Maybe it's happened, but I haven't yet heard of a guide rod stopping a 1911 from working. I'd have to say that it boils down to personal preference, any advantages seem about as consequential as the disadvantages.

It makes me wonder how other pistols would work without guide rods, as I can think of quite a few that have them as part of the assembly.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
But if you find a gun assembled cutaway diagram, you'll see that the gap where the spring is unsupported is only two or three coils wide.

quote:

Originally posted by matthew03:
Makes disassembly more difficult...

The Dawson tool less guide rod actually makes disassembly easier.

Lock the slide back
Press and hold the tab on the bottom of the guide rod
Release the slide from the slide lock
Now the slide isn't under spring pressure, which makes it a little easier to get things lined up to remove the slide stop.

Best thing I ever did was get rid of the FLGR.

To me it was nothing but a PIA.

I change out the FLG's on every Loaded Springfield I buy. I did have one loosen up once on my while shooting. Putting in the GI set up is easy.

quote:

Originally posted by tha1000:

quote:

Originally posted by zdog16:
There is a reason the best custom 1911 gunsmiths do not use them. They are pointless.

Define "best custom gunsmiths". I have two SVI's and each has a flgr.

Burton, Yost.

There are about 4 unsupported coils in a full size 1911. Or, about 7/16".

Standard GI is just fine technically.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:But if you find a gun assembled cutaway diagram, you'll see that the gap where the spring is unsupported is only two or three coils wide.

MASSIVE1

I like them and the extra weight up front.

But I wouldn't call them necessary oor worthless.

Just had a very weird idea. Shooters who like FLGR should get them. People who don't like them should not.

Choice is good. God bless America.

quote:

Originally posted by Nipper:
Just had a very weird idea. Shooters who like FLGR should get them. People who don't like them should not.

Choice is good. God bless America.

That may even hold true for different calibers!

quote:

Originally posted by GP229:

quote:

Originally posted by Nipper:
Just had a very weird idea. Shooters who like FLGR should get them. People who don't like them should not.

Choice is good. God bless America.

That may even hold true for different calibers!

An astute observation, sir.

Also polymer guns, pistol sights, mag capacity, AIWB carry, rails, WML, etc. I'm sure there are some I missed.

Whoever designed the 2 piece guide rod is a moron. My dads Springfield came with that. It's fallen apart while at the range. Hate it. I finally replaced it for him last year with quality GI parts.

My S&W has a one piece full length and I like it. It's no harder to disassemble than GI and uses no tools and I like the idea of the spring being fully supported. The slide cycles buttery smooth.

quote:

Originally posted by Nipper:
Just had a very weird idea. Shooters who like FLGR should get them. People who don't like them should not.

Choice is good. God bless America.

Best line of the week!

I prefer flat wire springs, particularly in Commander size guns, these require FLGR.

If flat-wire recoil springs require full length guide rods, why does Bill Wilson sell flat-wire recoil spring kits with GI length guide rods?

No preference for me. I have 1911s with standard GI guide rods and FLGRs. Both types have worked fine through many thousand rounds. I've never had a 2-piece guide rod in a 1911. Mine have all been 1-piece.

quote:

Infinity firearms only offers 1911s with a full length rod.
So in conclusion...

Exactly this, I don't retro-fit 1911 guide rods, but if the maker/designers decided a full length guide rod made sense to them, I don't have grounds for argument.
I have an Infinity, a S&W Performance Shop, and a reworked Colt by Clark Custom, All came with various versions of solid guide rods. Only the Clark two piece is any hassle to take down.

I can't begin to fathom why the 2 piece even exists. It's a pos that adds a failure point to the handgun. There is no point to it. The one piece is just fine and dandy if one wants full length...

quote:

Originally posted by Jus228:
I can't begin to fathom why the 2 piece even exists. It's a pos that adds a failure point to the handgun. There is no point to it. The one piece is just fine and dandy if one wants full length...

I think for the sole reason that if the gun gets a really hard jam (locked up), you can still take it apart to clear it.

IMO FLGR's are a part in search of a problem. I have one in 1 one my 1911's that came with it, but see zero benefit to it.