1911 Full Length Guide Rod *** ADDED 2ND QUESTION )***

[elkhunter77]

I use the F/L rod sold by Dawson Precision. It has a spring clip for very easy take down for cleaning. I have them in 3 of my 1911s and in my duty gun, STI 2011 in 40 SW. They seem slightly smoother, but not enough to get excited about. It makes takedown a breeze.

 

[stansdds]

By the way, the only thing more useless than a full length guide rod in the 1911 is a two-piece full length guide rod. Decades ago, I drank from the fountain of 1911 gadgets and bought one for my home-brewed Commander length 1911. I quickly found out that the two-piece guide rod can unscrew itself during shooting. Yeah, I'm not sure if it still lives in my parts stash or if it is a resident of the local landfill.

 

[minconrevo]

By the way, the only thing more useless than a full length guide rod in the 1911 is a two-piece full length guide rod. Decades ago, I drank from the fountain of 1911 gadgets and bought one for my home-brewed Commander length 1911. I quickly found out that the two-piece guide rod can unscrew itself during shooting. Yeah, I'm not sure if it still lives in my parts stash or if it is a resident of the local landfill.

The SS two-piece will stay intact, most of the time, when vigorously tightened. The carbon steel will unscrew itself quickly. Not my preferred choice on a competitive gun. I value the one piece more for a little moreforward weight on a competitive action sports gun.

Some 1911 accessories are right up there with fuzzy dice hanging from your vehicle's rear view mirror. All bling and no useful zing.

 

[stansdds]

The SS two-piece will stay intact, most of the time, when vigorously tightened. The carbon steel will unscrew itself quickly. Not my preferred choice on a competitive gun. I value the one piece more for a little moreforward weight on a competitive action sports gun.

Some 1911 accessories are right up there with fuzzy dice hanging from your vehicle's rear view mirror. All bling and no useful zing.

Mine was carbon steel as it had a blued finish. Looked nice, just did not work so well.

 

[Grayfox]

One of my 1911s came from the factory with a two piece FLGR. Can't remember which one. Anyway, I took it apart to clean it after its first range trip and found that thing almost unscrewed. It never went back in.

 

[S&W Fan]

Count me as another that hasn’t found a good reason to have them in over 45 years of carrying/using/competing with 1911s. Any one I bought that had one was changed to the standard rod/plug configuration within minutes.

 

[Ameshawki]

I've had one or two with them. None of mine currently do. It's a non-issue with me. I don't see the point of them but if a gun has one and I want it, it's not a deal breaker.

 

[old tanker]

I tried one in a Combat Commander back years ago when it was a hot fad in USPSA circles. Meh.

Full length guide rods keep you from pushing the slide back by pressing the front of the slide against something. The two piece ones unscrew themselves at the most inopportune moments. Great amusement to the other guys in your squad during a match. For me, a thoroughly bad idea on a carry gun when there is potentially much more at stake.

 

[DWalt]

Full length guide rods keep you from pushing the slide back by pressing the front of the slide . For me, a thoroughly bad idea on a carry gun when there is potentially much more at stake.

I hadn’t considered that angle but it is certainly a valid reason to deep six any idea of using a FLGR. I have needed to use that method to retract the slide on several occasions

 

[minconrevo]

Full length guide rods keep you from pushing the slide back by pressing the front of the slide against something. The two piece ones unscrew themselves at the most inopportune moments. Great amusement to the other guys in your squad during a match. For me, a thoroughly bad idea on a carry gun when there is potentially much more at stake.

The FLGR doesn't completely stop the "shove the slide end against something solid" method of 1911 clearing, but it certainly seriously limits. Would not want to be using this precise method in emergency circumstances.