Steel guide rod

[Smoke2967]

Looking for advice on the pros and cons of changing to the steel guide rod and if so what brand to use.
Thanks for your time.

 

[J Rich]

There is nothing wrong with the factory plastic rod. Never heard of anyone having a problem with the plastic one. With the metal rod you would be adding unwanted friction from metal to metal contact. JMO.

 

[Smoke2967]

So you haven't heard of any breakage issue's or problems?
I guess I just figured steel would do better than plastic
But that's why I'm here, to get good advice.
Thanks again

 

[Jyezahn]

Nothing wrong with upgrading to metal. I did. If you're worried about "unwanted friction", (not that that's a problem) just oil the rod a bit. Plastic wears out faster than metal does, it's just common sense.

Galloway Precision: SIGMA and SD Performance | Galloway Precision

 

[MrJT]

Lubricated steel on steel actually has a lower coefficient of friction than steel on plastic, both static and sliding. Un-lubricated steel on steel has a significantly higher coefficient of friction than steel on plastic when STATIC, but when sliding its only slightly higher.

All of that aside, having seen my plastic guide rods start to warp and wear, I always elect to go with steel when possible.

 

[Jyezahn]

I'm of the mind that S&W went with plastic to keep the cost down. After all, that's the point of the SD line, to combine the best of cheap and functional. Plastic works fine, but you get what you pay for, and a metal rod is a rather low cost upgrade.

 

[Smoke2967]

Thank's for all the good replies
You guy's rock

 

[J Rich]

Steel guide rods are fairly new for the Sigmas and SD's. Has anyone broke the plastic rod? The plastic rod works. JMO.

 

[AzRedleg]

The greatest advantage/disadvantage would probably be increased weight followed by durability.

Really not much load on the guide rod. It just keeps the spring from kinking. I suppose the plastic one would wear out eventually after many thousands of rounds. I fired about 20,000 rounds out of my Glock before I sold it. It had a plastic guide rod and it wasn't even close to showing significant wear.

 

[GKC]

This is akin to the debate over FLGR and GI guide rods on 1911s. I think it largely comes down to personal preference...for me, I prefer metal, which is in itself rather ironic considering I am talking about a polymer framed pistol. In any case, I didn't have any problems with the plastic guide rod, and I haven't heard of any...I just prefer a steel guide rod, and it is easy to make these changes, so I put a steel guide rod in my SD9VE, and in my wife's LC9.

As for 1911s, I do prefer the GI guide rod...but that's a whole 'nuther discussion.

 

[texan4ut]

Put a Galloway Precision 17# steel guide rod on my SD9VE will try it out tomorrow.

 

[retired_diver]

I put a wolf guide and round spring in my sw9f. didn't have a problem with the original but i wanted a slightly lighter spring because I was shooting 100gr bullets and the empties were being flung everywhere. I shoot outdoors in the national forest (yes where its legal) Went with a 15lb non-captive wolf spring and the empties land all in a 3 ft circle and i still have the original to put in when changing loads.