The difference is that a 2 piece guide rod can come unscrewed and separate while shooting. You don't want to locktite them because then you won't be able to easily disassemble the gun for cleaning. I had one in my Springfield Loaded when I got it, threw that thing in the trash where it belongs, and replaced it with a GI guide rod & plug. Why Springfield insists on using them is beyond me, they're just a failure waiting to happen from where I sit.

 

If I was going to get something like a "one-piece", I'd get a Sprinco.

 

I prefer a GI guide rod but I absolutely abhor a two piece. They WILL unscrew on you.

 

I installed a heavy Recoil spring and a 2 piece group griper guide rod on an inexpensive 1911 45 made in the Philippines. Early 90's a $350 1911 to learn on was a good deal and it shot respectable ''4 groups at 25 yds but it had failure to load issues. The heavy spring made it reliable and it groups at ''3 and its never gotten loose. When I clean it I degrease the threads. I bought a Springfield that came with a 2 piece I'm no expert but I once read the 2 piece guide rod works better with heavier return springs. I have a flat spring FLGR on a 9mm. Try decreasing the threads before you trash the 2 piece.

 

The Wilson is good to go. My TRP got one within an hour of my buying it.

 

My SA Loaded had a Wilson single piece installed the night I got her home…put 10K plus thru it…works great!

 

Seems like a couple of my bull barrel builds there is no way a 1 piece full length would work, even with the little hole. Least ways I can't assemble the 2 piece first and then get it into the slide from the rear with the barrel installed. Won't angle enough to clear the lower lugs. Need to go in through the front with the front half. PITA.

 

That's interesting. I didn't realize that was a potential problem, the only bull barrel pistol I have is one I built. And while it can be a thorn wresting the FLGR, it is manageable. Handy piece of information to have. Is that a commander or officer size gun by chance?

 

Depends how bull the barrel is. Granted, it's a sample size of two (one, really because they were dupes), but both my Limited guns were bull barrels with tungsten FLGR's. Those applications require reverse plugs, since there's no bushing to work with.

 

I'm not a fan of full length guide rods but I once had a two piece rod. I cleaned the threads with denatured alcohol, applied clear fingernail polish and put it together. No amount of shooting would cause it to unscrew and it was easy to take apart when necessary. Fingernail polish is easy enough to clean up and reapply. I've used it for years on screws that might back out because of vibrations - scope mount screws, for example - and never had one loosen.

 

Right, I was stuck with a two piece on a gun that kept working loose and marring the rear edge of the compensator. So I glued it up solid and treated it like a one piece.

 

one piece

 

Two piece full length guide rods are notorious for coming apart. That said, I recall an instance with a fellow shooter where a one piece full length guide---5" gov't model---somehow got out of alignment while the gun was being shot, binding up where the rod passes through the plug. Suffice it to say, I've never seen something like that happen with a standard (short or GI style) guide rod.

 

I have a 2 piece in one of my guns, a couple of one piece. I've never had the two piece unscrew, the problem with it is you have to have a wrench to deal with it. I don't see an advantage to a flgr except the heavy rod, tungsten or whatever it is, it can help with recoil recovery a bit.

 

I've used both one-piece and two-piece rods. I've never had a two-piece rod unscrew itself and if I did, a little blue loctite would take care of it and still be easy to disassemble.

Frankly, I think the one piece rods are a real PITA at disassembly time. Having to mess with a paper clip or some other thing to hold the plug back with the spring compressed sometimes feels like you need three hands. I've dumped all my one-piece rods for two-piece rods and never looked back.

 

flgr 👍 I have one in all my 1911s

 

I used a full length in the switch top .45/.38 super.
Makes it easier to keep everything together and just remove the slide, spring, etc as a single piece.

 

I am interested in your switch top! Tell me about it please, I have a commander sized, steel framed Sig that would be a candidate for an additional slide barrel etc in 38 Super.

 

I have no real problems with any of them. Even the goofy plastic clips on the Stacatto or hard to align STI Ranger CCO guide rod.

It just takes a little more time and patience.

 

I have two piece rods in my guns. I have never had any of them unscrew while firing, and if one of them did, it is an easy matter to lock the slide back and screw it back down. However the two piece rod gets the front extension taken off for serious work, and that has never been a problem when shooting the pistols, either as the "long" rod or the "short" rod. The front extension gets taken off in case I ever have to brace the slide and rack the slide, either to load or clear a jam. It hasn't happened in all these years, but so what? Every poster here hasn't died at the time of their posting, but they will at some point, so anything can happen at any time, and I figure it hurts nothing to unscrew it and leave half off, like John built it, or have some extra weight out front for fun and games. What I like, what every poster here likes, doesn't matter, what do YOU like? That is what YOU should have,

 

I have about 4 or 5 of each. The 2 piece is easier to work with for me but they can come loose. I have a Colt 38 special auto I was using 2.9 grains of Bullseye to function. One day I installed a guide rod and was able to drop the charge to 2.5 and it will go lower and it is smoother and quieter when I rack it The guide rod definitely helped this gun. I also have a couple of 1911's that don't have them.