1911 Guide Rod Replacement Questions

[TheFrontRange]

I have a Kimber Custom with the factory standard full-length guide rod. When the time comes for recoil spring replacement, would I gain (or lose) anything appreciably by switching over to a standard-length guide rod at the same time?

In making the switch I figure I'd need the new guide rod, a new recoil spring plug, and a new spring. I'm guessing my existing barrel bushing would still work. What size/weight spring would I need to switch to? (Heck, I must confess, I don't even know the poundage of my current spring! It's whatever came new on the gun 1,400 or so rounds ago.)

All this said, my Kimber works well in its current guise...I know that old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I guess I'm just looking for something that might be within reach of my very, VERY limited "gunsmithing" abilities LOL!

 

[Tamara]

I'm ditching the FLGR on my current Kimber in favor of a stubby GI one. IMO, a FLGR doesn't really add anything on a CCW gun and subtracts from its utility.

 

[TheFrontRange]

I'm ditching the FLGR on my current Kimber in favor of a stubby GI one.

Tamara, what brand of new parts are you using for the conversion? And, was I including everything one would need to make the switch (new spring and plug in addition to the new guide rod)?

Also, what model Kimber are you making this change on? Just curious...mine is a five-inch Custom.

Thanks!

 

[Al Thompson]

I did the same on mine a year or so ago. No adverse effects. I used a local outfits parts, but (IMHO) Wilson has good stuff.

 

[Tamara]

Tamara, what brand of new parts are you using for the conversion? And, was I including everything one would need to make the switch (new spring and plug in addition to the new guide rod)?

I dunno what brand; whatever my 'smith scared up for me. Yup, all you need is a stubby guide rod and plug (and a spring if you feel like it). Actually, most FLGR spring retainers will work with a stubby GI guide rod, but your gun will look like it's a .45/.32 over-and-under.

Also, what model Kimber are you making this change on? Just curious...mine is a five-inch Custom.

Also a five inch custom; an old Clackamas gun.

 

[BigG]

NOTE: if it's a two piece FLGR, remember to unscrew it before you throw it into two different parts of the lake.

 

[45auto]

I believe Ed Brown sells the parts that you want.
Of course, the Brownells catalog will probably give you more choices.

Spring weight depends on your load, but a 16lb is a pretty safe bet for hardball and lower( reasonably).
I don't know what Kimber uses as a standard, but you have time with only 1400 rounds on the spring.

 

[Steve Smith]

The first thing I did to my latest Spriingfield was to remove the FLGR and put in a stubby. Field maintenance is a good thing.

 

[E357]

I think you want to hear about the springs and plug. I believe your will still work, but you might want to get a standard plug so you won't see the little hole in the front. Someboby please correct me as I don't have any "normal" 1911's. For normal loads most people use about 16.5 springs.

Elliot

 

[Kruzr]

A gov't size Kimber has a 16# factory spring in it. Changing out the guide rod won't affect the spring rating.

 

[BigG]

Doesn't a Kimber have the non-standard Blunderbuss bbl sans bushing?

 

[popeye]

Only the Kimbers shorter than 5" have bushingless system. I.E. Compact. Once you remove G.R. front cocking serrations are not only ugly but super-floo-us.

 

[BigG]

Boy, I swore TaxPhD had a 5" Kimmy with a blunderbuss bushingless lockup.

 

[popeye]

BigG.......you could be right, Kimber has more models than Carter had pills.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Full length guide rods - well, they made $ for some folks.

 

[Gunfyter]

Ok, I too have a Kimber 5". Just for the sake of argument, why do away with the rod? What does a short rod do that the long one won't? Or, was the FLRG the answer to a nonexistant problem?

 

[Steve Smith]

I just don't like having to have a tool to dissasemble the gun.

 

[Tamara]

Full length guide rods aid in extraction and feeding...


...extraction of money from your bank account and feeding it into the account of the person selling the FLGR.


I don't mind 'em on purely target/range guns; there's one in my Les Baer. I won't have one in a CCW piece, however, as they add nothing to a fighting handgun and detract from your ability to rack the gun on any convenient edge or corner. The fact that serious fighting 1911's like the Baer TRS, Wilson CQB and Springfield Pro don't have full length guide rods is, perhaps, significant.

 

[Sean Smith]

I won't have one in a CCW piece, however, as they add nothing to a fighting handgun and detract from your ability to rack the gun on eny convenient edge or corner.

You know, it occurs to me that the trendy Novak (or equivalent ripoff) rear sights on those guns are a "tactical" handicap, because you can't use them to rack the gun by hooking them on something like you could with 1911 sights that aren't made just to look cool. In that light, the ever-lovin' Novak sights are just as "un-tactical" as a FLGR is.

If you obsess of that kind of stuff, the Trijicon 1911 rear sight or the Yost/Robar style rear sight would be more "tactical," and still allow the rear-sight-racking drill (and a better sight picture than the teeny traditional 1911 sights...)

Personally, I don't care about any of the above.

 

[TheFrontRange]

I just don't like having to have a tool to dissasemble the gun.

A huge "thank you" to all who replied to my questions here...and I agree with Steve Smith's remark above...I find myself making sure I have a barrel bushing wrench EVERYWHERE right now hahaha...and for some reason it took me two or three gun shows to even find somebody local who carried the darn things in the first place!

 

[sm]

I'm with Tamara , I agree 100%

I have just dug into my gunsmith's whatnot box and grabbed the stubby and stuff and replace mine to GI set up. My Kimber had a 16#, I replaced with a 18.5# from Wolff.

I may have one with a FLGR, I think I used it to show students the difference. I need to check on that one--it feels left out I bet.

 

[Southern Raider]

I just don't like having to have a tool to dissasemble the gun.

If made in reference to the two piece guide rod, I have to agree. These have no place on a defensive sidearm and are a PITA on a target weapon.

For the one piece guide rod, just eject the mag and use the tip of the floorplate to push down on the plug. Yeah, it's a "tool", but it's one that generally can be found with the rest of the gun.

 

[Sean Smith]

For the one piece guide rod, just eject the mag and use the tip of the floorplate to push down on the plug. Yeah, it's a "tool", but it's one that generally can be found with the rest of the gun.

But wait! A FLGR isn't tactical because... uh... somebody said so, and Novaks are tactical because... uh... somebody said so...

 

[dleong]

Tacticality

But wait! A FLGR isn't tactical because... uh... somebody said so, and Novaks are tactical because... uh... somebody said so...

A FLGR isn't considered tactical unless it is painted black. More tactical points if it is flat black as opposed to a glossy black.

DL

 

[TheFrontRange]

For the one piece guide rod, just eject the mag and use the tip of the floorplate to push down on the plug. Yeah, it's a "tool", but it's one that generally can be found with the rest of the gun.

Thanks for the tip, Southern Raider...I'll be giving this a try!