Is one better than the other? What's the difference? Inadequate knowledge about these feed ramps can lead to lots of problems with barrels because they are essential parts to guide the bullet up and into the chamber. The mil actually only specs M4 feed ramps for use in its M4s. Thats an important thing since without the feed ramps, issues can arise when receivers and barrel extensions are mismatched. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Not all mil-spec features advertised on the product information are the real mil-specs. It's not worth changing the barrel extension on an already finished barrel, getting the new barrel extension to line up correctly with the gas port will probably cost more in gunsmithing/machining fees than buying a new barrel. I built the upper using a Mega upper with a Compass Lake 18" barrel. M4 feed ramps are not an original design, they were designed for the M4 In fact, the . I don't have much to add re: feed ramps, but. The closest brand new barrel you are likely to find is the Windham Weaponry 20 inch 1/7 twist chrome lined barrel. /r/ar15 is here for your favorite black gun links, build pics, questions and other tactical or practical information. The Bullet ~ Handguns, Rifles and Shotguns, http://thearguys.com/ar-facts/m4-feed-ramps/. Go back to writing school. I've modified barrel/receivers even before M4 cuts came out and done some receivers when the barrels had cuts. I recently built an AR9 (Glock Mags) that has been running flawlessly for about 3-400rds. They offer a lower, more extensive, and smoother entry for any round of ammo, whether its necessary or not. Its highly recommended to put any AR-platform firearm together with a matching M4 barrel extension and upper receiver set. It is milled out of 6061 T6. My factory JP CTR-02 has the appearance of the bottom right picture in the post above, M4 barrel extension in a rifle receiver, and there is not a mark on the aluminum under the barrel extension. You absolutely do not want it the other way around however. Backing up a ton: Any and all AR-15 barrel extensions have feed ramps. You need to match up barrels to receivers for optimum performance. An older-version (or A2-style) feed ramp is cut only on the barrel extension itself (top). AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. Upper Receiver, A4, Flat Top, USGI, Numbered, AR-Stoner Upper Receiver Stripped AR-15 A3 Flat-Top Matte, Black River Tactical 16 Cold Hammer Forged Optimum Barrel Accuracy Evaluation. And that the M4s and M4A1s are issued M855 which has a slight difference in bullet shape vs. the older 55gr M193 BALL. Another reason is that any commercial receiver and parts makers want to tool up to make upper receivers and barrel extensions, especially when shorter guns are becoming more popular. Ok, So, in short, I've got a barrel on my Armalite upper (with M4 feed ramps in the upper) that has standard AR-15 (non-M4) ramps. Metal cases ammunition such as Wolf through an M4 clone? The rifle receiver, doesn't have ramps on the receiver, they are only cut into the barrel. Factory said its fine . Insert the barrel and sharpie the cut area, then use the right bit on a dremel. I have a non ramped barrel in a ramped upper, feeds fine. However, its rare now to find an upper receiver or a ready-to-go barrel that doesnt have the M4 cuts. Interesting reading. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. I will check with compass lake. If it was some flat top + 16" FSB barrel id just swap upper/barrel, but this is a little more challenging to do that with. I have a 723 build (w/ C7 upper) and a 727 build (A2 upper) that use 14.5" Colt M4 barrels. Read Now. Barrel is medium SPR profiled barrel, threaded with a 1/2-28 thread for the AE brakes and collar. M4A1s run at 950 rounds per minute in full auto and even 950+ rounds per minute as the gas port erodes open bigger and bigger with wear and allows them to run even faster and much more violent. Mind shooting me a link where I can pick on a C marked A1 carry handle for $150? I'm lookin for a clear definition as to what they are, and what they do to enhance a given rifle's performance? Given that most of us dont always have perfect access to truly genuine Mil-Spec, mil-standard parts (those actually used in issued fighting tools), were shopping based on a little part trust and a bigger part knowledge. Upload or insert images from URL. Most of barrel assemblies and upper receivers on the market now have a present of M4 feed ramps. So I called. Looking to spend $180-250 (depending on condition, forge mark and if a rear sight is included or not.) I recommend putting any AR-platform firearm together with a matched M4 barrel extension and upper receiver set, just because you can. Was sort of worried about how it would run with an 11.5" barrel and mismatched ramps, but it sounds like it should be good to go either way. Both. These Mil-Spec M4 feed ramps are part of the original CNC manufacturing process. Reliability is the main concern for me when I re-barrel this rifle. Either way is good and both types work great with semi auto only guns. from my service in the 70s to my personal weapons, all of my ARs are early 1970 slab sided Colt SP1s. Somwhere in the 1990s I believe, Colt designed the M4 feed ramps, where they took some of the material out of the upper receiver, cut two little ramps in it and then cut the ramps in the barrel extention a little further forward. I'd rather just pay the gunsmith to make it work than hunt down another barrel/upper if possible. The M-16/M4 are great weapons. Press J to jump to the feed. I read in Bravo company that there are 2 kinds of flat top upper. Lol. Feels like a silly question now that it makes sense. However, an M4 barrel extension is dished more so the feed ramps could extend downward, and then an area within the upper is shaped to match. Dec 17, 2020. The first reason is that they are, indeed, better. M4 feed ramps were created during the development of the xM4 carbine for the original Army requirement of a carbine rifle that used the then current M16A2 upper receiver, 14.5" Barrel and had featured a collapsible sliding stock. Its a miracle! Description. Guess what? All we do is dremmel it to match - we dont remove it and grind to any specific angle. CARBON-15 Stripped Lower Receiver Moreover, telling someone that an extension can be modified, while not a lie, is nothing more than mental masturbation when your post contains a caveat for having the knowledge and proper tools. Also, barrel life is relative. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. True, which is why they're not even needed in semi autos. The leading cause that leads to the development of the M4 feed ramp is the gas pressure from the carbine gas system that is increasing along with a high cyclic rate. Its not a big deal but still an important thing to remember and understand. I wont buy a barrel that isnt a wylde 223 556 but Im only now noticing. AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. You have the option of barrel type, thread, fluting, finish type and to add a match bolt. Higher pressure equte to parts (bcg, buffer, buffer spring, ROUNDS, etc) experiencing much higher wear/tear. This includes M4 feed ramps, barrel nut, front sight tower and sight post, and -28 threads for a muzzle device. It's best to use rifle/rifle combo or M4/M4. So I'm working on my first build, and I'm a little confused. I didnt think anything about it having M4 feed ramps. If a barrel comes with the feed ramps could I take them off? If you consider this article useful, share it with anyone in need! The Shooter's Log, is to provide informationnot opinionsto our customers and the shooting community. Your link has been automatically embedded. M4 feed ramps. My alternative plan is to do exactly as you describe. I should have taken my own advice for once. No feed ramps. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. Product Description Surplus Colt 14.5" SOCOM, carbine length gas system barrel from Colt. Paste as plain text instead, If you have a bolt that you would like to use you are welcome to ship it to us for accurate headspace. You CAN modify a rifle/A2 barrel extension to an M4 style extension, but it isn't always the best way to go unless you just have to do it. I checked what I have now. Add 3% to the total cost for credit card purchases. i have the rifle barrel. On the other hand, I wouldn't consider them as a deal breaker, and they would not pass up a good deal with an upper only because it did not have them - the M4 feed ramps. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. AR9 - Help diagnosing feeding issue. AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. Please allow 5~10 days for assembly and testing before ship date. That's an important thing since without the feed ramps, issues can arise when receivers and barrel extensions are mismatched. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Little polish. To measure just where the round makes impact on the feed ramps, I did not use any sort of micrometer to measure. The M4 ramps, if I am not mistaken, were originally made to help reduce malfunctions on the M4 carbine. May 17, 2008 in The Armorer. AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. Regular feed ramps are cuts into the barrel extension only, which allows guiding the round into the chamber during loading, making them a fundamental feature of many breech-loading firearm designs. I'd rather not spent the money to get it cut to the specific length I need, FSB installed, etc just to have it immediately not work and have to sort out then or start from square one with a new barrel. Some, me included, have said that the M4 ramps are a help to some of the larger-diameter cartridges in use, such as 6.5 Grendel or .22 Nosler. If this is your first visit, be sure to
Finding the proper upper receiver is your best option. April 23, 2014 in Rifle - Technical. I have looked and looked and looked. What is an m4 feed ramp? They guide the bullet up and into the chamber. Edited April 27, 2014 by Mark Gale There are now thousands of upper receivers and ready-to-use barrels that have the cuts of M4 feed ramps. Caught a deal on a matched barrel and bolt. The barrel extension and the receiver both have to have the cuts. Backing up a ton: The ramps on regular barrel extension are cut just to the edges, while the M4 feed ramps have deeper cuts in the M4-spec upper receiver. "C" stamp and CAGE code available. I picked up a side charging upper from Sundevil last year. Shorter length equates to much higher pressure in the upper receiver. Seems counter intuitive to recommend an M4 cut upper, especially if the barrel Im looking at has the rifle feed ramp (not M4 cut). Go slow and you'll be done in no time. Description Genuine 14.5" SOCOM, carbine length gas system barrel from Colt. Proper maintenance and lubrication. So, what youre saying is that an M16 upper (not M4 cut) will work with either barrel, but an M4 cut upper will only work with an M4 cut barrel. Some argue that, factually, its a step to enable a smoother feeding. The best case is to have both an upper and barrel that have the feed ramps. One of the AR15 engineers under Gene Stoner pretty much said that the M4 isn't a good platform, especially once the gas port erodes a bit. In general, all you need to understand is that the M4 feed ramps include the barrel extension and upper receiver. This Kit is made to cut or polish the STEEL Feed Ramps on your Barrel Extension ONLY. Press J to jump to the feed. With the bcg moving that much faster, the magazine springs were having a hard time supplying the rounds fast enough, AS WELL AS the tips of the rounds were digging into the feed ramps and catching. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. instead of mil-spec. It is removeable with a special wrench and a barrel clamp/vise. You also repeated yourself. Personally, I would sell the rifle upper and buy an M4 upper - the cost will be small and you will end up with a more satisfactory end product. Site towers are not "F" marked SPECS: Length- 14.5". Then you can get a regular rifle barrel for the upper with no ramps. It is a tightly machined and polished piece of metal which guides a cartridge from the top of the magazine into the firing chamber of the barrel. - The Shooter's Log, 2012 SHOT Show Special Report: Del-Ton TRX Rifle and More! The Mission of Cheaper Than Dirt! Use this M4 Barrel extention with M4 feedramps. I notice that's a Gibbz (or Gibbz-type) upper. While this gun is a more of novelty build than a "serious use" AR, I intend to use good parts and want it to run as well as my other ARs. 2. M4 ramps help in feeding in for carbine in full auto. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. For those who have actually done it will a new barrel with the M4 feed ramp extension function properly with an old school rifle-type upper receiver? You can modify the upper, but bear in mind that the un-anodized aluminum surface will be very soft and prone to wear if your particular bullet hits it frequently. An upper without feed ramps can be used with a barrel that has them as the majority of the ramp is on the barrel extension. I too built a .458 SOCOM carbine . It gives a longer ramp that is less steep into the chamber. So, an M4 feed ramp includes the barrel extension and the upper. i have an extra brand new M4 barrel extension ramp to replace a rifle ramp. Is getting it as part of the upper better? Notice how the ramp starts on the barrel extension and not in the receiver. They . The upper I want to rebarrel is modified for Service Rifle competition so it's not quite as cheap as buying another $89 upper from Aero. From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. The rifle-platform M16s dont use them. Get The Best Trigger Pull Gauges To Make Every Shot Count. I'll probably build a pistol out of this one. AAC and anybody else that has any reasonable expectation of quality and reliability use an M4 feed ramp. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I've seen that pic, it is a good reference. On AR9's, I understand the distance between the Mag Follower and the Feed Ramp is a known complication in the design. which is basicallly an m16a1 cut down. By The rifle receiver, doesn't have ramps on the receiver, they are only cut into the barrel. Semi autos run slower than full autos. For the purposes of this chapter, we'll call the new one the M4, and the old one the AR. Barrel customizations are also available. The M4 Style Feed ramps And Barrel Extension Provide Consistent Feeding And The Matte Black Manganese Phosphate Finish resists External Corrosion And OxidationLength: 14.70"Model: AR-15Finish: Manganese PhosphateBarrel Type: Carbine LengthBarrel Features: Chrome-LinedManufacturer: FN Mfg Number: 20-100405Model: AR-15 . Check often for fit. So the engineers lowered the feed rampa into the receiver. 2. Full M4 feed ramps are on both the upper and barrel extension. I didn't forsee that we'd ever see the day when replacement parts would be so hard to get. Some gun owners believe that the M4 ramps can help for some of the larger-diameter cartridges in use. With the increased use of larger-diameter cased cartridges, the M4 feed ramps are proving their values when using them in those cartridges. Amazing what happens in a thread over a simple question. Powered by Invision Community. Load a magazine with two or three rounds, lock the bolt group back on your rifle or carbine and insert the magazine. Ideally both. 16" Pre-Ban M4 Profile Barrel Assembly CARBINE Gas System About Upper assembly comes completely head spaced and test fired. America's Ultimate Shooting Sports Discounter, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). is the m4 feedramp common in barrel extensions? Your email address will not be published. I was planning on using a Daniel Defense 14.5 pencil barrel, because like the C8 they are CHF, lightweight profile, and .750 at the FSB (And also because quality carbine pencil barrels with .625 gas blocks seem to be in short supplyor else I'd just build a 723 clone.) . However, they do have M4 feed-ramps which is not clone correct. BUT, I DO NOT TRUST MY LIFE TO THAT WEAPON. DSA has fat top, Mueller, non feed ramp uppers for $40. If I was concerned with precision, I would seek out parts from well-known gun makers and customizers Baer comes to mind, Hart barrels, etc etc. Id just get one for that barrel and find a barrel with m4 extension for the upper you already have. Now, theres nothing wrong at all with a little polish on any and all feed ramps, which can not only be done fairly easily, it can be successfully done by most at home. The best case is to have both an upper and barrel that have the feed ramps. I would just make sure to order rifle upper with rifle barrel extension or M4 upper with M4 barrel extension. When you need to nail something you use a hammer not a wrench. 's blog. 3. Feed ramps on barrel extensions are a good example. Recommend using a gunsmith this route too if you are not comfortable. I'd get jams from bullets hitting the back of the upper so I took a small round file and made the M4 ramps in the upper. As they are becoming more and more a standard, and certainly do not do any harm to us. Its easier to add feed ramps to the receiver not so easy to add them to the barrel extension. This is one time it's better to go a little too far than to leave an edge for the . They are better! I'm planning on replacing my forearm with a Larue 13.5. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. BUT if you find someone to grind your feed ramps and they do a good job, post it up and let us know. You can run M4 cut barrels with rifle receivers, but not the other way around as it will create at catch that can hang up the bullets. Looking for a black stripped A1 upper with non m4 feed ramps (just realized the upper I have wont work with my barrel). SKU: BCM-URG-M4-16 Features: M4 Feed Ramp Barrel Extension Caliber: 5.56 NATO Barrel Length: 16in Barrel Style: Standard Handguard: None BCM M4 Handguards (Double Heat Shield) - Black + $15.00 PKMR (Polymer KeyMod Rail) Carbine Length - Black + $24.95 PKMR (Polymer KeyMod Rail) Carbine Length - Flat Dark Earth + $24.95 Stock Status: Out of stock Any body need a anchor for a very small boat? I wouldn't be concerned at all with any wear after modifying an upper receiver. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. UPPER RECEIVER: AR-15 Mil-Spec Machined out of 7075-T6 Forged Aluminum, M4 Feed Ramps, Cerakoted Magpul Flat Dark Earth (FDE) Color with Forward Assist and Ejection Port Cover Installed BARREL: 22 inch, 223 Wylde Caliber, 4150 CMV, 1:7 Twist, Heavy Bull Barrel Profile, Straight Fluted, Melonite/Nitride Finish - made for us by Tactical Kinetics HAND However Ive built numerous ar15 and lr308 rifles and pistols. It's best to use rifle/rifle combo or M4/M4. Will my A3 upper reciever work with my M4 barrel extention.According to some or your posts they will.Thanks Bill. I would only add the feed ramps to the receiver if I had feeding issues, which you should not have.