Guide Rods

[Aguila Blanca]

You just named where it can kink!

BUT, it can only kink as much as the clearance between the spring coils and the metal surrounding them, and that tiny amount has no effect on either the performance or life of the spring that I am aware of.

The slight amount of deflection that the available space allows is NOT a "kink." It's a very slight deflection and doesn't adversely affect the function of the pistol at all.

 

[44 AMP]

It's a very slight deflection and doesn't adversely affect the function of the pistol at all.

Which was my point, precisely.

People may call the tiny amount of flex out of line a "kink" but the spring doesn't know that.


If you do actually kink a spring, the spring knows that and remembers it, permanently.

 

[g.willikers]

Betcha' the higher end 1911s come with the full length guide rod, just because the people buying them expect it.
An ambi mag release would be more useful.

 

[AKhog]

I have a full length guide rod in my 45WM Grizzly, but that is because it is the dual spring system that the Delta Elite 10MM used. I just removed the Delta's outer spring and replaced it with the Grizzly's. I think it keeps them from binding with each other, plus it gives me plenty of power in the springs. I figured when Colt did it with the Delta they did so for good reason. I run fairly hot 300gn lead gas-checked slugs in it, and the extra spring seems to make a big difference in felt recoil and battering of the recoil spring guide.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I have a full length guide rod in my 45WM Grizzly, but that is because it is the dual spring system that the Delta Elite 10MM used. I just removed the Delta's outer spring and replaced it with the Grizzly's. I think it keeps them from binding with each other, plus it gives me plenty of power in the springs. I figured when Colt did it with the Delta they did so for good reason.

I certainly agree that Colt probably had a good reason, but I doubt that spring kink was the reason. Colt also used nested recoil springs in the Officers ACP and M1991A1 Compact. The guide rod in those pistols is about as stubby as you can get -- IIRC somewhere in the range of about 5/8 of an inch.

The nested springs really can't bind on each other, because one is wound clockwise and the other is wound counterclockwise.

 

[KyJim]

Betcha' the higher end 1911s come with the full length guide rod, just because the people buying them expect it.

That's pretty much the explanation Ed Brown supposedly made regarding his top-of-the-line Classic Custom. All of Brown's handguns are made the same except for "cosmetics" like different sights and different types of checkering or stippling. He generally uses the GI guide rod but uses a FLGR for the Classic Custom because people expected it. He also makes them for the after-market.

Along the same lines, Brown used to recommend any quality gun oil (I have the owner's manual) but he now recommends his own Ed Brown oil.

Not dissing him at all, just emphasizing that the FLGR, in-house branded lubes, and other parts and accessories are simply money-makers.