R0D.com

What is the purpose behind a guide rod modification on a hand gun?

What are the benefits of replacing the guide rod with a stainless steel one or say a titanium rod?? I just read about all these guys changing out the rod and getting trigger jobs done. thanks.

Public Comments

1. One reason is the weapon cycles smoother, and the second reason is that its far more durable than the stock cheap ones, some of which are now actually plastic "cough, cough BERETTA cough".
2. Most of the time it's a chrome plated factor. Saying they have this or that new-fangled item. It will slightly reduce your pistol weight and the reciprocating mass but it's chasing unicorns to me. Trigger jobs are nice when done properly and not for a concealed carry gun. If it isn't broken, don't fix it.
3. Just a techno wizbang supposed upgrade that is really not needed. the only ones I would replace would be the ones that are plastic and that is just for my piece of mind. Somewhere on the net ( i will post it if i can find it) there is a video of a 1000 round endurance test on a Glock 19. The plastic guide rod failed (melted) at around the 800rd mark. NOTE: I said the guide rod failed,not the pistol, it continued on to finish the 1000rds without a guide rod. Here it is, four minutes into part two. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/10/06/1000-round-9mm-glock-19-torture-test/
4. So, rarely is the guide rod being exchanged for a Titanium rod, generally it is a Tungsten guide rod. However, generally what is happening is either a half length rod or a plastic rod are being changed out for a full length rod in steel or tungsten. This serves two purposes: 1) Full length guide rods can improve accuracy of a pistol - primarily 1911's, because the guide rod bushing helps to force the alignment of the slide as it cycles to come back to exactly the same place each time. Don't the slide rails do this, you ask? Well, in a really tight 1911 with a match barrel, the answer is yes, in a sloppier one, this can help a bit. However, in those guns it can impact reliability because it is yet another drag point taking energy from the recoil spring. 2) Full length guide rods add weight out at the end of the gun. Recoil is directly related to the weight of a gun. Muzzle flip is related to the mass attempting to be rotated around the point where the web of your hand hits the backstrap. If you add weight at the end of the gun, there is more mass to move, so muzzle flip is less. This type of modification is very popular in guns like the Glock 34 or 35 which is quite light, but relatively long so the effect of the tungsten rod is pronounced. Thinkingblade
5. Guide rod modifications presumably serve several purposes. Titanium and stainless steel are generally harder than say regular steel or aluminum. They also sometimes change the spring on the guide rod to either a stiffer spring or a weaker one. This helps the weapon cycle smoothly and more dependably due to the elimination of flexing of the guide rod under the pressure of recoil. Also these two metals are less likely to rust and easier to clean. The other reason for this is to alleviate some of the recoil, because the guide rod and stiffer spring help absorb the shock. It should be noted that some manufacturers of the newer, polymer pistols such as GLOCK, however, discourage this practice because it changes the harmonics and balance of the weapon and can affect accuracy and safety of the weapon. The trigger jobs usually lighten and shorten the trigger pull, and make it smoother and easier to fire.