I'm curious also.

 

There is no advantage unless you manufacture or sell them. They do add a tiny bit of weight under the barrel but not enough to really accomplish anything. The recoil spring cannot kink or bind with a short GI rod.

 

Try a search. It doesn't hurt, it doesn't help. Unless you count the extra weight to help with muzzle flip.

 

Well Ill be leaving my factory rod in and the $30 some bucks in my wallet. Thanks guys for the info

 

I have the FLGR in my two 1911s, I'll be sticking to them for a while. BUT, I did purchased the 2 GI & plug, just in case. There is nothing like having.......options.

 

My opinion, No advantage to a flgr. The extra weight up front isn't noticeable, at least to me. I prefer a GI guide rod. Easier disassembly.

 

My opinion, No advantage to a flgr. The extra weight up front isn't noticeable, at least to me. I prefer a GI guide rod. Easier disassembly.

What am I doing wrong with my FLGR in my 5" 45? I must be doing something wrong since I never have the slightest problem with disassembly or assembly.

Despite what others say...I could easily feel the difference in the smoothness of operation when I replaced the GI rod with the FLGR.

 

Colt didn't see the need for one in my 1970s Gold Cup

 

The disavantage? A little longer to disassemble
The advantage? . . . . Hmmm . . .

 

I'm a real noob when it comes to the ACP so please bear with me - What exactly does the FLGR require on take down & reassembly that gives it the reputation of being more difficult??

 

I have not been able to figure that out yet...

 

I'm not sure why some say its hard to take down a FLGR. Same process as a GIGR...press plug down and turn bushing.

But I like mine purely for aesthetics. Looks cooler IMO while in slide lock. If it helps with the lockup and cycling than oh well. But I like the look and feel over the GI Guide rod.

 

This.

I did notice that it tightened up the slide/frame fit on my Ruger. Biggest thing is I just like them.


I never felt to be at a disadvantage when it comes to field strip and maintenance.

 

only two piece FLGR add some additional steps/tools to take down.
One pc are no harder if we're talking full size 1911s

the only thing different is the plug can be a bit more uncomfortable to depress with finger/thumb due to the open end

if I'm at home, i grab "whatever" is close by laying on the bench..punch, spent case, pen..whatever
if at the range and I need to field strip for whatever reason, the mag works just fine

or i just use my thumb

..L.T.A.

 

only two piece FLGR add some additional steps/tools to take down.
One pc are no harder if we're talking full size 1911s

the only thing different is the plug can be a bit more uncomfortable to depress with finger/thumb due to the open end
if I'm at home, i grab "whatever" is close by laying on the bench..punch, spent case, pen..whatever
if at the range and I need to field strip for whatever reason, the mag works just fine

or i just use my thumb

..L.T.A.

Right...it can be a little uncomfortable I will concede that. But...I do think it cycles just a bit smoother.

 

I have them in several 1911's. I don't think it's any harder to take a part the pistol with one in it. Maybe in lower grade guns the recoil plug makes it easier to field strip as there is more play in them.

 

Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to throw it out, and try one for myself. I do agree that it looks cool with the slide locked back. As far as extra time or steps to field strip, Im really not worried about it because I've never found myself needed to field strip as quickly as possible and hope I never do. I would throw it at the target and grab the back up.

 

Kind of surprised the best ADVANTAGE to running a GI guide rod hasn't been brought up.

-A GI rod gives you the ability to cycle the 1911 one handed from the front, similar to a harder press check. (Your combat trained folk, or anyone who's taken and 1911 operators course can confirm, or heck you can try it yourself)
Its just more skills to win the day.

 

Somebody reported bumping a traditional 1911 out battery when it was presented between an armored shield and entry way. Wouldn't have happened with a FLGR....

Just to be sure, I am not arguing for or against, and I don't even know if the above is true. Simply pointing out that every coin has a flip side.

 

Some guns with a FLGR can be more difficult to take down. I ordered a spring and FLGR kit for one of my guns and the rod came to be flush with the end of the plug/cap and that makes it hard to depress and a bushing wrench doesn't work. That being said I have another gun with the same set up and the rod stops just short of the end of the plug/cap and I break it down like normal with or without a bushing wrench.

 

Just buy ledge rear sights... one handed racking with FLGR is easy again!


Chuck it up in a lathe and turn it a bit shorter. Or hit it with a dremel... either way, adjusting the length of a FLGR is pretty basic.

 

Well I decided to try a flgr out for myself and order a Wilson. Should be here in a few days.

 

Hope you ordered the " one piece " FLGR.

 

Wonder how many fingers have been removed while doing a press check? Has to be more than one.

 

Unfortunately the original question amounts to a Ford vs. Chevy stand-off with neither side being able to present a conclusively objective answer to the measurable benefits achieved either with the FLGR or GI rod. The only response which is sound in its merits is that it is a personal choice and will differ based upon who you talk to. Personally, I like the FLGR, have one installed in my Sig Scorpion. Maybe there is some actual benefit associated with it or maybe the only benefit gained is it makes me happy. Only you can decide which is for you.

 

I didn't mean to start an uproar here. I agree with TopMCITWS its all about personal preference. I will find out soon enough. Yes I bought a one piece, didn't see the need for a 2 piece. It didn't look very smooth at the joint to me. Just didn't want to spend the time to polish it up.

 

My cousin and I played with them a lot years ago. Couldn't find any difference in accuracy or "feel" in the several pistols we played with them in. The two piece ones can unscrew themselves while you are shooting, and there is no standard for diameter of the rods, so you might want to get an extra holy plug for your gun.

Found this last one out at the range when I was shooting my XSE LW Commander in .45 and a friend his S&W 1911SC in Commander size. He lost his holy plug. I had a spare but it did not fit on his rod. S&W used a larger diameter FLGR than Colt. Of course if you launch the plug off a normal rod and plug setup with .45 then you can always use an empty .45 casing as a short term emergency solution.

I leave them in guns they come in if they are range toys and if they were originally in there. I have taken them out of a couple used Colts where they were not original to the gun.

On the other hand if you "think" one helps you, then like a lucky pair of socks, it probably does.

 

You can "spring" yourself in the head. Always a good laugh for the rotten families and friends I deserve.

 

I'm surprised that I haven't read anything regarding dirt and grit. FLGR don't like anything foreign sticking to them. I have three 1911's , two with FLGR and one w/o (Wilson). I bought a Kimber one pc. GR and put it in the Wilson and within 100 rnds down range had the slide binding and pistol in complete dysfunction. Upon inspection, the GR had deep gouging and long striations. Needless to say it was useless. I put the GI set up back in.
Now on the flip side, My TRP (two piece GR) and E-series (one Piece) are functioning fine and have always.
After the Binding fiasco of the Kimber rod, I almost switched everything over to the GI set up. But,,,, the others still work. Not going to fix them ,,, yet.

 

Full length guide rods are kind of like putting a spoiler on the back of your front wheel drive Honda Civic - it doesn't do any harm but it doesn't really do anything beneficial either. But it looks cool and all the other cool guys have one, so...... I used to sell and install them by the dozen years ago cuz everybody had to have one but these days all of my guns run a bull barrel with a GI guide rod. The GI rod is all you really need. It still amazes me that Bill Wilson was able to convince SO MANY people that they needed a FLGR but he did. Most people will believe almost anything. Just look at Washington D.C.

 

I only notice more difficulty installing the flgr, there being less surface on the spring plug to place my thumb.

For disassembly I do not notice much difference. I always use just my hands as I was taught in the Army..... (Let me quickly add "to take down my 1911") except on one buddies Gold Cup which has the tightest bushing, not collet, I ever dealt with.

 

I've ran 2-piece full length guide rods, 1-piece and a standard short GI guide rod and I have to say the gold 'ole GI guide rod I like the most. I don't notice any difference in performance or slide wear. A full length may look "cooler", but what it really does is keep your recoil spring straighter (a bit) provide a tiny bit of weight to the gun, and provide some wear to your recoil plug. Oh and it's harder to take down. All of the following assumes you're removing the recoil spring plug firs when you're taking down your weapon:

First, the 2-piece you have to unscrew the front piece. If you have a really nice one that doesn't require an allen key ok, but generally you'll probably need a little something. some of these are notorious for "backing out" a tad after shooting a bit. I didn't like that and I didn't like lugging around an allen key. In the end even if you remove it you're left with a recoil spring plug with no center that is difficult to push down and your thumb hates you. See next paragraph on that.

Second, the 1-piece doesn't protrude through the recoil spring plug, so you end up with a funky ring cut into your thumb after pushing that bad boy down, and if you have a standard recoil spring from the factory that can be a bit stiff. With a softer spring it's obviously easier all the way around, but it's still a pain. A bushing wrench helps that, but I don't like toting around a wrench.

Finally the GI plug and short guide rod I find really easy to break down with very little effort. I can do it with my eyes closed.

Now you can argue that all of this is pointless if you pull the slide back a bit, remove the slide stop....ok, but I found trying to re-assemble the weapon this way is a HUGE pain with the plunger tube detent in the way. The plug comes out first and goes in last. It's just easier.

In the end to each his/her own.