Full-length guide rods in 1911s

[TheFrontRange]

What are the advantages and/or disadvantages in having a full-length guide rod in a 1911?

 

[10-Ring]

Go try a search over on TFL, this subject was discussed. IMHO, really depends on who you ask & what you're trying to accomplish. I've had 2 1911's one w/ & one w/o. I never noticed much difference.

 

[TheFrontRange]

No problem...what is the old TFL address? Or are threads from there stored here?

Just more a curiosity about the guide rods than anything else. I've only owned a few 1911s and use them as both CCW and fun-shooting pieces. My Kimber's the first one I've owned with the full-length rod, none of the others had it...and as you say, I didn't notice any real difference performance-wise, either.

 

[Pilot]

In my experience, they don't make much difference. If you want to add a little weight in the muzzle, then its probably a good ideas.

 

[10-Ring]

http://thefiringline.com/forums/

Sorry I didn't include it earlier.

 

[TheFrontRange]

Cool! I came around after the TFL days, so this'll be fun to see the site that seems to have started it all!

 

[jsalcedo]

When I installed the full length guide rod.
My groups shrank by about 30%
Reliability improved too but I'm not sure if it was a coincidence.

The only annoying thing is having to use a allen wrench for dissassembly.

 

[TheFrontRange]

Yep, jsalcedo, I agree on the wrench issue...gave me one more small accessory to buy multiples of in case the original barrel bushing wrench that came with my Kimber got lost hahaha!!! I found some simple polymer ones at a recent gun show and bought a few "just in case."

 

[Pilot]

TheFrontrange wrote:

"The sea was angry that day, my friends...like an old man in a deli trying to send back soup." - George Costanza

LOL!

"No soup for you, Next!"

The Soup Nazi

 

[AK103K]

I have a Springfield Loaded that came with one. Now that I have replaced it with a standard plug and spring it's much more reliable. Before I changed it out, it was very unreliable. Then again, this wasnt the guns only problem, just one of them.This is the first and only 1911 I have that had one of the full length rods. I'm not real impressed with it and dont like not being able to "press check" the pistol either. Then again, I like my 1911's to rattle when shook and go bang every time rather than shoot 1" groups at 50 yards and have to help them to do it more than once by themselves.

 

[Sean Smith]

If you use one, go with a solid one-piece unit. The two-piece ones like Springfield puts in their guns can sometimes cause problems, like unscrewing while shooting and getting launched downrange. I've had several 1 piece guide rods and they never caused me any hassles. If the gun is loose, they will indeed make it rattle around a bit less for some reason. Not terribly important, just an observation.

 

[bountyhunter]

Solid Rod

If you have a 5" 1911 with a solid FLGR, you can drill a take down hole in the rod and use a small wire tool to remove and install the rod, spring, and reverse bushing as a captive assembly. You never have to fight with the recoil spring or use a bushing wrench. This subject was covered in depth on the 1911 Forum:

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9280&highlight=guide+rod

This thread explains how to do it.

 

[Dave P]

bountyhunter has it right - drill a small hole and, Viola! No tools required! OK, I use a bent paperclip ...

 

[TheFrontRange]

I appreciate all this input...I've never heard of this take-down hole procedure before, that sounds pretty cool.

And, I have to say to Pilot:

"No soup for you, Next!"

Woo-hoo, somebody finally remarked on my "Seinfeld" signature line!!! I LOVE the "Soup Nazi" episode!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

A FLGR should have zero impact on the reliability of the gun unless you have a bad recoil spring that is kinking and that therefore seems to interfere with movement of the slide.

FLGRs, especially tungsten, are fine for adding muzzle weight. That helps to keep felt recoil down. Some people don't notice a difference, others do. I have shot the same loads from my gun using a standard recoil setup and then immediately changing to a tungsten FLGR. There is a definite difference, but the real difference comes in making quick follow-up shots and that is where the FLGR weight helps the most.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

bountyhunter has it right - drill a small hole and, Viola! No tools required! OK, I use a bent paperclip ...

So do I. Actually Centaur Systems, the manufacturer of my compensator gives instructions on how to make the tools out of a paperclip. Hell, I made several.

 

[bountyhunter]

The funny thing is, I saw a reference to the 1911 guide rod "takedown hole" in a manual on a gun made about 60 years ago. It's not a new idea, but very few people know about it. The STI guns all come with the hole, but oddly enogh, they aren't aware that you can make a paper clip tool and reach in from the muzzle end (with the slide back) and capture the assembly before you ever remove the slide stop. The STI take down instructions say to take the slide off, then try to compress the rod into the bushing and stick in the tool.

This makes assemble so easy, I always post it on web sites. Most of the reactions are rather odd. A lot of people don't believe it, most are not interested. And some say it is unmanly... that cramming the spring back in the front is a macho thing. Personally, I was never fond of the forehead imprint from the reverse bushing.