[New 1911 Addict]

Ok, here is where i'm lost. What is the difference between one piece guide rods, 2 peice guide rods, reverse plugs, I'm realy lost here. I just ordered my slide, it is a commander lenght. Could sombody PLEASE fill me in somwhere on principles of a guide rod? Thanks!

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You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get
yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days
is to go about repeating the very phrases which our
founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.

 

[Kent Dorfman]

I will hit the easy one first.

The diff between a one piece guide rod and a two piece guide rod is that a two piece comes apart somewhere near the middle. Usually with an allen wrench anymore.

A reverse plug is just a guide rod plug designed for barrels that don’t use bushings. There is a small collar that keeps it in the dust cover instead of being retained by a bushing. Unless your commander is a bull barrel, you most likely won’t see a reverse plug. They change the way you take a 1911 apart, but not by much. I think they actually make it easier.

Hope this helps.

Tom
AF Shooting Team

 

[New 1911 Addict]

Thanks Tom for your input, that at least tells me what they ARE. But I still lack in how they operate.

I don't mind technical jargon, actualy I enjoy it quite well to be honest. I know how the one peice fits inside a 1911, i've gotton that far. My Commander is going to have a barrel in it, with one of Jim Clark's BIG Bushings in it, I beleive their also known by the name of "meltdown", I prefer that full profile look to it as it is much cleaner. Or at least looks cleaner to me anyways. Now on the 2 peice guide rod, does the spring go in between the two halves? I've seen a couple that have this funky bulge on them towards the front half, what does that bulge do, (sorry, I don't know the name so it's a "bulge" to me). I hope i'm not pestering yall TOO awfull much here now. I greatly apreaciate how freindly everyone has been thusfar

Thanks again Tom! Buck.

------------------
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get
yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days
is to go about repeating the very phrases which our
founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.

[This message has been edited by New 1911 Addict (edited 10-07-2001).]

 

[Hounddog]

Principal of a guide rod...It's as simple as this: Take a spring, and compress it between two of your fingers. What happens to the middle?...It bows, right? Now say that spring has a rod running through it. No bow, and no bow means a smoother opperation. That's all. Some people claim that it adds stability, reliability...some say it shouldnt be in the gun at all because one of the one handed methods for retracting the slide cant be done with a guide rod in the gun. It's a stupid debate really. If you are a tactical military opperator...and think that maybe one of your arms will get blown off, and you might have to manually cycle your weapon with one hand?..then leave it out...Otherwise, I say it's good to have one. I'll get off my soap box. --HD

 

[New 1911 Addict]

Thanks Hound Dog

I wish everything in life was that simple put.

------------------
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get
yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days
is to go about repeating the very phrases which our
founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.

 

[Hounddog]

to be more clear, it's a rod running through your recoil spring. It protrudes, like the barrel does when the gun is out of battery(slide pulled back).

 

[New 1911 Addict]

I should have made myself more clear earlier on in this thread. I am used to a short stubby rod up at the lugs of the barrel and a hollow plug that the spring recedes into at the muzzle of the slide.

Bucky.

------------------
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get
yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days
is to go about repeating the very phrases which our
founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.

 

[Dave Sample]

I love guide rods. They cost money and are a subject for almost endless discussion.I checkered the end of the one in EAGLE1. I do not like them in Commanders, but do not have any valid reason for this.I love shockbuffs but do not like them in Commanders because I feel they limit the already short slide travel.Reverse plugs are indeed for bull barrels and they can be alot of fun.It is an easy recoil system to remove but has to be installed with care. I view commander size 1911's as carry guns and like them pretty much stock.7 yards ,boom, fall down, and don't get up.I carry a 1954 Colt LW Commander.

 

[New 1911 Addict]

Hi Dave Sample, thanks for your reply to my question. When I build my commander, I should use a guide rod withOUT the buffer, correct? I am planning on using the over sized bushing from EGW / Clark, for what they call the "Melted" look, and they reccomend a reverse plug, do they get installed the same way as you would with a normal plug and bushing combo where plug just gets locked in by the shoulder on the plug under the bushing? I'm sure eventualy everyone will just get tired of my questions and by me a commander

Thanks again for your imput, and warning about the shock buffer.

------------------
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get
yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days
is to go about repeating the very phrases which our
founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.

 

[MadDog]

Hounddog -

People always say you can cycle the slide with one hand if you do not have a FLGR but that isn't true. You can only retract the slide a short distance until your finger hits the dust cover. I don't know about any one else's 1911's but my slides have to go way past the dust cover to chamber a round. The only time I use the one hand method is to verify the gun is empty.

Some of my 1911's have FLGR's and a couple don't. Since they all function the way they are, they are going to stay that way.

MadDog

 

[John Harrison]

Hi Addict,
The EGW "melt" bushing doesn't use a reverse plug, a standard one works fine. The Clark "Melt" bushing does, because Clark's melts the front of the reverse plug to match the melt of the bushing.
BTW, I would highly recommend using one of EGW's extended ejectors. The Commander (as Dave Samples mentioned) has less slide travel to the rear than a Government model does. Commander's need longer ejector noses than what are typically offered in most of the "extended" ejectors (they are sized properly for a Gov't mod). When a Commander doesn't have enough ejector nose length, the ejection pattern and direction gets erratic. You'll throw some to the right front, some to the right rear, some back in your face. In other words, it'll throw brass all over the place. Not the end of the world, but it can be avoided.
If you decide to use an EGW ejector, you'll need to shorten the nose to a length that will just let you eject a dummy round through the ejection port.
Good Luck!
John Harrison

 

[George Smith]

WOW thanks John
where do I send the check

You can use the EGW melt bushing with No guide rod, or a 2 pc rod. (you can do a 1 pc but it is a pain to put in

)

Some of the slides out there are cut for a reverse plug from the factory so we came out with a bushing reverse plug. (also some comp guns are getting switched back and this makes it easier) it is the caspian style (full round collar) but has a flange on the front, you could use it on a gov. or we can make one (or your favorite Gunsmith can for U )to fit a commander and catch the bushing.

geo ><>

 

[Dave Sample]

Hey Dogs! As George mentioned,you have alot of options.The thing to consider is that if you use a reverse plug system, you will have to alter the slide and will have a gap in it if you choose to go back to another system.I think a bull barrel, reverse plug system in a commander would work great,but have never done it.I liked the reverse plug for the Centaurs and 400-Cor Bons because it was very easy to take care of. I also didn't like the recoil system that came with the Centaur barrels. I just put an Ed Brown bull barrel in an older Centaur so it could be a 45ACP and it worked great!

 

[Hounddog]

MADDOG,
I think you're right about the dust cover. I never really gave it that much thought -- just took it for granted. That could be remedied I guess if one was so inclined.
I read this article not too long ago.. on a "full house" gun by Larry Vickers. It was beautiful, I must have read it five times. He explained why he would not install them, and added: "...When John Moses Browning designed the gun, you could press the muzzle on a table or against the wall to retract the slide far enough to chamber a round. You cant do that on a gun with a recoil rod." --I just happend to have the issue within reach. Maybe can't eject, but could you chamer one? By the way, he could be wrong, and it wouldn't lessen the appeal...his guns are are amazingly perfect. --HD

 

[Dave Sample]

I think eveyrone has some real valid comments.I can chamber a round in my Commander with my right hand. I can also push the front sight against my belt and chamber a round. A table is nice and I have a friend who can chamber a round by slamming his elbow on a bar or table.So.........?We used to practice these things when we were paid gunfighters. I don't have the impression that most of you are in the business of peace keeping. I think most of you view 1911's as high priced toys and that is fine with me.I don't have a way to send you pics, but if I did, I think you would find some of the things I do interesting. I have opinons formed by MY experience and not hearsay.Take me with a grain of salt!I'll see if Don will send some of mine someday. Pistolwrench is upset with me or he could do it.We will find a way!