acceptable job by gluing strips of fine grit metal sand paper to a round wood dowl and using it by hand or in a drill.

johnwill · April 17, 2002, 08:57 AM

I find I get excellent results with the felt bob that is about 1/4" in diameter and has a point. I use the Dremel polishing compound and have at it. Although the polishing compound won't take metal off quickly, it will take it off, so use caution! I do a little polishing, then wipe it off and check the result, then a little more polishing. You don't want to change the shape of the feed ramp, just smooth it. It's also not necessary to make it glass smooth with no flaws, just smooth to the touch. It's a mistake to try to polish every flaw out of the feed ramp, and you'll likely end up doing more damage than good if you get carried away.

C.R.Sam · April 17, 2002, 10:31 AM

Johnwill said a mouthfull. Don't try to make it look perfect, just make it feel smooth.

Sam

Nanaimo Barr · April 18, 2002, 11:17 AM

thank you all Gentleman, I tried the felt bob method (had one in my dremel kit) and went in with the polish and it's looking and feeling much better. now I just have to wait till it stops raining to take it out and see how it goes.

this has also led me to think about getting one of those flex shafts, or going for broke and upgrading my dremel altogether (I have the little battery operated one)

johnwill · April 18, 2002, 11:33 AM

I used to have the battery powered Dremel, but when it bit the dust, I bought the line powered one. I don't stray that far from the bench with it, and I don't have to screw around with batteries.

Nanaimo Barr · April 18, 2002, 02:13 PM

the batteries do go dead at the worst times don't they? I think if it dies while my wife is using it one more time she may drag me off to buy a new corded one. (the battery one is nice for the car and quick and dirty though)

(it's amazing how often when she needs to use it it dies after only a few minutes use.. interesting HEHEHEHEHEHEH)

Nanaimo Barr · April 20, 2002, 05:23 PM

thanks to you gentleman my attempt at home gunsmithing was a sucsess, my little M1 Carbine now feeds just about everything I fed into it with a 98% feed rate when I actualy used rounds with enough powder (it didn't seem to like the low end loads)

now I just need new magazines...

I thank you all again

NB

johnwill · April 21, 2002, 09:48 AM

Another Dremel success story! If we keep that up, we'll slow down the bashing that always seem to follow anyone suggesting they might have the temerity to actually use such a tool on their guns.

Of course, you need to move a bit closer to 100% to consider it a real success. I can only remember one misfeed in my M1 Carbine with good magazines and factory ammo. I did have a couple of bad magazines, but they're lining a trash can now, and will give my no more grief!

Nanaimo Barr · April 22, 2002, 12:15 AM

well, I was using a mixed bag of 110 FMJ, 110 softpoint Speer that I had loaded not long after I started reloading, (nuff said) and some newly loaded 115 gr (I have been unable to find published loads for 115 lead .30 carbine) so I started low and was working up. 10.1 gr of 2400 didn't cycle right but the 11.1 of 2400 worked fine. what finnaly made me think part of the problem was the mag was when the last 2 rounds in the 15 round mag failed to feed every time. no mater which load I was using. (of course I had forgotten to bring the 5 and 30 rd ones) now I must search far and wide upon the internet sea to find more relable feeding devices for my sweet little carbini.....

johnwill · April 22, 2002, 08:54 AM

I've found that the 15 round GI mags normally work best in both of my carbines, though the real GI 30 round mags do OK. I have some 30 round after-market mags that aren't as reliable. I have a couple of the short 5 round mags that I picked up at a show, but I haven't shot them yet.

Nanaimo Barr · April 22, 2002, 11:26 AM

ok, they shouldn't be that hard to find, they only made what? 5 or 6 million???

April 16, 2002, 08:58 PM	#1
Nanaimo Barr Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Location: North Idaho Posts: 1,024	Feed Ramp Polishing I'm looking for advice on what Dremel attachement to use to clean up a feed ramp on a old M1 Carbine, not to grind it down, but to smooth it up is a Dremel the best tool? or is there something else thats better (or is it just best to take it to a pro?) __________________ "Question that Regulation, you might be suprised to find out it's Illegal"

April 17, 2002, 08:57 AM	#4
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	I find I get excellent results with the felt bob that is about 1/4" in diameter and has a point. I use the Dremel polishing compound and have at it. Although the polishing compound won't take metal off quickly, it will take it off, so use caution! I do a little polishing, then wipe it off and check the result, then a little more polishing. You don't want to change the shape of the feed ramp, just smooth it. It's also not necessary to make it glass smooth with no flaws, just smooth to the touch. It's a mistake to try to polish every flaw out of the feed ramp, and you'll likely end up doing more damage than good if you get carried away. __________________ I collect old pistols, got any?

April 18, 2002, 11:17 AM	#6
Nanaimo Barr Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Location: North Idaho Posts: 1,024	thank you all Gentleman, I tried the felt bob method (had one in my dremel kit) and went in with the polish and it's looking and feeling much better. now I just have to wait till it stops raining to take it out and see how it goes. this has also led me to think about getting one of those flex shafts, or going for broke and upgrading my dremel altogether (I have the little battery operated one) __________________ "Question that Regulation, you might be suprised to find out it's Illegal"

April 18, 2002, 11:33 AM	#7
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	I used to have the battery powered Dremel, but when it bit the dust, I bought the line powered one. I don't stray that far from the bench with it, and I don't have to screw around with batteries. __________________ I collect old pistols, got any?

April 18, 2002, 02:13 PM	#8
Nanaimo Barr Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Location: North Idaho Posts: 1,024	the batteries do go dead at the worst times don't they? I think if it dies while my wife is using it one more time she may drag me off to buy a new corded one. (the battery one is nice for the car and quick and dirty though) (it's amazing how often when she needs to use it it dies after only a few minutes use.. interesting HEHEHEHEHEHEH) __________________ "Question that Regulation, you might be suprised to find out it's Illegal"

April 16, 2002, 09:22 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Duplicate post...deleted

April 16, 2002, 09:24 PM	#3
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Brownell's sell Cratex rubber bonded abrasive cones. You will need to make a longer screw-tip mandrel from a long wood screw. This will allow you to get to the ramp. Use a Moto-Tool or flex shaft. OR: You can do an acceptable job by gluing strips of fine grit metal sand paper to a round wood dowl and using it by hand or in a drill.

April 17, 2002, 10:31 AM	#5
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Johnwill said a mouthfull. Don't try to make it look perfect, just make it feel smooth. Sam

April 20, 2002, 05:23 PM	#9
Nanaimo Barr Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Location: North Idaho Posts: 1,024	thanks to you gentleman my attempt at home gunsmithing was a sucsess, my little M1 Carbine now feeds just about everything I fed into it with a 98% feed rate when I actualy used rounds with enough powder (it didn't seem to like the low end loads) now I just need new magazines... I thank you all again NB __________________ "Question that Regulation, you might be suprised to find out it's Illegal"

April 21, 2002, 09:48 AM	#10
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Another Dremel success story! If we keep that up, we'll slow down the bashing that always seem to follow anyone suggesting they might have the temerity to actually use such a tool on their guns. Of course, you need to move a bit closer to 100% to consider it a real success. I can only remember one misfeed in my M1 Carbine with good magazines and factory ammo. I did have a couple of bad magazines, but they're lining a trash can now, and will give my no more grief! __________________ I collect old pistols, got any?

April 22, 2002, 12:15 AM	#11
Nanaimo Barr Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Location: North Idaho Posts: 1,024	well, I was using a mixed bag of 110 FMJ, 110 softpoint Speer that I had loaded not long after I started reloading, (nuff said) and some newly loaded 115 gr (I have been unable to find published loads for 115 lead .30 carbine) so I started low and was working up. 10.1 gr of 2400 didn't cycle right but the 11.1 of 2400 worked fine. what finnaly made me think part of the problem was the mag was when the last 2 rounds in the 15 round mag failed to feed every time. no mater which load I was using. (of course I had forgotten to bring the 5 and 30 rd ones) now I must search far and wide upon the internet sea to find more relable feeding devices for my sweet little carbini..... __________________ "Question that Regulation, you might be suprised to find out it's Illegal"

April 22, 2002, 08:54 AM	#12
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	I've found that the 15 round GI mags normally work best in both of my carbines, though the real GI 30 round mags do OK. I have some 30 round after-market mags that aren't as reliable. I have a couple of the short 5 round mags that I picked up at a show, but I haven't shot them yet. __________________ I collect old pistols, got any?

April 22, 2002, 11:26 AM	#13
Nanaimo Barr Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Location: North Idaho Posts: 1,024	ok, they shouldn't be that hard to find, they only made what? 5 or 6 million??? __________________ "Question that Regulation, you might be suprised to find out it's Illegal"