Posted: 11/1/2007 6:43:13 PM EDT
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I am considering the purchase of a new S.A. Lightweight Operator, but I noticed that it has a barrel that has a ramp, rather than the traditional barrel as my TRP and my Kimber have. Other than the obvious physical differences, what does this mean? The frame is aluminum alloy with a black anodized finish. Can I expect this to be very durable? Thanks in advance |
| Ramped in certain calibers is the way to go. I don't think you need it with 45acp, my opinion. I have two 1911 in 9mm parabellumthat are both using ramped barrels. these were guns that I initially built without ramped barrels, I have yet to get a failure to feed out of these pistols by using a ramped setup. |
| Some aluminum-framed 1911s which use a traditional ramp setup have sometimes been damaged by bullets and magazine followers. A feed ramp takes some abuse and aluminum is a soft metal. Springfield gets around this problem by using a ramped barrel in their aluminum framed pistols. This is a plus in my opinion. |
I just bought one of those a few months ago. So far I have over 1300 rounds through it with zero malfunctions. I have used Federal FMJ, Winchester White Box, and Federal hydra shocks. One range session was over 600 rounds, without a stoppage. I carry it in a CTAC holster, and the finish is holding up fine so far. But only time will tell, since I have only carried it for two months. |
Not exactly... The purpose of a ramped barrel, depending on caliber, can be a few different things. Chief among them is usually to provide a fully supported chamber which may be helpful in calibers other than the relatively low pressure 45ACP. The feeding of some calibers can also be aided but in my experience this is not applicable to the 45ACP, a conventional feed ramp configuration generally works better with that cartridge. For the Springfield gun you're asking about I would venture to say a ramped barrel was chosen due to the aluminum frame. 
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