What are the different kinds of 1911 guide rods?

[TMiller556]

I've heard of full length, GI, standard, and two piece guide rods.. does anyone have a link that lists all of them? i would appreciate it. also, what makes the full length guide rod superior to the other ones and do some guide rods already have the recoil spring plug attached? i never understood this. thanks in advance.

 

[9mmepiphany]

There are only two basic guide rod

1. Full length - comes in one-piece and two-piece versions

2. Short - same as standard or G.I....the length used in the original design

The Full length guide rod is not superior to the short one in any application which uses a recoil spring plug retained by a barrel bushing...it just cost more

There are no guide rods, to my knowledge, that come with the plug attached, but there are different methods use to retain the front of the recoil spring.

 

[LiveLife]

To expand the full-length guide rod, there are also recoil reducing types:

- Dual-spring set up like Springco

- Mercury filled with ball bearings like Harrt's (no longer in production)

- Captured spring set up like Wilson Heavy Weight Guide Rod (no longer in production)

 

[JTQ]

And STI's RecoilMaster

http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=DA0000-1093363050

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

There is also a two-piece where the front half unscrews with a hex key. This seems like a recipe for coming unscrewed or breaking.

 

[JTQ]

Oh, and this tool less guide rod.

http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000BA6-1266962268