1911 accurizing guide rod question

[birdog4549]

It's been a while but about 25 years ago there was an after market guide rod replacement for 1911's. you could get either the full length or normal short one but they had a flat spring in the end and a replacement link with a flat spot that the flat spring would lift when the 1911 would return to battery after firing a shot. the idea was to "lock" the barrel up in the slide to provide better accuracy and repeatability. it worked well in my opinion but now I can't find them and can't find any id on mine to track it back with. Can anyone tell me if they are still around or obsolete? It was a poor man's accurizer!

I found them! it is called a Dwyer "Group Gripper" and you can get them at Brownells. I can attest that they work but you will need to adjust the rear sight.

 

[Drail]

I used to sell and install a bunch of those. They DO make a difference on a gun that has a bushing/barrel fit that is not "terribly" loose. Some adjustment on the link will be necessary on some guns if the slide hangs back out of battery a tiny bit. (comes with instructions showing where to file). I bought my wife a SA Mil-spec back in the dark ages and didn't want to spend money for a real match fit barrel and that gun shoots very small groups still. The Group gripper will never be a match for a hard fit barrel but it will usually tighten up a stock production gun considerably especially if also you fit a bushing to the slide and bbl. Springfield barrels are actually pretty accurate (even the two piece ones) but they often are fit with quite a bit of slop in a lot of the Mil specs. Snobs will often turn up their nose at a Group gripper gun - just don't tell them there is one in there! It was and still is a pretty good deal for someone on a budget.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Go to Brownell's.

 

[tark]

I've got a "group Gripper" on my 1911 and it seems to work well. As long as the bushing is reasonably tight, like Drail says. If I take it out and put a regular rod and plug in the gun my 25 yard groups double in size. As a quick, cheap and easy way to improve a 1911s accuracy, I think they are worth the money.

 

[birdog4549]

barrel bushing

Fortunately I did replace the barrel bushing so I have a solid fit with the slide and minimal clearance between barrel and bushing. I built the gun for some USPSA shooting indoors and it worked great. Recently I am using it for some informal "bullseye" shooting at 50 ft. and, if I could do it, the gun would keep them in the black. Thanks, Mike

 

[Drail]

Yup, you always have to factor in "If I could do it" the gun will. Some days the magic works and some days it doesn't. A lot of guys will have a bad session or two and immediately think - what's wrong with my gun? Nothing. You just ain't got your mind "right". I have owned and seen Mil-specs with just a new bushing and a group gripper shoot some pretty amazing targets - by hand or with a Ransom Rest. The spring inside those things is HEAVY DUTY. It may not shove the barrel up where you want it but it shoves it back to the exact same place every time. If the sights have enough adjustment you can dial them in pretty easily. I still have two of them and they'll outshoot me most days.