RIA 4" Guide Rod Questions

[Flat Broke]

Earlier in the week I picked up my RIA 4" MS. Because I bought the gun from Bellshire I didn't notice that it has a bull/bushingless barrel. I don't really care one way or another about the barrel, but the guide rod is a whole other ball of wax. I don't like the idea of needing a paperclip or other object to strip the gun down.

I searched for videos, posts, etc. that might show a way to strip the gun without tools, but only came up with information for a Kimber Ultra Carry II. The bottom of the slides on those guns don't come as far back, so they can get away with the geometry needed to pull a FLGR out of the slide. So I guess my question is if there is a way to run a GI length guide rod with the bushingless barrel? I found some info on reverse plugs, but wasn't 100% sure about how everything would go together, and which size I would need.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Chris

[Fatcat]

Check to see if there is a cross-drilled hole in the guide rod. Most of them have it which would insert a short piece of wire (or a thick staple) to hold back the reverse when you dis-assemble.

[Flat Broke]

Thanks for the response. I'm good with how to strip the gun as is, I was just looking for a "tool-less" method. On the Kimbers this can be done, but on mine there isn't enough room. Because of this I was wondering if someone could point me to the parts I'd need to go to a GI style guide rod with the appropriate reverse plug so I could strip the slide assembly without tools.

Thanks,
Chris