1911 Guide Rod

[GregM]

I have an Auto Ordnance 1911, Government style. I would like to replace the short guide rod and tube with a full length guide rod and bushing.

I'd be grateful for some advice.

[White Horseradish]

Is there a particular reason you want to do that? Unless you just find the aesthetics of a gun with a FLGR particularly appealing, the only practical benefit of one (slight change in the balance of the gun) is, IMO, outweighed by the increase in takedown difficulty.

[Ramoel]

My advice is don't do it. John Browning knew what he was doing. You might decrease reliability, you won't make it any better.

[cobb]

I hear this a lot, it increases the difficulty of field stripping a 1911. Maybe yes, maybe no, depending on what type of guide rod that you get and what a person considers difficult. A solid one piece rod, the pistol will field strip basically the same way as a goverment model with the short rod . If it is a two piece rod, then there is one more step of using a hex/allen wrench, or depending on the style, maybe a standard screw driver to loosen the 2 piece guide rod to unthread it, then you field strip the same way.

Plus or minuses, I have read things both ways. The government short style rod works just fine and some top smiths build their guns with the government short rod. Some believe the full length rod helps to keep the recoil spring from binding and so those smith"s build their guns with the full length rod.

Me, I have guns with both and it really doesn't make much difference to me except on my Colt Delta Elites in 10mm, in those I use a full length tungsten guide. I like the added weight, but can't honestly say it makes that much difference.

So Greg, do it if you feel like it, it is an easy thing to install or remove and sell. I think it is much more important that people check for spring stack when the replace their recoil springs, especially if they are using a buffer, but I bet most don't.

[1911fan]

it only works for wieght or very light recoil springs with popper loads.

[GregM]

I have heard (can't remember where ... ) that a full length rod improves accuracy. But I'm a total ignoramus in such matters, so I have to ask.

Is there any modification that will improve the accuracy of a stock 1911? Or is it basically practice, practice, practice?

[cobb]

A forum you might want to check out about you questions -
http://forums.1911forum.com/

[gunnerbmg]

I would look at your trigger pull first, a tuned trigger is a big factor.....IMHO

[White Horseradish]

I have heard (can't remember where ... ) that a full length rod improves accuracy. But I'm a total ignoramus in such matters, so I have to ask.

You mostly hear this from the guys selling the rods and wrenches.

[GregM]

I have heard (can't remember where ... ) that a full length rod improves accuracy. But I'm a total ignoramus in such matters, so I have to ask.

You mostly hear this from the guys selling the rods and wrenches.

Good one! That's probably where I heard it ...

[jac714]

The only real advantage I can see to a FLGR is to put more weight at the muzzle using tungsten or something else.

Haveing sasid that I have two 1911's with FLGRs but they are 4" guns and came that way from the factory. I've never had a problem with them, but then again I have never had a problem with the GI length guide rod. I think in most cases the FLGR is more marketing hype than necessary.

Just my .02.

[Seismic Sam]

I'm in favor of full length guide rods, particularly in heavily sprung guns. If you have the short one, a combination of a heavy spring and a short guide rod can yield this kind of "crunchy raspy springy" noise of the spring adopting a somewhat serpetine shape before it's fully compressed and all the way onto the rod, and rubbing on the inside of the frame of the gun.

The original short plastic guide rods in Delta Elites were extraordinarily cheap and weird, in that they had two springs like the Desert Eagle setup, and they they didn't stand up to abuse very well. Not good PARTICULARLY for a 10mm.

Takedown with a long solid guide rod in my Delta Elite is no problem. Takedown with a two piece long guide rod in my Springfield V-16 longslide in 45 Super is a hude pain in the ass. Takedown with my 50GI is easier than normal, because it's a bushingless slide with a reverse plug spring guide, and there is a hole drilled in the guide rod. Pull the slide back until it locks, drop a small pin in the hole in the guide rod, and then thumb the slide release. The pin holds the spring compressed on the rod, and takedown is a snap.

[plblark]

I have two 1911's with FLGRs but they are 4' guns and came that way from the factory.

That is one HECK of a guide rod. I mean, 4 FEET of barrel probably doesn't need any more weight out front, never mind the concealment aspect

[Seismic Sam]

Hell, 4' long is only a few inches more than a Smith 500, so what's the big deal??

BTW - is this poster a fisherman?? That could also explain it. A longslide 45 measured with your standard fisherman's tape measure would come in at just under 4 feet...

[jac714]

Colon, quotation mark ht's the difference?

I'll correct it right now.