rampectomy done CM9 barrel

[S281]

Well, i decided to take care of my broken follower issue myself. I didnt want to send in the gun to Kahr for something simple, so i decided to perform the rampectomy myself. I was surprised at how much i had to take off to clear the feed ramp from touching the follower on the mags. But its now clear and hopefully i can get to the range soon and make sure it still runs flawlessly as before. Here are some pics of the completed project:

I ended up taking a dremel with sandpaper wheel and through trial and error, had to touch it up 3 times or so, only about 10 min. Then hand sanded with 150 grit, 250 grit, and last 1000 grit sand paper. I think it turned out nice.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/spederman/20131209_093101_zpsc3666c09.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/spederman/media/20131209_093101_zpsc3666c09.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/spederman/20131209_092957_zps6a40115b.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/spederman/media/20131209_092957_zps6a40115b.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/spederman/20131209_092900_zpsd41346fe.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/spederman/media/20131209_092900_zpsd41346fe.jpg.html)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/spederman/20131209_092821_zpsf25bf7a5.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/spederman/media/20131209_092821_zpsf25bf7a5.jpg.html)

[OldLincoln]

Looks good. If you haven't, consider polishing the top of the chamber as the bullet nose depends on slipping on that to bring up the rim. Makes a difference on defensive rounds like HST.

[CB3]

As long as you are adventurous enough to do this simple procedure, go all the way.

1000 grit is abrasive and leaves scratches, although very minor. Even then, direction of movement of the paper should be up and down the ramp, toward the chamber.

While what you have is shiny, it's not really "polished" IMO until under magnification you cannot see any scratches. I follow up with a metal polishing compound such as Flit or a jewelers rouge on a soft #422 felt polishing Dremel tip with water. Do polish the chamber also, especially the top. You will notice a difference. Because of the rotary action of the polishing tip, if your scratches are longitudinal heading toward the chamber, the 90 degree cross polishing will flatten them quickly.

I polish every mating metal surface including:

*the barrel lug (inside and out)
*the slide stop where it engages the barrel lug
*the slide rail grooves (a cut credit card with 1000 grit wrapped around it)
*cocking cam and striker block
*striker and striker channel
*the front opening of the slide through which the barrel protrudes
*etc.

This is really no harder to do and it will make a noticeable difference in trigger feel and make the action of the gun even smoother. Don't change any of the geometry, especially of fire control parts. Just polish.

I then clean everything thoroughly with hot soapy water, rinse and dry. I heat the oven up to 170 degrees, coat all the parts with a metal impregnating lube like Militec-1 and bake for 15 minutes on a cookie sheet. Wipe off any excess and reassemble.

Necessary? Nah. Rewarding and informative for you? Definitely.

[berettabone]

As long as you are adventurous enough to do this simple procedure, go all the way.

1000 grit is abrasive and leaves scratches, although very minor. Even then, direction of movement of the paper should be up and down the ramp, toward the chamber.

While what you have is shiny, it's not really "polished" IMO until under magnification you cannot see any scratches. I follow up with a metal polishing compound such as Flit or a jewelers rouge on a soft #422 felt polishing Dremel tip with water. Do polish the chamber also, especially the top. You will notice a difference. Because of the rotary action of the polishing tip, if your scratches are longitudinal heading toward the chamber, the polishing will flatten them quickly.
Ditto.............I do it with every one of my firearms, and polishing with a Dremel and felt tip is a breeze................

[DanTana]

I was cleaning my gun after my last range session and noticed how well polished the ramp and chamber were. The entire feed area of the barrel has a very nice polish to it from the factory. I don't know if this is new, but I'm glad it was done already and I don't have to. Maybe another one of Kahr's ongoing improvements? S281, I would do the top like OldLincoln said, mine is polished there from the factory, so I would do yours the same.

[modraker]

S281, can you tell us how the rampectomy of the CM9 barrel has worked out for you?

[CJB]

I wanna see the barrel in the frame, no slide, and a magazine in the frame - and see the clearance. Pardon my cynical doubt, but show me! Pretty yes, but how does it actually fit?

[plateshooter]

Nice job S281. And nice pics.

[sharpenit]

Do you have a "before" photo?

[modraker]

Here's a photo of my own CM9 barrel which shows the uneven bottom edge of the ramp.

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/modraker/IMG204.jpg

[garyb]

WOW...you did take off a good amount of material. Hope it works for you..

[S281]

Unfortunately ,I haven't been out to test it yet. This week for sure. I did take flitz to it since last.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/spederman/20131229_174339_zps206ae14c.jpg

I also tried to get clear pics of it installed but it's impossible to get a pic that far down with a cell phone cam. Here are some I tried

No slide installed:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/spederman/20131229_183031_zpsa16e92b6.jpg

Slide installed:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m24/spederman/20131229_174940_zpse4c7b6dd.jpg

Wish I would have taken before pics and measurements to compare how much I took off, but I didn't even think about it at the time

[muggsy]

The bottom edge of the feed ramp is supposed to be uneven as the feed ramp is offset. It's the offset design that allows for a lower bore axis. I haven't seen any pictures of a factory rampectomy, but yours seems to be a bit excessive. I hope it functions properly for you, because a replacement barrel isn't cheap. They run about $140.00.

[CJB]

Ditto. that's why I wanted to see the picture

[S281]

Damn, didn't know that. What am I looking for at the range. Will it be jamming or just not accurate? Oh well, if I did screw it up, I guess I'll get the PM9 barrel and chalk it up to a learning experience.

[CJB]

if it feeds you're gtg

[plateshooter]

S281 I would bet your gun will run better than it ever has. Mine looks like yours and I have put several hundred rounds through it after the adjustment with no fail to feed or accuracy issues at all. The rounds do not feed from or even touch that part of the ramp that was removed. It is not rocket science, just simple mechanics.

[garyb]

Pulled my PM40 out of my holster to send you some pics for you to compare to. It was polished when it was new, but it runs flawlessly. Hope this helps. Good luck with yours at the range.

[modraker]

My rampectomy is a success --- 150 rounds of PMC 124 gr FMJ plus 20 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P ammo --- zero malfunction and my magazine follower is still intact.

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/modraker/KahrCM9-BeforeAfterRamp.jpg

[berettabone]

Wow, that was a lot taken off. Glad it still works.

[JimC]

FWIW, here are a couple of photos of a ramp mod that Kahr did on my PM9 bbl.
I don't have a good before shot.
After receiving the barrel back from Kahr, I put a total of 220 rds. thru it using the 5 mags that I have, no broken followers and 100% function. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/KobraCarry/Kahr%20PM9/IMG_2405800x533_zps11a46ee3.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/KobraCarry/media/Kahr%20PM9/IMG_2405800x533_zps11a46ee3.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/KobraCarry/Kahr%20PM9/IMG_2407800x510_zpsa4fd4b83.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/KobraCarry/media/Kahr%20PM9/IMG_2407800x510_zpsa4fd4b83.jpg.html)

[garyb]

Glad it worked out for you.

[modraker]

Wow, that was a lot taken off. Glad it still works.

If my magazine spring gets weak and the top round stays horizontal instead of popping up to line up with the magazine lips, I could have trouble feeding hollow point rounds. Right now, the tip of the bullet gets nowhere near the bottom of the feed ramp.

[plateshooter]

Thanks for those pics JimC, Looks like the rampectomies preformed by some of us owners. It is good to have the comparison.

[S281]

Jim C, thanks for those pics. Looks like Kahr just goes straight across and makes it perfectly flat. Doesn't seem to be much different than the rest of us doing our own. Good to see a factory mod to compare

[JimC]

Well one thing for sure, that's the way one of their people does it.
Maybe the next guy will have a totally different approach. ;)

[m9x18]

All's well that ends well. Glad it all worked out.

[kraigster414]

Sorry but this one caught my eye and I have to play Devil's Advocate....I am just not getting it....because you've had to deep 6 one or more inexpensive mag followers the self appointed "rampectomist" has elected on his own to alter the geometry on an expensive factory barrel with no vetted standards or factory green light on how to do, how much to take off, etc.

I now have thousands of factory and hand loaded rounds through my CM9, have yet to destroy a magazine follower but if I was experiencing a problem, the gun would go back to Kahr in a nano second assuming Karh is not giving away free barrels for folks to practice on. At the very least I would no longer use my CM9 for carry if I did perform surgery on the barrel based on what I think needed to be done.

There was a period in the early Keltec P3AT days crica 2006 when folks were performing rampectomies on their P3AT barrels to cure benign "smilelys" and it became a fad as the thing to do. Whether Keltec ultimately changed the design of their feed ramp (I replaced my P3AT a long time ago when the LCsP came out), I don't know but it has become a practice of the past. There were more than a few ruined barrels back then worked on by folks who should have acknolwledged their own limitations or had their files and Dremels locked up before hand. And certainly IMHO they should not have recommended that other replicate. Keep some extra followers on hand and leave your barrels alone. My 2 centavos, you may disagree. Kahr has good customer service, take advantage of it. Cheers.

[knkali]

Sorry but this one caught my eye and I have to play Devil's Advocate....I am just not getting it....because you've had to deep 6 one or more inexpensive mag followers the self appointed "rampectomist" has elected on his own to alter the geometry on an expensive factory barrel with no vetted standards or factory green light on how to do, how much to take off, etc.

I now have thousands of factory and hand loaded rounds through my CM9, have yet to destroy a magazine follower but if I was experiencing a problem, the gun would go back to Kahr in a nano second assuming Karh is not giving away free barrels for folks to practice on. At the very least I would no longer use my CM9 for carry if I did perform surgery on the barrel based on what I think needed to be done.

There was a period in the early Keltec P3AT days when folks were performing rampectomies on their P3AT barrels, it almost became the thing to do. Whether Keltec ultimately changed the design of their feed ramp (I replaced my P3AT a long time ago when the LCsP came out), I don't know but it has become a practice of the past. There were more than a few ruined barrels back then worked on by folks who should have acknolwledged their own limitations or had their files and Dremels locked up before hand. And certainly IMHO they should not have recommended that other replicate. Keep some extra followers on hand and leave your barrels alone. My 2 centavos, you may disagree. Kahr has good customer service, take advantage of it. Cheers.


The op took it upon himself to try and remedy a problem he was having. No where in this thread did I hear him cry about what he has done nor did I ever read where he was going to hold Kahr responsible if his mod did not work. Instead he blazed a trail for others to learn from. I am thankful for guys like this. They give us insight to the workings of our guns and give us stuff to discuss about here on the forum.

[JimC]

Sorry but this one caught my eye and I have to play Devil's Advocate....I am just not getting it....because you've had to deep 6 one or more inexpensive mag followers the self appointed "rampectomist" has elected on his own to alter the geometry on an expensive factory barrel with no vetted standards or factory green light on how to do, how much to take off, etc.

I now have thousands of factory and hand loaded rounds through my CM9, have yet to destroy a magazine follower but if I was experiencing a problem, the gun would go back to Kahr in a nano second assuming Karh is not giving away free barrels for folks to practice on. At the very least I would no longer use my CM9 for carry if I did perform surgery on the barrel based on what I think needed to be done.

There was a period in the early Keltec P3AT days when folks were performing rampectomies on their P3AT barrels, it almost became the thing to do. Whether Keltec ultimately changed the design of their feed ramp (I replaced my P3AT a long time ago when the LCsP came out), I don't know but it has become a practice of the past. There were more than a few ruined barrels back then worked on by folks who should have acknolwledged their own limitations or had their files and Dremels locked up before hand. And certainly IMHO they should not have recommended that other replicate. Keep some extra followers on hand and leave your barrels alone. My 2 centavos, you may disagree. Kahr has good customer service, take advantage of it. Cheers.

Very well stated Sir. ;)
Your explanation is exactly why my PM9 went back to Kahr for their evaluation after it broke 3 followers in slightly over 300 rds.
Kahr took the action that they did, reworked feed ramp in their words.
I'm sure they would back that action if anything were to malfunction due to it.

[muggsy]

+1 Kraigster, with the unauthorized modification the factory warranty is void.

[kraigster414]

The op took it upon himself to try and remedy a problem he was having. No where in this thread did I hear him cry about what he has done nor did I ever read where he was going to hold Kahr responsible if his mod did not work. Instead he blazed a trail for others to learn from. I am thankful for guys like this. They give us insight to the workings of our guns and give us stuff to discuss about here on the forum.

I am not doubting that this is interesting discussion. Equally interesting would be to know what Kahr's position is on this and whether there is any intention on their part to modify the design of the feed ramp. My guess is, that it would have to be systemic issue before they would take any action. As I said earlier I and so many others have had thousands of rounds fired in their CM9 with a nary a problem. And I would not sacrifice an $$ barrel (unless I had a spare on hand) for the sake of a magazine follower.

At the very least IMHO, the OP has an obligation to advise members that that performing any modification on the CM9 barrel other than refinishing or polishing of the feed ramp and throat up to the rifling is NOT a factory sanctioned mod, will void one's warranty, and is done at the owner's risk.

I am all for interesting discussion but with it comes a responsibility on the part of the author to include any necessary caveats.

[addictedhealer]

Lighten up. Does a mod really require a warning label? He did the same thing in 20 minutes that the factory would do in 3 weeks.

[JimC]

Lighten up. Does a mod really require a warning label? He did the same thing in 20 minutes that the factory would do in 3 weeks.

Having Kahr perform the work doesn't void your warranty. ;)

[addictedhealer]

Having Kahr perform the work doesn't void your warranty. ;)


Doubt this will either. They gonna notice it isn't factory? What if I buy another barrel and put in it does that void warranty?

[kraigster414]

Doubt this will either. They gonna notice it isn't factory? What if I buy another barrel and put in it does that void warranty?

Oh boy . :confused::eek:
Nuff said on this one. Stay safe guys.

[knkali]

At the very least IMHO, the OP has an obligation to advise members that that performing any modification on the CM9 barrel other than refinishing or polishing of the feed ramp and throat up to the rifling is NOT a factory sanctioned mod, will void one's warranty, and is done at the owner's risk.




Duuuude.............

[JimC]

Oh boy . :confused::eek:
Nuff said on this one. Stay safe guys.

I agree...I'm outta here. :rolleyes:
The inmates have taken over the asylum.

[jocko]

Many can do it but I have never santioned a ramptecomy. It willgive kahr and any maker an out of u do such a mod. They can back away from a magna ported barrel even, and even they sell their own ported barrels. Give any maker an out and they might choose to take it and IMO u have no recourse. There are some lines I fee one can corss and be ok with factory warranty, such as changing sights etc, recoul springs r a owner thing also, screw tith the trigger bar and I think u crossed the line. MY PMJ9 is highly moded but I knew that goin in also and was prepared if I had any issues to pay to make the gun right again. Grip stipplyling could also be a mod that a maker can walk away from. But for me anything u do with the feed ramp utter than polishing it u should let the factory do it. 99% of kahrs need no feed ramp mods , so if ur gun is breasking followers, then let kahr fix it. They made it. Many years back it was a normal procedure on the kel tek forum and I think that is where the term RMPECTOMY surfaced even. I never heard of kel tek ever voing any warranty over it either for they knew they had an issue but really never stepped up to the plate for a few years to do sumpin about it, so there fore RAMPECTOMY was born..

[CJB]

Having Kahr perform the work doesn't void your warranty. ;)

True but a reasonable hand and deft touch would be indistinquishable from original factory work.

[CJB]

Part of the Magnuson-Moss act about warranties says that a manufacturer has to show why non factory work made the warranty void.

That is to say - if you stippled the frame and the gun shoots low, they have to show how stippling the frame made the gun shoot low for the warranty to be voided. If you do a ramp shortening, and have trigger bar issues.... same thing. They gotta be able to show how A effects B. On the other hand, if you do a ramp shortening, and have feeding issues, its a no brainer for Kahr to say sorry, the pistol was tampered with, and we can't warrant materials and workmanship against work performed by third parties.

Before anyone works on, or modifies a firearm, their mindset really ought to be one that accepts responsibility for SAFETY, FUNCTION and ACCURACY, in that order. If you're not willing or able to take responsibility for any one of those three items, then you have no justification working on firearms.

What did I miss with this?

[JimC]

True but a reasonable hand and deft touch would be indistinquishable from original factory work.

Do you really believe that a tech at Kahr wouldn't be able to tell if a guy took a Dremel to the feed ramp of his barrel and was then reporting problems feeding or otherwise?
Some Dremel tool owners shouldn't own firearms and some firearm owners shouldn't own a Dremel tool. ;)
Put the Dremel down and move away from the gun applies to many!
Some very inexperienced gun owners read about fixes on the Internet and after reading them a few times, think they are qualified gunsmiths or armorers.
In the case of my PM9 I felt that it was Kahrs responsibility to address my PM9 breaking three followers in -300 rds.
Could I have done it? Yes but I chose to send it in on their dime and have them do it and yes, it's still under warranty.

It's like a guy back in 2000 or 2001 that bought a Bar-Sto semi-fit barrel for his G17L. He didn't realize that semi-fit meant that some fitting may be required. He read about barrel fitting on Glock Talk and began on his...long story short, he screwed up that barrel that cost about $250 at the time. When he contacted Bar-Sto, they offered to sell him a new barrel and suggested that he have them fit it. ;)

[CJB]

So whats the point ....

I said reasonable hand and deft touch, and you described gun-hacks. I'm not connecing the dots here.

And no...Kahr wouldn't know that maybe ten 1/1000ths were cleanly taken off the ramp. Evidence of factory is already there in many pistols.

I will stand by my safety, function, accuracy statement.

[CB3]

Almost every one of my favorite handguns and carbines has benefitted from my Dremel work. I started working on cheap KelTec's that really needed the work and improved because of it. I wasn't too worried about screwing up because a replacement part was not expensive; even the whole gun could be replaced within my budget. I had grown tired of sending these guns back to the factory for simple work to get them to function and make them reliable. Eventually I just gave up on the brand entirely.

I have returned many guns to the factory for them to do warranty work or work that I choose not to do.

However, I took those skills I developed on those cheaper guns and started working on my Kahrs and Berettas and then some carbines to polish various different parts and make adjustments on others. One of my most common adjustments is to work on a slide release so that it releases on the hard insertion of a magazine. I've done this on a dozen or more pistols.

I am not a gunsmith, metal worker or mechanic. I am a home hack, self and internet taught. I have not ruined anything I couldn't fix using my Dremel, files, wet/dry sandpaper, belt sander, stones or anything else. I have made my guns function the way I want them to. They are more reliable. They are easier to shoot and in many cases they look a lot better. I have done trigger jobs, slide melting, rampectomies, installed different sights, reprofiled bolt handles, adjusted safeties and slide releases, and generally polished every piece of metal that slides against another piece of metal wherever it may be in the gun. Doing such work gives me a pride of ownership and involvement with my weapons that is invaluable to me. If I ever screw up and have to replace a part, or even the whole gun, I figure I'm already way ahead with what I've $aved and in the satisfaction I get from doing this work.

When I was young and at a boarding school I used to cut hair for some pocket change. I learned that you could always take more off, but you couldn't put it back. I just follow that same rule whenever I work with metal.

A person of average intelligence with some decent tools, including a Dremel, and reasonable mechanical skills can work on his own guns and not destroy them and not void warranties and not cause the problems that some posters think are just so terrible and happen all the time.

Sure there are a few idiots out there who ruin guns. Walking through a gun show will reveal the work product of many of these home hacks. They are easily identifiable and sometimes a real bargain to pick up and then fix. At the very least they are fun to look at and try to conjure up what was going through the individual's brain when he did that work the way he did. It's kind of fun.

Bottom line: If you are interested in trying to do this type of work yourself, go buy a cheap screwed up gun at a pawnshop or gun show. Buy a Dremel, some files, some 400 and 800 grit wet dry sandpaper and go to town! Have some fun. Learn something. If you screw it up even worse, and find that this is not where your talents lie, give it up. However you may just find some real satisfaction in working on your own guns.

[DanTana]

My barrel came polished from the factory new. I doubt Kahr will penalize this guy for polishing his, they may even think they had polished it before shipping and not think twice. Unless there was a certain serial number where they started polishing the barrels before shipping?

[jocko]

kahr does an excellent job of polisihng their feed ramps. IMO one of the best on the market. Some yearsw back they had a recall on someof their PM9 b arrels (and this has been years back to) and it was due to not a good polish job. Since then I would say a barrel needs no polishing but u never casn over polish a feed ramp IMO...

I have neer been a fan ot telling anyone to do a ramptemy as we may make it sould easy, but if ur breaking followers. let kahr fix it on their dime. Many here are good techs themselvbes and can do it. I would consider myself a half ass technie but if I had feed ramp issues, I would let kahr fix it for me. Just sayn.

[C0untZer0]

I am getting a Dremel 3000 today for Father's Day, and I am going to attempt a rampectomy on my follower-smashing CM9.


Does anyone have any advice on what Dremel wheel to start out with, transition to and finish up with?


I will finish up with polishing it of course.

[rjinaz85308]

A non electric one. Use a file(safer)

If a gun feeds reliably already I don't see the need or the sense in polishing the feed ramp. I have seen many perfectly good functioning guns ruined by an over-zealous polishing job.

Just my opinion


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CJB]

sanding drum

[CJB]

Back at a real keyboard again....

If the barrel is horizontal, the tool's shaft should be vertical. As seen from the top, the ramp is not flat but has a slightly concave edge. Select a drum that best matches the concave edge (the medium size drum). Use a medium high speed, not too slow. Do not use much pressure at all... just slight touch. You'll be removing enough material to keep about a credit card thickness between the follower and the end of the barrel's ramp. Check your work with the barrel in the frame, magazine in the frame, and slide stop in place.... holding the barrel rearward and down as you check clearance. When you're good with clearance, use one of the dremel rubber abrasive wheels to lightly take the "sharp" off the edges of what you just sanded. You can polish with a felt wheel and the red compound if desired, but its not really needed.

[muggsy]

True but a reasonable hand and deft touch would be indistinquishable from original factory work.

Not so. Kahr keeps a record of everything that is done to the gun when returned for service. All that Kahr would have to do is check the service record to know that they didn't perform the rampectomy. The people at kahr service aren't stupid.

[muggsy]

Almost every one of my favorite handguns and carbines has benefitted from my Dremel work. I started working on cheap KelTec's that really needed the work and improved because of it. I wasn't too worried about screwing up because a replacement part was not expensive; even the whole gun could be replaced within my budget. I had grown tired of sending these guns back to the factory for simple work to get them to function and make them reliable. Eventually I just gave up on the brand entirely.

I have returned many guns to the factory for them to do warranty work or work that I choose not to do.

However, I took those skills I developed on those cheaper guns and started working on my Kahrs and Berettas and then some carbines to polish various different parts and make adjustments on others. One of my most common adjustments is to work on a slide release so that it releases on the hard insertion of a magazine. I've done this on a dozen or more pistols.

I am not a gunsmith, metal worker or mechanic. I am a home hack, self and internet taught. I have not ruined anything I couldn't fix using my Dremel, files, wet/dry sandpaper, belt sander, stones or anything else. I have made my guns function the way I want them to. They are more reliable. They are easier to shoot and in many cases they look a lot better. I have done trigger jobs, slide melting, rampectomies, installed different sights, reprofiled bolt handles, adjusted safeties and slide releases, and generally polished every piece of metal that slides against another piece of metal wherever it may be in the gun. Doing such work gives me a pride of ownership and involvement with my weapons that is invaluable to me. If I ever screw up and have to replace a part, or even the whole gun, I figure I'm already way ahead with what I've $aved and in the satisfaction I get from doing this work.

When I was young and at a boarding school I used to cut hair for some pocket change. I learned that you could always take more off, but you couldn't put it back. I just follow that same rule whenever I work with metal.

A person of average intelligence with some decent tools, including a Dremel, and reasonable mechanical skills can work on his own guns and not destroy them and not void warranties and not cause the problems that some posters think are just so terrible and happen all the time.

Sure there are a few idiots out there who ruin guns. Walking through a gun show will reveal the work product of many of these home hacks. They are easily identifiable and sometimes a real bargain to pick up and then fix. At the very least they are fun to look at and try to conjure up what was going through the individual's brain when he did that work the way he did. It's kind of fun.

Bottom line: If you are interested in trying to do this type of work yourself, go buy a cheap screwed up gun at a pawnshop or gun show. Buy a Dremel, some files, some 400 and 800 grit wet dry sandpaper and go to town! Have some fun. Learn something. If you screw it up even worse, and find that this is not where your talents lie, give it up. However you may just find some real satisfaction in working on your own guns.

I'll bet you'd even try to remove you own appendix with that Dremel, CB3. You da man. It's a wise man who knows his limitations.

[CJB]

I serisouly doubt they keep records on hand fitment during initial assembly - and since some have obvious signs of fitment... they do it to at least some pistols. And the real over ridiing factor is can Kahr connect the dots of a well done rampectomy to some other issue that may occur later. They'd have to demonstrate that work similar to what they themselves would perform caused the other problem.

[Hawkeye911]

I don't know whether this will help the conversation, but I found it interesting:

I bought a CM9 about 6 weeks ago, and became so impressed with it that I also picked up a CW380 when I found one for a really good price. I am just finishing up the 200 round break in period with both pistols, but have had a single stovepipe jam with each gun. The 9mm, it was the first shot. The 380, shot #8. Both all my magazine followers remain intact.

On a whim, I locked the slide back on each pistol with an empty mag, then dropped the magazines to move the followers as close as possible to contact with the feed ramps. Peeking in with a flashlight, it looked like the CM9 had about a 1/8" gap. The CW380 looks like it has a great deal more free space... about 3/8" to my eye. By comparison, the gap looks cavernous, but so far both pistols shoot GREAT!

I thought that might be worthwhile data to add to what has been discussed here...

[gb6491]

As the term "Rampectomy" is generally considered to have originated in regards to Kel-Tec pistols, some might find this of interest:
http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/smiley.htm
Regards,
Greg