I have a stainless P12.45 Limited and earlier this in the middle of a range session I notice the recoil spring guide rod was sticking out the front of the gun.

If you are not familiar with it, it has 2 springs with a plastic slider in between them, and a metal rod and baseplate that rests against the frame. The rod captures the inner spring.

What happened was the rod had pulled loose from the plate. It looks like it was only peened in place. I pushed it all back together and repeened the end of the rod over the baseplate.

Would it make sense to take it to a buddy and have him run a weld bead over the end of it? (and then grind the bead flat)

I don't know if the heat from the weld would weaken the metal though.


UPDATE-
I took it to the range today and it failed again in about 50 rounds.



pic stolen from Brownells


A new assembly is $30 at Brownells.