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Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols All Variants of the Smith & Wesson M&P Auto Pistols


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  #1  
Old 06-23-2017, 11:37 PM
SwflG17Guy SwflG17Guy is offline
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Default SS guide rods

I bought a stainless steel guide rod for my shield.45 from
ssguiderods.com and received it today. They are very quick shippers.
When I took the slide off to switch it the old one just fell out. I've been having trouble with being loose for awhile. It never seemed to hurt function though so I kept it for backup.
The new one fits great and seems to be built pretty stout. Racking is smoother but I won't be able to shoot it until probably Tuesday. I don't anticipate any problems.
It seems like a good option to me. Ill let you know how it shoots.
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Old 06-23-2017, 11:46 PM
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Please let the forum know how it new SS guide rod performs in your Shield .45.
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Old 06-24-2017, 06:31 AM
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Absolutely will do.
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Old 06-24-2017, 08:56 PM
ScaryWoody ScaryWoody is offline
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Any noticeable change in recoil?
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Old 06-24-2017, 10:55 PM
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I haven't been able to shoot it yet. It will be Monday before I can get to the range.
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:23 AM
xdmshooter59 xdmshooter59 is offline
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I have SS guide rod and spring setup in my PC Shield 9. No problems at all. Did not notice any change in recoil. Biggest difference is how much easier and smoother it is to work the slide.


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Last edited by xdmshooter59; 06-25-2017 at 09:25 AM.
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:50 AM
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I have both SS guide rods in .45 Shield and 9mm Shield. Both perform flawlessly No notice of change of recoil. It's for reliability not for reduction in recoil
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:55 AM
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Default DON'T OWN A SHIELD.

I have switched to s/s rods in 3 Sigs. Honestly, with hand neuropathy I can't tell any huge difference. If you believe it makes an improvement (I believe) it MAY be reflected in better shooting??? I also believe trying different ammo brands/types if using store bought ammo or tweaking the load (brand & wt of bullet, oal of brass, seating depth etc), if handloading, will matter more.
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Old 06-25-2017, 12:24 PM
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I am not a fan of the OEM guide rod assembly in the Shield .45 and planned on replacing it as soon as someone began producing a quality assembly. I went to the website mentioned by the OP but they don't really give much info on their site. Is it a captive system like the factories or a separate, replaceable spring.
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Old 06-25-2017, 12:39 PM
SwflG17Guy SwflG17Guy is offline
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It looks to me as if you really wanted to you could screw off the end and replace the spring.
I wanted it because the stock assembly doesn't have any tension any longer, it falls out when you put the slide back on.
The slide operation is definitely easier and I am glad to read about the operation also. I didn't intend recoil to change really as much as reliability.
Ill see if I can get a pic of the end I am talking about after work.
Although it might be funny to flip it out on the desk and do it here.
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Old 06-25-2017, 02:21 PM
1sailor 1sailor is offline
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Thanks. My spring assembly still works but like you I don't like the idea that it will simply fall out once the slide is removed. I've only put about 800 rounds through the pistol so far so it's not like it should be worn out or anything. This hasn't caused any issues, I would just prefer something a little more robust. I have also found that the OEM assembly can cause some issues if you don't take a couple of seconds to make sure everything is correctly aligned/installed. Again, I'm not saying it's a bad part I just would prefer to replace it.
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Old 06-25-2017, 10:10 PM
xdmshooter59 xdmshooter59 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1sailor View Post
I went to the website mentioned by the OP but they don't really give much info on their site. Is it a captive system like the factories or a separate, replaceable spring.
On my standard 9mm assembly it looks like you could disassemble the spring from the rod on one end, but unless I missed something I don't see on their website where they sell springs and or rods separately. it's all sold as an assembly.
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Old 06-26-2017, 03:10 PM
SwflG17Guy SwflG17Guy is offline
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The gun shot fantastic. The guide rod worked great. I put 135 rds through it and no issues.
This was the first mag at about 17 yards rapid fire. I didn't notice any difference in recoil with the new guide rod.



After that I got my finger placement better on the trigger and everything straightened out nicely.
This is also the first time since I moved my front sight that I got to shoot it and it was much better.
I am very comfortable with this pistol as my edc.

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Old 06-26-2017, 08:05 PM
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I am not sure how the Shield frame is built. But, with the SD series gun frame, a SS guide rod beats the frame to HADES and back. A lot of SD owners were having problems after installing a SS guide rod.
BTW, S&W will send you a FREE guide rod if you own an SD series gun. I'm not sure if they do it for the M&P (I don't see why not) but I am going to call them tomorrow and ask.
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Old 06-26-2017, 08:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Disabled1 View Post
I am not sure how the Shield frame is built. But, with the SD series gun frame, a SS guide rod beats the frame to HADES and back. A lot of SD owners were having problems after installing a SS guide rod.
BTW, S&W will send you a FREE guide rod if you own an SD series gun. I'm not sure if they do it for the M&P (I don't see why not) but I am going to call them tomorrow and ask.
That is exactly my concern about the Shield SS guide rod replacements. Non-spec is non--spec; and the spec was decided on for a reason.
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Old 06-27-2017, 05:41 AM
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Please excuse my ignorance on the matter but what is the stock guide rod made of? I thought it was blackened stainless steel.
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Old 06-27-2017, 07:29 AM
SwflG17Guy SwflG17Guy is offline
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I don't know what the stock piece is made of but I DO know it sucks. It wont stay put as the skinny end bends enough that it wont sit tight.
So far I haven't seen any stock ones for sale.
If I did I would have a few in my bag like I do for my glock. So this works well for now.
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Old 06-27-2017, 08:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SwflG17Guy View Post
I don't know what the stock piece is made of but I DO know it sucks. It wont stay put as the skinny end bends enough that it wont sit tight.
So far I haven't seen any stock ones for sale.
If I did I would have a few in my bag like I do for my glock. So this works well for now.
It should not just fall out. That may be a defect. However SS guide​ rods are accessory in search of a problem. They don't do anything the original doesn't.

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Old 06-27-2017, 08:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rifmon View Post
Please excuse my ignorance on the matter but what is the stock guide rod made of? I thought it was blackened stainless steel.
I "think" it's polished carbon steel. But, when I call S&W later this AM and ask if they provide FREE guide rods (like they do for the SD series guns) I will get back to y'all with the answer.
To be continued...........
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Old 06-27-2017, 10:19 AM
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I put a S/S guide rod in my Sig P229 Elite Stainless just because I hated having a plastic one. It was hard to believe they put a plastic one in such a pricey gun. It didn't make it run any better, just made me feel better. The gun is such a brick, I didn't notice any difference in the recoil.
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Old 06-27-2017, 10:45 AM
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Default +P

Mfg SSguiderods does not recommend this guide rod for use with +P ammo....JFYI
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Old 06-27-2017, 10:47 AM
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Quote:
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It should not just fall out. That may be a defect. However SS guide​ rods are accessory in search of a problem. They don't do anything the original doesn't.

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It stays in place
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Old 06-27-2017, 10:56 AM
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It stays in place
That's fine and a regular one does too. The original probably had a defect.

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Old 06-27-2017, 12:27 PM
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I put about 80 rounds through my new 45 Shield and the guide rail came apart. I contacted S&W and they are sending me a replacement. I can't fault their customer service although I would prefer not to need it. I mentioned the stainless steel rail that is available and he said it put excessive stress on other parts of the slide and is not recommended. I am curious how a stainless steel rail will make the slide function easier and still causes excessive fore on the slide?
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Old 06-27-2017, 12:34 PM
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Quote:
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I contacted S&W and they are sending me a replacement. I can't fault their customer service although I would prefer not to need it. I mentioned the stainless steel rail that is available and he said it put excessive stress on other parts of the slide and is not recommended. I am curious how a stainless steel rail will make the slide function easier and still causes excessive fore on the slide?
It has a different spring weight, which is why it makes the slide easier to rack. If the slide is easier to rack it probably cycles harder when fired and therefore wears all the internals more.

I have one, but am saving it in case the original ever fails. I'm at well over 1000 rounds in on my Shield 9 and it never has failed. I'm 400 rounds in with my Shield 45 and the original is doing fine in it also.
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Old 06-27-2017, 01:13 PM
NewToGuns17 NewToGuns17 is offline
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So is the concensus that the ssguiderod is a good replacement part over factory or that it causes issues that may not be seen immediately and we should stick with factory?
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Old 06-27-2017, 01:15 PM
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It's just an unneeded replacement part. Either one can be faulty, either one can be exchanged for a good one and neither does anything better the the other

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Old 06-27-2017, 01:18 PM
SwflG17Guy SwflG17Guy is offline
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Quote:
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That's fine and a regular one does too. The original probably had a defect.

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When they get that straightened out I will buy a whole bunch of them.
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Old 06-27-2017, 01:34 PM
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When they get that straightened out I will buy a whole bunch of them.
So by that logic if I bought a SS rod and it was bad then it would mean yours is too?

Well after selling well over a million shields I'm pretty sure they've had it figured out. Lemons can and do happen.



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Old 06-27-2017, 01:57 PM
NewToGuns17 NewToGuns17 is offline
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So by that logic if I bought a SS rod and it was bad then it would mean yours is too?

Well after selling well over a million shields I'm pretty sure they've had it figured out. Lemons can and do happen.



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New to the shield but found this thread interesting... does the replacement guide rod cause damage in the long term or are you saying the stock one is easily gotten so no need to spend the money on aftermarket?
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Old 06-27-2017, 02:28 PM
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New to the shield but found this thread interesting... does the replacement guide rod cause damage in the long term or are you saying the stock one is easily gotten so no need to spend the money on aftermarket?
Both.

1) There isn't enough info on long term because not many people swap them out on top of which not many people actually shoot a lot to know if there's a problem. However there have been issues with the SD and ss rods. May not translate to the Shield.

2) Stock one is free so why spend the money!?!?!?

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Old 06-27-2017, 02:28 PM
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Just put a SS rod in my Shield9 so I'll be watching this thread closely.


Thanks
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Old 06-27-2017, 04:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigDog48 View Post
It has a different spring weight, which is why it makes the slide easier to rack. If the slide is easier to rack it probably cycles harder when fired and therefore wears all the internals more.

I have one, but am saving it in case the original ever fails. I'm at well over 1000 rounds in on my Shield 9 and it never has failed. I'm 400 rounds in with my Shield 45 and the original is doing fine in it also.
Over 8,000 rds on my M&P 9mm. Original guide rod assy still working fine.
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Old 06-27-2017, 06:38 PM
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Quote:
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New to the shield but found this thread interesting... does the replacement guide rod cause damage in the long term or are you saying the stock one is easily gotten so no need to spend the money on aftermarket?
BOTH...no need to buy aftermarket. S&W is very responsive if, out of the 1 million plus Shield owners, you are one who has a problem. The vast majority has had no problems with the original.
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Old 06-27-2017, 07:58 PM
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I will be the guinea pig. I am keeping this ss guide rod in my .45 until it disintegrates.
Ill keep you posted.
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Old 06-27-2017, 09:39 PM
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I will be the guinea pig. I am keeping this ss guide rod in my .45 until it disintegrates.
Ill keep you posted.
We'll be looking forward to hearing from you next week.
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Old 06-27-2017, 10:23 PM
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This topic simply refuses to go away. When I bought my first Shield 9 two years ago, it was delivered with a defective (bent disc) recoil spring assembly. I searched through the Forum threads and discovered that Shields had been having RSA problems ever since they were introduced. Because new Shields were in such demand, and because a large enough number of them had defective RSAs, it took me 3 1/2 months to get a good one. To their credit, S&W tried to help, but as I waited, they sent me a rifle sling assembly (wrong RSA!), and another defective RSA (came apart after one use).

During this period, SS Guide Rods for Shield 9s came on the market. In those days, SS had no springs of their own. You had to send in your Shield's factory RSA and they would take it apart and install the large spring on their guide rod and send it back to you. Although I was desperate for a good guide rod, I decided to pass on the SS version because I was concerned that the drastically lower spring strength of the SS RSA might not be good for my Shield in the long run. I'm still not convinced that it's a good idea. I wish that high-volume shooters who've used them would post about their experiences.

My Shields (9 and .45) have good factory RSAs with over 2000 rounds on each. They show no signs of weakening, and I expect they'll last at least 5000 rounds.
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Old 06-27-2017, 10:30 PM
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BOTH...no need to buy aftermarket. S&W is very responsive if, out of the 1 million plus Shield owners, you are one who has a problem. The vast majority has had no problems with the original.
I had a problem with the original and S&W sent me a replacement, no questions asked. I'm still thinking about getting a SS one tho, maybe just as a back up. In case this happens again.

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Old 06-28-2017, 12:02 AM
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The Shield 45 and 9mm recoil assembles I have are very snug once placed.

I would definitely contact S&W and get them replaced under Warranty if they were defective.

Even if you ordered aftermarket parts. I find the factory dual coils to be of good quality. No reason you shouldn't have the same.
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Old 06-28-2017, 12:36 AM
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My son and I both have shield 45's. I have roughly 800+ rounds through mine and my son has maybe 100 rounds through his. Both of our guide rods will fall to the ground if we don't assemble the slide upside down to keep the guide rod in. If only one in a million is defective then I must have some pretty bad luck. bought them both from different sellers about 3 weeks apart.
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Old 06-28-2017, 07:15 AM
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Neither one of mine were/are loose. It takes a small amount of pressure to compress them when disassembling, and the same when reassembling.
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Old 07-16-2017, 04:57 PM
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I picked a SSguide rod up for my Shield 45 mostly because it worked out really good in my Shield 9 and I like one piece/single spring assemblies for simplicity. My full size M&Ps all have single spring assemblies.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the stock spring and I'm sure S&W did their research to make sure it works with all the various bullet weights one can purchase. That said, some loads prefer heavier springs, some prefer lighter. In my Shield 9, noticeable improvement in accuracy going to the SSguiderod with the my SD ammo and reloads. For me, and I repeat for me, the bullet weight used preferred that spring weight in my firearm with me shooting it. What works for me may not work for others. It's strictly on a case by case basis. No noticeable recoil difference. Slight difference is point of impact. Don't shoot plus P, or at least those that actually perform to plus P.

Just spent most of the morning at the range tuning up a few firearms and checked out the SSguiderod in my Shield 45. Primary focus was accuracy, to include any noticeable differences in reliability and recoil. The people who build the SSguiderods test their product, so wasn't expecting any radical differences. My shield 45 loves PMC gold 185 JHPs and my reloads mimic their performance using Zero 185 JHPs. It will just eat the center out of an ICE-QT target all day long offhand at 25 yards if I do my part.

Started out running 8 rounds of PMC, with the stock spring to verify point of impact and grouping. The group is very consistent. POI may change a little if the stance/form gets lazy. As expected, 8 rounds in ~4" circle @ 25 yards offhand. Group was slightly high and to the left. Swapped to the SSguiderod, shifted my stance/hold slightly and proceeded to burn 8 rounds of PMC into the center. Great group, little/no noticeable difference in recoil. Not one hiccup. Changed up to my reloads and continued to keep ~97% of the rounds well within 4". Done deal, the SSguiderod is staying put and I'll keep the stock as a back up.

Again, this is on a case by case basis. Works for me and my particular setup. Can't say it will work for anyone else. Not worried about "beating the gun up", they're definitely not plus P rounds. Besides, it's a Shield for pete's sake not a $1500+ 1911. The LGS had a June sale on Shields. $300 + tax out the door NOT including the $75 rebate (I.e. $225 + tax). If it breaks beyond repair and/or wears out, go buy another one.

Last edited by ultratec00; 07-16-2017 at 05:00 PM.
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Old 07-16-2017, 05:33 PM
NewToGuns17 NewToGuns17 is offline
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Do they do long term damage to the gun? I've heard both sides...
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Old 07-16-2017, 06:18 PM
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Question Red Flags

As one of the posters indicated that it was noticeably easier to rack the slide with this replacement recoil spring assembly, as well as not being approved for some plus-p use, would seem, at least to me, to be red flags, just my $ .02
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Old 07-16-2017, 08:15 PM
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Do they do long term damage to the gun? I've heard both sides...
How could a guide rod do damage to the gun?
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Old 07-16-2017, 11:07 PM
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How could a guide rod do damage to the gun?
too light, wear components.
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Old 07-17-2017, 08:01 AM
SwflG17Guy SwflG17Guy is offline
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As one of the posters indicated that it was noticeably easier to rack the slide with this replacement recoil spring assembly, as well as not being approved for some plus-p use, would seem, at least to me, to be red flags, just my $ .02
I think its smoother to rack not really easier. I believe that it's because the stock is 2 piece and it drags a bit when racking the slide.
The last time I cleaned it I lubed the stock guide rod also with clp and worked it back and forth and it seemed to get a bit better.
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Old 07-17-2017, 07:00 PM
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too light, wear components.
A guide rod cannot be too light. Maybe the recoil spring has too low a resistance weight? Is that what you meant?

The only way one guide rod could wear components more than any other guide rod is if it doesn't fit. If it doesn't fit, the gun won't work right away.
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Old 07-17-2017, 07:30 PM
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Maybe the recoil spring has too low a resistance weight?
That would be the question. The company's website has the following note:
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This assembly is now “DROP-IN” ready, since it now includes the Smith and Wesson outer spring!
Is the resistance of a single spring adequate in a gun designed to use dual springs?
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Old 07-17-2017, 07:34 PM
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"That would be the question. The company's website has the following note:
Quote:
This assembly is now “DROP-IN” ready, since it now includes the Smith and Wesson outer spring!

Is the resistance of a single spring adequate in a gun designed to use dual springs?"

Very good question from gc70.
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