1911 Guide Rod wear

[Zendude]

I noticed some odd wear or damage on my 1911 guide rod. It’s a RIA 1911 and I switched the full length guide rod to a GI guide rod a while ago, because I find it easier to field strip.
The blue thing on it is a buffer from WC.
The gun cycles fine and haven’t had any malfunctions.
Does this just look like wear because it’s a cheap part (it was cheap) or does it indicate some other issue? Any recommendations for a better guide rod?

 

[drband]

Cheap part.

 

[nettlle]

Get rid of the buffer.
Get rid of the full length guide rod.

 

[tark]

Frogfurr nailed it. And buy a good G.I. guide rod. ( Or the equivalent. ) Problem solved. Full length guide rods are the solution to a non existent problem. The answer to a question that was never asked. Les hates the things. ( And so do a lot of others.) He hates buffers even more.

 

[Zendude]

getting rid of the full length guide rod was what I originally did. The damaged guide rod is a WC GI style guide rod that I have about 300 rounds on. Which guide rod is better? Colt? Ed Brown?

 

[nettlle]

I have a GI Colt guide rod with 27K+ rounds on it. I have always bought Wilson Bullet Proof 1911 replacement parts. No experience with Ed Brown parts.

Try it with out the buffer.

 

[jar]

The damage to the tip of the guide rod could most definitely be related to the buffer so as others have suggested, ditch the buffer first, touch up the scratching and see if things improve.

 

[Jim Watson]

Wilson is not GI, the OP's is or is closer. I don't know what it is knocking against in the recoil spring tunnel or plug. Look for corresponding whack marks.

 

[JTQ]

Wilson is not GI, the OP's is or is closer. I don't know what it is knocking against in the recoil spring tunnel or plug. Look for corresponding whack marks.

Thanks Jim.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

RE: field stripping -- have you tried just removing the slide assembly without messing with the bushing, by retracting the slide far enough to push out the slide stop? You'll need to control the recoil spring, but once it's no longer pressing on the bushing it's easier to manipulate the latter without tools.

The Star Modelo Super has a take-down lever that lets you do this maneuver more neatly, but it isn't that difficult with a USGI.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have two 1911’s with full length guide rods, both SA, and I HATE them. Give me a standard one any day of the week.

As for the battering, it looks like it’s either the spring chewing up the end as it coils over the guide rod tip under recoil and/or maybe the plug is contacting it as the spring reaches full compression. (Was the spring replaced when the rod was switched, maybe it was a pound or two lighter than standard with the FLGR?)

As @Jim Watson said, look for other marks that will show corresponding impacts (if there are any) and also get a higher quality part to replace the plug.

Stay safe.

 

[roval]

RE: field stripping -- have you tried just removing the slide assembly without messing with the bushing, retracting the slide far enough to push out the slide stop? You'll need to control the recoil spring, but once it's no longer pressing on the bushing it's easier to manipulate the latter without tools.

The Star Modelo Super has a take-down lever that lets you do this maneuver more neatly, but it isn't that difficult with a USGI.

that is how i remove my hard fit 1911s slide. the regular gi guide rod on one isn't a problem (LB premiere 2) but on one with a full length dust cover(heavyweight monolith), with a regular gi guide rod you have to lay the slide upside down whilst compressing the spring and the guide rod and finagle the frame onto it during reassembly. too difficult, anxiety inducing and lead to dinging the end of the dustcover. fixed the issue with a full length guide rod.

 

[LiveLife]

odd wear or damage on my 1911 guide rod. It’s a RIA 1911 and I switched the full length guide rod to a GI guide rod a while ago, because I find it easier to field strip.

The blue thing on it is a buffer from WC ... The gun cycles fine and haven’t had any malfunctions ... Any recommendations for a better guide rod?

If the wear you see is from recoil spring binding, replacement guide rod may wear the same.

Are you using the buffer because the slide is ramming the frame and muzzle is flipping? If so, do consider that recoil spring is consumable item that needs replacing. I use 18.5 lb Wilson Combat spring for factory/full power loads and 16.5 lb Wolff variable power spring for target loads and no need to use a buffer.

 

[Zendude]

If the wear you see is from recoil spring binding, replacement guide rod may wear the same.

Are you using the buffer because the slide is ramming the frame and muzzle is flipping? If so, do consider that recoil spring is consumable item that needs replacing. I use 18.5 lb Wilson Combat spring for factory/full power loads and 16.5 lb Wolff variable power spring for target loads and no need to use a buffer.

I put the buffer in just because I wanted to try it and see if it makes any difference in felt recoil. It makes a little difference but not a lot.

I replaced the spring with an 18 lb spring. From what I read, RIA uses 18.5 lb springs from the factory. I didn’t see any wear on the inside of the spring plug.

I’ll replace the guide rod and not use the buffer to see if that makes a difference. Maybe the buffer is taking up too much space on the guide rod and the spring is binding because it can’t stack up on the guide rod properly.

 

[drband]

16lb recoil spring and 23lb mainspring is an awfully good combination.

 

[doubleh]

I have two 1911’s with full length guide rods, both SA, and I HATE them.

I have only one and share your dislike.

 

[md7]

I have two 1911’s with full length guide rods, both SA, and I HATE them. Give me a standard one any day of the week.

As for the battering, it looks like it’s either the spring chewing up the end as it coils over the guide rod tip under recoil and/or maybe the plug is contacting it as the spring reaches full compression. (Was the spring replaced when the rod was switched, maybe it was a pound or two lighter than standard with the FLGR?)

As @Jim Watson said, look for other marks that will show corresponding impacts (if there are any) and also get a higher quality part to replace the plug.

Stay safe.

Also hate the flgr on my SA Loaded. Swapped that out to a standard GI and like it way better.

And i especially dislike the 2 piece rods SA uses.

 

[Riomouse911]

My V-16 .45 Super has a guide rod that is almost impossible to reassemble with just one person. Between wielding the fine blade screwdriver that is needed to fit the narrow slot at the muzzle end of the rod, to the uber-stiff recoil spring used in the factory .45 Super 1911 Longslide, I have strung together series after series of four letter words that haven’t ever been used together…usually half an hour passes before finally finding the sweet spot and getting that thing to cooperate.

The SA loaded .45 ACP uses a hex key and a lighter recoil spring than the V-16. It’s still a pain, but I am not conjuring up demons from the 7th layer of Hell trying to put that one together.

Stay safe.

 

[StrykerByte.45]

Get yourself a DPM Systems guide rod, thats a real upgrade.
I got one on my Glock 30S and its like having a buffer in a Glock which is impossible. I shoot 45super with just that guide rod alone and a factory strength recoil spring instead of adding a very stiff spring like everyone else does. The quality is just insane. I have other guide rods before, the DPM even makes Wolf Guide Rods seem like trash.