Plastic recoil spring guide rod failure

gvaldeg1 · May 9, 2009

I posted this once before but I was model specific in my previous post. Now I'm posing a general question. I have read that some owners of S&W semiautos with plastic guide rods have replaced the plastic guide rod with a metal one. Is there any "real" reason for doing this? Has anyone had a failure of the plastic guide rod in any S&W pistol? Maybe some people just don't like a plastic part in a metal gun. Anyway, I'd appreciate responses.

handgunner356 · May 9, 2009

I think the majority of metal gun owners want all metal guns. I've never heard of a plastic guide rod failure. Some use the steel rods for a little more muzzle weight.

targetsup · May 9, 2009

I replaced the plastic guide rod in my 410. It tightened the shot group a little. Only reason I replaced it was to increase accuracy and I wanted a steel guide rod just to have one. I used the steel guide rod for the 4006 in my 410. I have shot over 4000 rounds with the plastic guide rod with no apparent bad wear or tear. Also with the metal guide rod I noticed less snap in the recoil. Hope this helps!

BUFF · May 9, 2009

The rod in Glocks breaks sometimes. Glocks are the most common personally-owned pistol in my department and that is the part that is most often replaced.

gvaldeg1 · May 9, 2009

Originally posted by targetsup:
I replaced the plastic guide rod in my 410. It tightened the shot group a little. Only reason I replaced it was to increase accuracy and I wanted a steel guide rod just to have one. I used the steel guide rod for the 4006 in my 410. I have shot over 4000 rounds with the plastic guide rod with no apparent bad wear or tear. Also with the metal guide rod I noticed less snap in the recoil. Hope this helps!

Thanks! That's just what I was looking for. I also have a 410 and it's just fine with the plasic rod. I didn't think that I should be worried about the rod failing. As for the recoil issue, I have a 16 ounce titanium Taurus 357 magnum. Compared to that...the 410 is a total pussycat.

walkin' trails · May 10, 2009

Never seen it happen and have shot a lot of rounds thru my Glocks. I usually replace the recoil spring assembly every 5000 or so rounds. Until now I had thought Glock was the only gun with a plastic rod. My MP 45 has a steel rod.

CTPete · May 10, 2009

Here's my understanding of plastic guide rods. Many are actually nylon, not plastic. They seem to absorb blows and return to their original shape, instead of bending and making the gun inoperable. Imagine my surprise several years ago when I dropped my weapon on the cement floor of the range. The slide had been locked back and the gun was laid on the counter while I loaded up some magazines. I placed my range bag on the counter to retrieve some ammo and when I removed it, I accidentaly slid the gun off the counter onto the floor. I picked up the gun (a Beretta 92G) and noticed the scrape on the slide and that's all the damage I saw. But the slide would not go completely forward. I disassembled the gun and rolled the metal guide rod accross the counter and could clearly see that the guide rod was slightly bent.

My experience is with both S&W and Beretta pistols. I have fired many thousands of rounds with both metal and "plastic" guide rods with no rod related failures of any kind.

I note that one person in this thread commented on improved accuracy with a metal guide rod. I don't see how the guide rod could affect accuracy. Perhaps someone can comment on that.

OKFC05 · May 11, 2009

Is there any "real" reason for doing this?

Yes. Adding weight to the front of the gun. That's it.

That's the reason switching to metal guide rods, weighted grips, insert slugs, etc are illegal in IDPA.

In action pistol competitions, the aftermarket metal guide rods fail more often than the nylon stock guide rods in the combat tupperware. If you keep a spare guide rod and spring assembly, you can inspect the one in the gun at each cleaning and replace at the first sign of wear or chipping.

I have had one guide rod failure in the last 15 years of competition. It was a stock metal guide rod in a Browning High Power. I put in a new guide rod and spring, and continued the match. I kept the bent rod and just hand it to people who start to lecture me on the superiority of metal guide rods.

By the way, Svigney has tried every aftermarket product there is for a Glock, and has the stock factory parts in the G34 he uses to win his many national titles.

banger · May 11, 2009

I bought a Walther P-99 with the Smith and Wesson made slide years ago.

Shortly after I purchased it, the guide rod broke. The flaired end of the rod snapped and allowed the spring to freely run off the front.

Walther/Smith and Wesson replaced the plastic rod buy sending me BOTH a plastic replacement AND an Aluminum rod.

No problems since.

BlackAgnes · May 11, 2009

A replacement steel guide rod for my Kahr K40 rendered the gun inop.

Replaced the stock nylon unit and all was well again.

No clue why that happened--but I've always been leery of non-factory mods like these guide rods, replacement spring kits, etc.

I guess I figure that the manufacturers spent a lot of time designing the gun's systems and who is some tinkerer to say that his "modification" improves reliability or accuracy?

I'm just a skeptic, I guess.

TNhandgunner · May 11, 2009

i bought a 410 myself a few months ago...after taking it apart and cleaning it i found out the guide rod is indeed plastic and the tip was partially broken off...i called smith & wesson to get a metal rod...he informed me the metal guide rod will stick out of the slide a little..i told him if it wouldnt affect the guns performance at all that i would keep the one guide i have...a week later another plastic guide rod showed up at my door with no other questions asked.....been about 500 rds later with no affect at all in performance.

just my .02

targetsup · May 11, 2009

Originally posted by walkin' trails:
Until now I had thought Glock was the only gun with a plastic rod. My MP 45 has a steel rod.

I bought my 410 in 1998, still kicken strong. Back then the 910 and 410 used to be called the value line series, now they are called the American line I think. Basically the 410 is the affordable version of the 4006. Plastic sights, Plastic guide rod, a few less cuts on the slide, carbon steel instead of stainless. All to make the value line affordable for the average joe. So thats why they come with a plastic guide rod. But I must tell you this, I have had zero problems with this pistol. Thousands and thousands of rounds and not one hickup. And magazines are easy to find, and cheap. I have about 30, 11 round mags for my 410.

gvaldeg1 · May 12, 2009

Thanks for all of the great replies! This is a terrific site and S&W owners are the best!

Plastic recoil spring guide rod failure

gvaldeg1

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handgunner356

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targetsup

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BUFF

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gvaldeg1

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walkin' trails

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CTPete

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OKFC05

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banger

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BlackAgnes

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targetsup

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