Why are semi / custom 1911’s so expensive ?

[acaligunner]

Yes, exactly THIS.
For any 1911, IMO that means 100% function with quality 230 grain ball ammunition. Beyond that it’s a crap shoot. It’s nice when you get one that works well with other bullet profiles, and now that is mostly the case, but it is not absolute. The second major reliability issue I’ve found has to do with magazines. Some run better with one brand over others.

I started ( basically) with mil spec 1911’s.
In fact in the box of the auto ordinance 1911 - there was paperwork that stated “ it is recommended that you use only fmj ( ball ) ammo, it is not recommended to use Hollowpoint ammo.

I took a couple of 1911’s to be worked by king and hoag gunsmiths because I wanted to use the 200 gr “ flying ashtray “ hp - and super vel hp ammo.

I asked the above smiths to throat and polish the feed ramps.

I also believe the 1911 may have had difficulty because JMB created the 1911 to use only ball ammo ( don’t believe HP’s were available at that time ). Also the over all length of ball / HP’s is a bit different ( again if I remember right).

During the late 80’s / early 90’s Glock pistols had just entered the gun scene and what turned me on to them was Glocks ability to use SD modern HP’s, their lightweight ( carried an all steel 5” 1911 for years ) , and the Glocks capacity, I then went into H&K’s for the same reasons.

But I still love me some 1911’s and 45acp !

[walmart_ar15]

I thought that ramp barrels were more for the 9mm - 1911’s

Nah, if you want to shoot bullet with profiles other than 230 ball, then ramp barrels is the way to go. Otherwise, people have "polish", "throat" the barrel to force the fit. All that does is remove case support in the chamber. Sure, some works fine but are very finicky. The reason is when JB designed 1911, the feed dimension was carefully matched to the ball ammo. The entire bullet during the feed cycle is supported at 3 contact points until it is aligned to the chamber. Different bullet profile mess with the contacting points, thus causing jams. Ramped barrel feed the bullet off the ramp, thus exact bullet profile is no longer relevant.

Modern 45 hollow points some have the same profile as 230 ball. Those works fine in any properly fitted 1911 without ramp barrel.