1911 Guide Rod

[czp01]

The other post concerning the full length guide rod has me considering trying my Springfield Loaded 1911 without a guide rod. Would it be OK to just take out the guide rod, leave the plug and recoil spring guide? It seems to be the way to go without a guide rod, but just making sure. Thanks.

[xYourLocalAR15x]

i think the spring would compress unevenly. and the spring would rest on a "point' rather than a flat surface... maybe i'm wrong.

[stevie]

Best thing to do is purchase a new short guide rod and plug that works without the full lenght rod.

Never tried to use only the lower portion of the rod with the plug made for a full length rod.

[Centurion_D]

I have a S&W 1911PD that came with a full length guide rod. I swapped it out for a after market standard recoil spring plug + recoil spring guide for $20. Nothing to it.

[m1371]

The other post concerning the full length guide rod has me considering trying my Springfield Loaded 1911 without a guide rod. Would it be OK to just take out the guide rod, leave the plug and recoil spring guide? It seems to be the way to go without a guide rod, but just making sure. Thanks.

NO.

Don't take out the guide rod and go shooting.

It's there for a reason, don't go f-ing around with it.

Either run your 1911 with a GI-length or a full-length assembly.

[-hanko]

The other post concerning the full length guide rod has me considering trying my Springfield Loaded 1911 without a guide rod. Would it be OK to just take out the guide rod, leave the plug and recoil spring guide? It seems to be the way to go without a guide rod, but just making sure. Thanks.

I'd recommend NOT shooting the gun until you learn just a little more about its function, maybe

-hanko

[bu-bye]

I think there is a little confusion here. When people like myself say they removed the full length guide rod from their Springfield 1911 its not removing the whole thing just unscrewing the second section of the two peice guide rod. You MUST have some kind of guide rod to keep that spring in place. The original design does call for a short guide rod and it is 100% need for the gun to function as designed.

[czp01]

I think there is a little confusion here. When people like myself say they removed the full length guide rod from their Springfield 1911 its not removing the whole thing just unscrewing the second section of the two peice guide rod. You MUST have some kind of guide rod to keep that spring in place. The original design does call for a short guide rod and it is 100% need for the gun to function as designed.

Yes, I meant just unscrewing the portion with the hex, and leaving the recoil spring guide and plug in place...I thought I made that pretty clear in my first post.

I'd recommend NOT shooting the gun until you learn just a little more about its function, maybe

-hanko

I understand it's function. Before asking the question, I compared the schematics of a standard 1911 and the one with a FLGR. In the schematics of the standard 1911, theres just the recoil spring guide and the plug. In my 1911, taking out the rod and leaving the recoil spring guide and plug appears to be the same thing. However, I wasn't sure if the length of the standard 1911 recoil spring guide was the same as the recoil spring guide I currently have in my 1911 (without the hex portion). And that's why I asked the question. I thought these forums were meant for questions and answers?

[-hanko]

Yes, I meant just unscrewing the portion with the hex, and leaving the recoil spring guide and plug in place...I thought I made that pretty clear in my first post.

Sorry, not clear in the post I responded to...shoulda' reread the first post.

However, I wasn't sure if the length of the standard 1911 recoil spring guide was the same as the recoil spring guide I currently have in my 1911 (without the hex portion). And that's why I asked the question. I thought these forums were meant for questions and answers?

A stock Colt Series 70 govt model I just measured at 1.509" from the spring seat to the forward end of the rod, diameter is 0.309". You want enough diameter so that the spring presses onto the rod...I think that eliminates most 1 piece rods.

Jerry Kuhnhausen says...

"When the stem of the recoil spring is extended to full length, the recoil spring then has full midle support. This allows even compression of the spring coils as the slide moves to the rear. The stem holds the spring on centerline, preventing bind and making the absorbtion of recoil energy more uniform. This thrust centering makes slide cycling consistent and helps feeding and extraction." From The Colt .45 Automatic--A Shop Manual


-hanko

[DrjonesUSA]

NO, you do NOT want to use half of a two-piece rod in your 1911.

While I'm not sure that it will damage the gun, it certainly can't be good!

The only thing that two-piece rod is good for is the landfill!


If you want a standard recoil setup, you'll have to buy a new plug and rod from this link, they are the second and third items: http://www.edbrown.com/cgi-bin/htmlo...08363216671333


You CAN (and should) use the same spring with the standard (GI) setup.

[bu-bye]

NO, you do NOT want to use half of a two-piece rod in your 1911.

While I'm not sure that it will damage the gun, it certainly can't be good!

The only thing that two-piece rod is good for is the landfill!

I don't think that is true. I removed mine and it runs 100%. I spoke with everyone at my local dealer and they all said almost everyone removes the shaft and have not had any problems doing so. I have yet to hear of anyone having problems with their 1911 by removing the screw on shaft. Most boards I go to say that you should remove it and its ok to shoot. Its not going to hurt your gun with or without the shaft. It was put on for the "WOW" factor. Its just another thing the gun makers can put on their websites to try and make a sale. The 1911 was fine without a FLGR for how many years? Adding a FLGR did nothing to the pistols but up sales numbers. Keep it if you want it remove it if you don't. Simple as that.