If the purpose and use of the gun is just competition such as bullseye or IDPA then a full length guide rod (FLGR) is fine. But if the gun is EVER going to be used for self defense then the original setup is much preferred. It is just as reliable as the FLGR and has the added benefit of helping manipulate the gun if you only have one hand working. You can rack the slide just by putting the front of the slide against a hard edge (door, desk, table) and push the slide to the rear to eject a round or load a round in the chamber. With a FLGR, this capability is lost. Instead you have to rack the slide using the rear sight, a much more difficult maneuver unless you have one of those big rear sights with a square face. A standard Novak for example will just not cut it.
Keith

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Keith Herrington