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Full length guide rod on 1911 does what ??

jsergovic
A side note for gotstolefrom
I still can't slip apart my 1911s on the first try. It is an acquired skill.
What exactly will installing a full length guide rod in my 1911 size Colt .45 do?

I see them advertised (right in the McCormick glossy which came with my new slim wood grips) for $25, stainless, increasing performance...but what's the real deal?

I've never had a single problem with the firearm and am satisfied with it's accuracy and performance. Why fix it if it ain't broke?

Thanks.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • gonepostal
    it personal Preference,full lenth ,two piece full lenth ,gi stubby ,its like ford chevy and dodge ,what ever makes you feel comfortable use it ,some will argue just like dem cheby owners
    some feel a stubby will kink the sring ,but how?

    a tight bushing is more important

    yep its me ,same one for 4 years now
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  • bobski
    nothing. its snake oil and a gizmo. vanity. a well built gun with a tight bbl bushing to bbl fit with a tight rail to frame fit, and a tight rear lock up is all one needs. the theory of a full length guide is to keep the spring straight as it compacts instead of just bunching up. theory says that if the spring is allowed to bunch up, there is a chance the bbl and slide will not be pushed back into battery exactly the same as it was before recycling. i have never seen an improvement with a full length guide to date. so, the guide itself is suppose to benefit the spring. thats it. there are so many ideas out there, with only a few that do anything. most race guns are like old street racers. guys jack up there cars to put slicks on and give up traction. some put headers on but dont do a thing to the carb. its all vanity. gun gadgets are suppose to work in harmony when all the ideas are put in together at the same time. each part helping the other. alone, they are incomplete. this idea of putting one in and expecting the gun to miraculously improve is a lie and a deception. hope i helped.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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  • mpolans
    In theory, its main function to prevent the spring from binding and causing a malfunction, but this never really happens.
    It can also be used to add weight to the front of the gun to make it a little steadier and absorb a little recoil; this more true with heavy tungsten ones. Depending on the design of a custom compensator, it has also been used to support the compensator, providing for slightly better accuracy and reliability.
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  • rayl380
    One thing it WILL NOT DO is allow one-handed racking of the slide, as in an emergency when one hand is disabled. Seems that I read something about the famous FBI firefight in Florida where a couple of the agents were shot in the hand and were unable to operate their semi-auto sidearms as a result. Theoretically without a full-length rod you can still rack the slide by pushing it against a solid object - much more difficult, if not impossible, with a full-length guide rod.
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  • Pearyw
    The only real advantage I have ever found is the ability to remove the slide assembly from the frame in one piece. It can be real pain if you have a match bushing and a one piece rod. You don't want to rotate a tight bushing around the muzzle of a match barrel as it will start wearing on the fit. It should be rotated with the slide partially retracted.
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  • bobski
    all old timers will know the secret to taking off a 45 slide assy from the frame with bbl and bushing intact, is to rack the slide back to only the point where the slide release can be pulled out while holding the slide tight. once its out, let the spring push the slide off intact, and grab the spring as it comes off. same for putting it on. just hold it upside down and slide the frame on. once its on, flip the frame and align the bbl lug with the hole and insert the release. you never have to take the bbl, guide, or bbl bushing off at all.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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  • gotstolefrom
    In reference to bobski 1/7 post.
    As with most 'good revelations' I have, I feel like I have been hit with a club but I am glad.

    I have always rotated the bushing at the get-go and dis-assembled my 1911's from there. About a month ago I came upon a S'field 1911 with a bbl that was a larger diameter at the bushing (that had been 'hand fitted'). I had only shot it on two occasions, and cleaned it only once, but things did not go as smoothly as usual. I will try your 'old timers' method next time..... it sounds like it will be better (if I understand you correctly).

    Thanks
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  • Pearyw
    The best system is the one piece rod with a hole in it so that you can retract it and lock it with a bent rod. If your plug tunnel is bored straight thru, you can remove the slide and take the compressed spring out from the rear. The pistol can easily be re-assembled without the spring getting away from you. I have used the old timers system for years too. It works fine with a standard recoil spring, but I have had problems getting everything lined up with a strong spring such as the 22# I use in my 10mm.
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  • Contender Man
    It's a matter of preference, not performance!
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  • bobski
    not to sound like a goon, but make sure the guns unloaded and mag is out. cock the hammer first and make sure the safety is off. you sorta hold the gun sideways pointing to the left and then cycle the slide back. then, you grab the frame and give it a good squeeze like a hand shake. use the trigger guard as a leverage point to steady the slide with a thumb or finger. line the notches up then work the slide release bar out. once its out, loosen your grip and the slide will start forward. as the slide comes off, feel for the spring and grab it with your grip and squeeze it into the bottom of the slide. pull the slide off complete. when you open your hand, make sure the spring doesnt go south.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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