1911 Guide Rod Question

[wolflodge]

I am thinking about buying a Kimber Custom but I am not a fan of the full length guide rod. I have two other 1911's that have a GI or short guide rod. I also do not want the rod to stick out when the slide is back. If I purchase a 1911 with a full guide rod what parts need to be replace to get the setup I want? I need your help-Thanks

[littlejake]

Get a US GI type spring guide (Wilson Combat 575S) and GI type plug (Cylinder and Slide CS437). I did it to my Springfield Armory Loaded model. Got the parts from Brownells. You should be able to use the factory spring... I picked up couple of new springs -- I started with an 18# and went to a 16# recoil spring.

[TMC]

You just need the short GI style guide rod. If you don't want an opening at the muzzle then you should get a GI style spring plug.

If you send me a couple bucks for shipping I'll mail you the parts. I've got a bag full of stock parts.

[slowjonn]

I change out all my FLGR's as well. You only need a short (GI) recoil spring guide and a closed recoil spring plug.

ETA: Two people beat me to it!

[buggsb]

965-000-116WB
965-000-106WB

You need a recoil spring guide and a recoil spring plug. Above are the Brownells P/N's for stainless Wilson Combat "Bullet Proof" parts.

[Bull's_eye]

What is the supposed advantage of the full length guide rod?

[kmca]

What is the supposed advantage of the full length guide rod?

More weight up front to help with recoil and less chance for spring bind.

[paintballdad]

As everyone else had mentioned, you just need a GI style guide rod and spring plug. I had planned on doing this on my parkerized SA Loaded but can't find anyone with a parkerized plug and SA won't have the parkerized parts i need till early May
The FLGR is suppose to help eliminate spring bind but it's a pain having to use a tool to remove the slide.

[wolflodge]

Thanks everyone!

[dwightlooi]

What is the supposed advantage of the full length guide rod?

It's the biggest gimmick out there for 1911s. All it really does is make take down a pain in the ***. I believe people think has some useful purpose because all the newer pistol designs without a barrel bushing have them. What they don't realize is that they have them because when you have a direct slide to barrel interface and no bushing, you cannot have a plug type recoil spring system -- they have a rod because there is no choice.

On a 1911, the full length guide rod does nothing for accuracy, it does nothing for reliability and it does nothing to prolong spring life. In short, it's useless except if you get one with a weighted rod which then moves the center of gravity forward and reduce muzzle flip. But, a compensator is a lot more effective in that role. Also, for the most parts, in competition rules where the compensator is illegal, the weighted rod is illegal as well.

[littlejake]

As everyone else had mentioned, you just need a GI style guide rod and spring plug. I had planned on doing this on my parkerized SA Loaded but can't find anyone with a parkerized plug and SA won't have the parkerized parts i need till early May
The FLGR is suppose to help eliminate spring bind but it's a pain having to use a tool to remove the slide.

I just used a blued plug in my SA Loaded Parkerized -- looks OK to me.

[ChrisTKHarris]

I just used a blued plug in my SA Loaded Parkerized -- looks OK to me.

Yea looks fine to me too.

[Tee Why]

Yea, as mentioned above, some claim that it can help reduce muzzle rise, increase accuracy, and/or increase reliability. I think it's not the case as many reputable sources use the regular system. I've had the full length guide rod on a Kimber eclipse and currently have the regular GI system in my sig 1911. I can't tell any difference except it's a lot easier to disassemble the Sig with the GI system. So I prefer the regular system. If it ain't broke, I ain't fixing it.

[TMC]

What they don't realize is that they have them because when you have a direct slide to barrel interface and no bushing, you cannot have a plug type recoil spring system -- they have a rod because there is no choice.

Wrong

But, a compensator is a lot more effective in that role. Also, for the most parts, in competition rules where the compensator is illegal, the weighted rod is illegal as well.

Wrong again

[email]

TMC , what's right?