I recently replaced the two I had, an aftermarket one in a Gold Cup, the other in a Kimber Gold Match, and find no difference in accuracy or reliability. In fact, both of these pistols used to occasionally choke on PMC hardball, and today they didn't. Also, it was very nice to field strip without a bushing wrench.
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Full Length Guide Rods
- Thread starter Bob C
- Start date
Ron Ankeny
New member
The two most accurate 1911 style pistols I have ever owned are a Clark Long Heavy Slide circa 1970 and my Les Baer Premier II. Both pistols use a standard length guide rod.
Near as I can tell the only advantge to a full length guide rod is the additional weight. Other than that, I see no difference.
[This message has been edited by Ron Ankeny (edited July 29, 2000).]
Near as I can tell the only advantge to a full length guide rod is the additional weight. Other than that, I see no difference.
[This message has been edited by Ron Ankeny (edited July 29, 2000).]
Rocky Road
Retired Screen Name
Excellent topic. Gives me an excuse to hop up onto my soap box again ---
Two further drawbacks of the Full Length Guide Rod (FLGR) --
1. Makes "pinch check" or "press check" of chamber impossible, pressing left index finger rearward against recoil spring plug, nicely controlling rearward slide travel.
2. Use of the two-piece guide rod is somewhat hazardous, in that it may become unscrewed. This allows some of the pistol to completely "go away" under recoil, or at least it ties things up.
I have a LOT of range time, with a LOT of people shooting 1911 type pistols, and have seen most types of stoppages possible with 1911 type firearms. I have never seen or heard a reliable first hand account of The Dreaded Recoil Spring Kinking that is supposed to be the reason for the FLGR. I know many good shooters who insist on using FLGRs, but personally have zero use for 'em.
I think the fad started when Armand Swensen and others began cutting slide lengths back radically, well shorter than the Colt Commander. The FLGR may have then served some purpose. The idea caught on, even for full size pistols, and the rest is history. Hey--why shouldn't the parts manufacturers sell a few extra goodies? Sort of like the bolt-on, chromed automotive accessories: They mostly do no harm, and if it makes the driver feel his mo-sheen runs better with them, why not? But serious drivers know they're not needed for serious driving.
John M. Browning used FLGR in a couple of early design autopistols. When it came to the 1911 pistol, and later (prototypes of) the 1935 High Power, used in their millions all over the world, he left the recoil spring guides short, and we struggled along that way for many decades.
I fully believe Alan is correct: Main reason for the FLGR is
selling more "stuff . . . ."
Best regards,
RR
------------------
---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
Two further drawbacks of the Full Length Guide Rod (FLGR) --
1. Makes "pinch check" or "press check" of chamber impossible, pressing left index finger rearward against recoil spring plug, nicely controlling rearward slide travel.
2. Use of the two-piece guide rod is somewhat hazardous, in that it may become unscrewed. This allows some of the pistol to completely "go away" under recoil, or at least it ties things up.
I have a LOT of range time, with a LOT of people shooting 1911 type pistols, and have seen most types of stoppages possible with 1911 type firearms. I have never seen or heard a reliable first hand account of The Dreaded Recoil Spring Kinking that is supposed to be the reason for the FLGR. I know many good shooters who insist on using FLGRs, but personally have zero use for 'em.
I think the fad started when Armand Swensen and others began cutting slide lengths back radically, well shorter than the Colt Commander. The FLGR may have then served some purpose. The idea caught on, even for full size pistols, and the rest is history. Hey--why shouldn't the parts manufacturers sell a few extra goodies? Sort of like the bolt-on, chromed automotive accessories: They mostly do no harm, and if it makes the driver feel his mo-sheen runs better with them, why not? But serious drivers know they're not needed for serious driving.
John M. Browning used FLGR in a couple of early design autopistols. When it came to the 1911 pistol, and later (prototypes of) the 1935 High Power, used in their millions all over the world, he left the recoil spring guides short, and we struggled along that way for many decades.
I fully believe Alan is correct: Main reason for the FLGR is
selling more "stuff . . . ."
Best regards,
RR
------------------
---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
I've only owned two 1911's. I put FLGR's in both of them. Maybe I'm weird, but I could tell a huge difference in the way the slide moved. With the regular kind, the slide started out a little stiff and then would all of a sudden seem to have almost no tension at all near the end of the slide. With the FLGR, the tension on the slide was consistant throughout the entire movement closed to open. I'm of course talking about manually charging the slide by hand, but I'm sure the same thing happens when fired. Maybe it's no big deal, but I figure more consistancy can't hurt.
They may add a little weight to the front of the pistol and may help thus dampen recoil. There is no room for the spring to kink in an 1911.
When JMB (remove your hats) designed the pistol there were any number of pistols that used FLGR's and he could have copied that part of the design. Thank you John Mose, for skipping the FLGR.
------------------
Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
When JMB (remove your hats) designed the pistol there were any number of pistols that used FLGR's and he could have copied that part of the design. Thank you John Mose, for skipping the FLGR.
------------------
Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"