Other than the feed ramp machined into the frame, is there a difference between a 38 Super frame and a 45ACP frame?
Is it safe to assume that a frame machined for a ramped barrel would be the same for all calibers?
I understand the ejector can be different, but since it is a removable item, I've not considered it part of the frame.
No difference.
I couldn't think of a reason, but sometimes the more subtle features are overlooked (such as a Commander frame vs. a Govt. frame....you'll never guess where I learned that )
I can tell you they are quite similar, because I used a Colt Delta Elite frame and shot it with the: 10mm slide assem.; a .38 Super slide assem. ; a Colt SM ACE slide assem. ; and a Commander .45 slide assem..
This worked at the range as an experiment. The ejector for the 10mm and .38 Super are the same. The Commander ejectors are all the same and similar to the 38/9mm/10mm one; whereas the .45 ejector is unique to the .45 GM. Using the Commander slide on a GM frame isn't really compatible, because of the difference in slide rails between the GM and C/CC frames.
I had two Colt LWT Commanders one in .45 and the other in .38 Super. The slides would interchange although I never shot them like that.
Its not that difficult to modify a .45 GM slide to fit the other ejectors, but a milling machine is needed.
It is possible to make a switch top 1911, I did it with my Colt Delta Elite Stainless. Built up a nice 45 ACP top. I did have to use a 45 ACP ejector, but it still puts a good whack on 10mm brass for positive ejection. It was also necessary to swap slide stops as the 10mm's tab extends into the magwell like the 38 Super's Slide stop. Probably an easier switch top would be a 10mm with a 40 S&W barrel, plus you could also built top ends for 38 Super and 9mm Luger. It's just the 45 ACP that has a different ejector.
When it comes to ramped barrels, the switch caliber concept actually gets easier, but you still must consider the ejector and slide stop.
I have an older Dan Wesson .45 that has a ramped barrel. I've tried searching out the pros and cons over having a ramped barrel vs having the ramp a part of the frame. Does the ramped barrel make it more reliable in regards to feeding HP's and such being that there is no gap from the end of barrel to the ramp? It seems that a lot of smaller 1911's have a ramped barrel like the Springfield EMP. I have yet to read anywhere that addresses why some 1911's have ramped barrels and some don't. Is it personal preference without a whole lot of perceived benefits to some like a GI guide rod and a full length? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
The ramped barrel was introduced in the 1911 world by Jim Clark, who used it to ease the feeding of full wadcutters in his .38 Special conversions. Later, competitors seeking to "make major" in IPSC competition & the like with 9mm cartridges loaded to high pressures, found that the crescent of unsupported case in the conventional 1911 barrel could allow the case to blow out with their high pressures. Thus, these competitors turned to the ramped barrel to provide 360 degree support for the case at the case head.
If you are working with a high-intensity cartridge such as the 9x23 Winchester or the like, a ramped barrel is a bit of an insurance policy against a blown-out gun. Otherwise, it's really a non-issue and more of a "style" question, in my opinion. Having said all that, note that Colt used a conventional barrel with their 9x23 Winchester offering, not a ramped barrel.
My first build with a ramped barrel is a .357 SIG. It's ramped because that's the way the frame came to me .
I appreciate your prompt reply Walt. Your post gave me much insight as well as directed me in the right direction to search out more information. Gathering what I've read, the ramped barrel, like you stated, is for high pressure rounds as well as enabling easier transition to switching out different calibers. I read some post also that stated that it really doesn't do a whole lot in regards to making the weapon anymore reliable with feeding, stating that it all depends on how well the manufacturer or gunsmith lined it all up. This help quench my curiosity on the matter and makes a lot of sense. I was very frustrated when my 1911 had three jams out of eight rounds with new winchester ammo in a new wilson mag. From what I gathered everything has to be precise to few thousandths to feed well. Fixing that issue is definitely beyond my limitations with the weapon. Hence I sent it to Volkmann to tune it all up. Wish me luck and thanks again!
Ramped barrels can help with reliability in the 1911 when barrel length is less than 4 inches. That's not to say that it's a requirement, there are plenty of 3 and 3.5 inch standard barrel pistols out there that are reliable. A ramped barrel can be an asset with aluminum alloy receivers as it eliminates the possibility of magazine followers or hollow point ammo gouging an aluminum feed ramp.
Quote:
Ramped barrels can help with reliability in the 1911 when barrel length is
less than 4 inches.
I'm going to have to disagree with this. Regardless of barrel length, the barrel (and chamber) are linked down and resting on the frame bed at the time a new round is fed. Neither the magazine, the cartridge, nor the slide/breech face have ANY idea how much barrel lies forward of the locking lugs. Barrel length is irrelevant in feed reliability.
Isn't the angle of the locked-down barrel more acute the shorter the barrel, because the fulcrum is closer to the breech end of the barrel?
So, just to clarify for the rank novice,
For 9, 40, 10, 38super, and good ol' 45 frames are the same in GM examples except for the ejector which can be changed? Or are there possible variations in the ejector mounting holes in the frame, based on manufacturer, that would making slide/barrel swaps not possible?
Same also for the slide stop pin? Other than one for a 45 mag, the others will likely interchange and retain the mag correctly?
What is different on a Commander slide that would deviate from the above interchangeability?
At link down the barrel is parallel to the frame rails, it is at lockup that the angle is greater for shorter barrels.
Quote:
For 9, 40, 10, 38Super, and good ol' 45 frames are the same in GM examples
except for the ejector which can be changed?
No, the feed ramp in the frame is machined to a different depth for different calibers.
A Commander frame has shorter rails for the shorter slide. A Commander slide on a government frame would have less travel than when on a Commander frame. Some have done it and it has worked. Not an ideal situation in my opinion.