Glock guiderod question...

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TheProf

Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2009
Messages
723
I had a guide rod assembly failure in my Glock 27. This was after about 5,000 rounds.....so I am not too upset.

The staff at the gun shop knows I'm a regular...so when I showed him what happened, he simply replaced the guide rod spring assembly for free.

He made up a story about "finding one laying around" in the back room. It seems brand new. (so...i'm a happy customer)

But....he made a comment that the slide seemed a spring action (when racking the slide) may be too stiff and that if it did not work he would have to order a new one. (There was a hint in his voice that this was not the exact replacement...but would do anyways...)

Now....here is my concern.

My G27 is a gen 3. The spring assembly looks like SS Captured Guide Rod Assembly Compact (SSGR-C). It looks slightly different from my gen 3 guide rod. There is now a stainless steel sleeve under the larger spring coil. I'm guessing it may be for the gen 4 model (Glock 27)

I test fired 10 rounds before leaving the store using the "free" guiderod...... no problems.

But is this the correct guide rod? Will I encounter problems? It fits my gun...but the spring is a little tougher. I'm assuming the only side effect of this would be reduced felt recoil. Would there be any other issue?

Since I was in a hurry to leave due to time.... I couldn't really ask him too many questions. Plus...it's free. I didn't want to seem ungrateful.

Looks like this:
 
Last edited:
Don't know the answer to the question. Glock makes changes in parts periodically so the way it looks may have nothing to do with the way it functions.

I do not use Glock's captured guide rods at all. Their design looks just plain fragile. I switched to Wolff non-captured guide rods with Wolff springs years ago on all my Glocks and I've been totally happy with them. They function perfectly in 2nd and 3rd Gen G19s, and in 3rd Gen G26 and G30.

Recoil springs are consumable parts and must be changed occasionally. With Glock's system, the guide rods are also consumable.
 
What youre describing sounds like an aftermarket part.

Glock guide rods are plastic and cheap, although the compacts are the more expensive of the bunch.

Best to have a couple on hand, just in case. They do need changed on a somewhat regular basis if your shooting the gun a lot. I change mine out about twice a year in the guns I do shoot on a regular basis.

Top Gun usually has factory Glock parts in stock and delivers them quick.....

http://www.topgunsupply.com/glock-recoil-spring-assembly-g26-g27-g33.html
 
Hey Prof., if they gave you a replacement, hopefully it is the correct part. My concern would be to check your slide and four movement points for stress.
 
With two springs and rods telescoping inside of each other very fast, there is more to go wrong. I am not surprised it would break eventually. The cost is low enough that you can afford to keep spares. On my personal G19, the original spring and rod (one piece) doesn't show even a hint of wear after multiple thousands of rounds. This is something to think about when considering the smallest handgun possible for self defense.
 
Since I'm a big Glock fan... I'm assuming Glock guide rod spring assemblies are most reliable (although cheap)...... or is there an aftermarket replacement that is generally accepted (even by Glock fanboys) to be superior than the original parts?
 
Do yourself a favor and get the Wolff Gunspring guide rod for your G27 (Wolff part No. 50810). It's a dual spring set-up like the factory rod except it's uncaptured. It cost about 30 bucks & replacement springs for it are about 8 bucks.
THE wolff unit is on the right alongside a factory RSA

P1010193.jpg


Here it is installed in the gun.
P1010196.jpg
 
Educate me on the replacement guiderod spring assembly. What would the advantage be for the Wolf "uncaptured" spring?

Is there a consensus among Glock users that this is superior?
(I'm asking because if it is..... then I am switching to that.)
 
The Gen4 G27 guide rod is the same one used in Gen3, there aren't any differences that I know of.

Does it look like a Gen4 guide rod?http://media.photobucket.com/image/gen4 guide rod/Engineer303/ammo_and_guns/G17Gen4Spring2.jpg

Or does it look aftermarket? The advantage that the aftermarket assemblies offer is two-fold. First you can change spring weights, and second this won't happen to you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiLr7kvR-lo

The spring weight for the factory G27 guide rod is 16lbs which I think is actually a little light for .40SW. If the guide rod he gave you has a 17lbs or 18lbs weight it should work fine.
 
"What would the advantage be for the Wolf "uncaptured" spring? Is there a consensus among Glock users that this is superior? (I'm asking because if it is..... then I am switching to that.)"

You won't find a consensus on anything among Glock users. I personally prefer the Wolff non-captured rod/spring system over Glock's captured design.

Originally Glock used non-captured spring guide rods. My first Glock (bought in 1990) used the non-captured system. I like it for its simplicity. There's nothing there but loose springs and rods. No extra parts to hold things together. They don't need anything to hold them together anyway--once the guide rod and recoil springs are in the gun, the gun holds them together. Plus, when the time comes to change the springs all you have to do is change out the springs, not the whole unit. You can even change spring weights to compensate for lower or heavier powered ammunition.

Glock's captured system is more "fool-proof" in that it's designed to prevent someone from launching the spring across the room should they lose control of it during the process of changing it. But you hear about these rods coming apart relatively often. Well, "often" compared to anything else you hear about that breaks on a Glock.

Personally, I'll take simplicity and reliability of the Wolff system over the slightly easier field-stripping the Glock system offers.

Died in the wool Glockophiles stick with all Glock parts in their guns but I'm more interested in the gun working well for me. I might have to depend on it someday to make it until the next day.
 
I am guessing it is a current production RSA (recoil spring assembly). You should notice a fairly distinct difference in "stiffness" between a new RSA and an RSA with 5k rounds on it. Glock recommends replacing them at 3K.
 
I use 20# Wolff units in all of my 10mm and 40 Glocks. Been doing it this way for the last 12 of 18 years I've been shooting Glock pistols. I've tried 22# and 24# also and find 20# to be ideal. The only Glocks that are sprung properly are the 9mm's. They got it right the first time but if they were'nt so cheap, the other caliber pistols would be sprung correctly also.
 
TheProf said:
Educate me on the replacement guiderod spring assembly. What would the advantage be for the Wolf "uncaptured" spring?
Click to expand...

A factory RSA costs $18 or so to replace when you wear it out. Replacement springs for the Wolff unit cost $8 plus you have the option of changing the spring weight to suit your loads and comfort level.
 
Replacing the plastic guide rod with an aftermarket metal one is a common aftermarket upgrade. Glock uses plastic there because its cheaper to produce - don't be in a hurry to rip out that stainless part and throw another plastic one back in :D.

If you're unsure of what he put in (which it's probably fine) then I'd opt for another aftermarket one. I've used Wolf's guiderods in an M&P and they work absolutely fine. Better than factory in my case.
 
The Wolff system is superior because you can swap out different weight springs and when you need to replace the springs, they are cheaper than the entire assembly. Also, I think they are more durable. The original Glocks had non-captured springs, too, so the design difference isn't an issue.
 
stick to stock. for the g27, they're steel, captured, and the factory spring weight used will feed anything. they're only like $12 too. when you switch to aftermarket springs with glocks you greatly increase your chances of problems.
 
Apocalypse-Now said:
stick to stock. for the g27, they're steel, captured, and the factory spring weight used will feed anything. they're only like $12 too. when you switch to aftermarket springs with glocks you greatly increase your chances of problems.
Click to expand...

Yes, they're captured, no, they're part steel, part plastic. They cost about $17-$18 depending where you get them. The aftermarket Wolff recoil spring assembly works in exactly the same way a factory RSA does and will actually decrease the chance of problems because it can't break like the factory unit can. The only down side is that they're not legal in GSSF competition.
 
ElrodCod said:
Yes, they're captured, no, they're part steel, part plastic.
Click to expand...

what part is plastic? :confused: the rods are steel, as are the springs. not to mention there's been no consistent issues with them in the many years they've been on the market. :cool:



They cost about $17-$18 depending where you get them
Click to expand...

that's the price for folks that don't know how to shop ;)

i've never paid more than $11-$13 for mine. 99% of the time i pay $11.
 
Last edited:
Apocalypse-Now said:
what part is plastic? the rods are steel, as are the springs. not to mention there's been no consistent issues with them in the many years they've been on the market.
Click to expand...

The spring retainer is plastic & it doesn't always work. The spring popped off of the one I have in my hand right now. Failures are more common than you think. Did you watch the video in post #11? Another weak spot on the factory RSA is the cheesy rivited flange.

that's the price for folks that don't know how to shop

i've never paid more than $11-$13 for mine. 99% of the time i pay $11.
Click to expand...

Are you gonna say where or are you just blowing smoke?
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Bowed SW99 Guide Rod
Replies
6
Views
1K
Handguns: Autoloaders
Storm
S
Fine Figure of a Man
  • Locked
Lone Wolf 357 Sig barrel for Glock 22
Replies
1
Views
659
Handguns: Autoloaders
Fine Figure of a Man
Fine Figure of a Man
P
  • Locked
Glock Extractor Spring Assembly.
Replies
4
Views
821
Handguns: Autoloaders
Captains1911
C
T
  • Locked
Glock 34. Factory guide rod or 3rd gen stainless
Replies
2
Views
389
Handguns: Autoloaders
gunnutery
G
I
  • Locked
Kimber Pro guide rod disassembly
Replies
6
Views
1K
Handguns: Autoloaders
Walkalong
Walkalong
Top Bottom
Back