Posted: 7/17/2025 8:27:39 AM EDT
| Just checking in to see if anyone is having issues with their plastic guide rods. I only have about 1500 down the pipe and mine looks great but I typically replace plastic ones with metal which I know is probably pointless on most guns in this tier but my OCD with this comes from duty pistols. The NDZ guide rods are dirt cheap and look well made so will probably pick one up just for sport. |
Crap Magnet Extraordinaire
| I don't think plastic guide rods are an issue. The ones in my high round count Glocks are just fine. |
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Joined:
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Originally Posted By Czechers: Just checking in to see if anyone is having issues with their plastic guide rods. I only have about 1500 down the pipe and mine looks great but I typically replace plastic ones with metal which I know is probably pointless on most guns in this tier but my OCD with this comes from duty pistols. The NDZ guide rods are dirt cheap and look well made so will probably pick one up just for sport. I like mine with both my Echelons. No problems with the plastic one but IMO the metal one feels better when shooting. It's a cheap enough upgrade too. |
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Originally Posted By right_rudder: No problems with mine but I am thinking about getting the extra power version. I could care less if it's plastic or metal. I asked Springfield if there is a recommendation for when to replace and they no Interesting, on the Hellcat, XD, XDM, etc. I have been told by multiple CS reps at Springfield (while asking about each model over the years) that the recoil spring assembly should be replaced every 3000-5000 rounds. I had just assumed the same was true for the Echelon. I wonder if that's not the case... My plan was to just replace the guide rod when I change the recoil spring since they are sold as a whole assembly, but based on the above I'm not sure when that would be... @right_rudder, did you ask about the recoil spring assembly, recoil spring, or the guide rod? |
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Originally Posted By NN300BLK: Interesting, on the Hellcat, XD, XDM, etc. I have been told by multiple CS reps at Springfield (while asking about each model over the years) that the recoil spring assembly should be replaced every 3000-5000 rounds. I had just assumed the same was true for the Echelon. I wonder if that's not the case... My plan was to just replace the guide rod when I change the recoil spring since they are sold as a whole assembly, but based on the above I'm not sure when that would be... @right_rudder, did you ask about the recoil spring assembly, recoil spring, or the guide rod? don't think the rod is a wear item but the spring is. Their response was to replace it when the casings just fall out that didn't sound right to me but what do I know? |
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Originally Posted By right_rudder: I was asking about the whole assembly since that's what they sell and have as a replacement part. don't think the rod is a wear item but the spring is. Their response was to replace it when the casings just fall out that didn't sound right to me but what do I know? Okay, that's what I figured, but I wanted to double check since the thread is about the guide rod and not the recoil assembly. In terms of the casings just falling out... Um what? That doesn't make sense to me. |
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Originally Posted By NN300BLK: . In terms of the casings just falling out... Um what? That doesn't make sense to me. It was about this time last year and had almost 4000 rounds through my 4.5 and basing off the first half of the year was projecting somewhere close to 8 or 9000 rounds by the end of the year/start of 2025. That's the reason I was asking was to get an idea of what the expected service life was so I knew when to start keeping an eye on it - Glock is between 3 and 4000 rounds if I remember correctly. Anyway, it was an odd answer and didn't answer the question for me |
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Originally Posted By right_rudder: That's exactly what I thought as well. It certainly wasn't the answer I was looking for. It was about this time last year and had almost 4000 rounds through my 4.5 and basing off the first half of the year was projecting somewhere close to 8 or 9000 rounds by the end of the year/start of 2025. That's the reason I was asking was to get an idea of what the expected service life was so I knew when to start keeping an eye on it - Glock is between 3 and 4000 rounds if I remember correctly. Anyway, it was an odd answer and didn't answer the question for me Originally Posted By right_rudder: Originally Posted By NN300BLK: . In terms of the casings just falling out... Um what? That doesn't make sense to me. It was about this time last year and had almost 4000 rounds through my 4.5 and basing off the first half of the year was projecting somewhere close to 8 or 9000 rounds by the end of the year/start of 2025. That's the reason I was asking was to get an idea of what the expected service life was so I knew when to start keeping an eye on it - Glock is between 3 and 4000 rounds if I remember correctly. Anyway, it was an odd answer and didn't answer the question for me I might send them an email on an unrelated question. Maybe I'll ask about the recoil assembly to see if I get the same answer. |
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@right_rudder Okay, they got back to me (they've got really quick customer service again!). They seem to be less focused on round count, though it was mentioned that it may be "about the same as the other polymer pistols" (which I specifically mentioned). They said that the ejection pattern would change and "is typically a good indication" to replace the spring. They did not clarify what the change in ejection pattern would be, which is fine. |
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Originally Posted By NN300BLK: @right_rudder Okay, they got back to me (they've got really quick customer service again!). They seem to be less focused on round count, though it was mentioned that it may be "about the same as the other polymer pistols" (which I specifically mentioned). They said that the ejection pattern would change and "is typically a good indication" to replace the spring. They did not clarify what the change in ejection pattern would be, which is fine. |
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Well my NDZ guide rod was a disappointment. What i received was an unfinished guide rod with tooling marks on it. We'll see what they respond to my email with. Looks like the owner's 5 year old was running the CNC the day this popped out. What was advertised: Attached File What I received: Attached File |
Crap Magnet Extraordinaire
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I have about 500 rounds of various types of ammo through my 4.0 and everything seems good to go so far. No abnormal wear that i have seen. Only mod on mine so far is swapping out the black frame for a green one. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Czechers: Well my NDZ guide rod was a disappointment. What i received was an unfinished guide rod with tooling marks on it. We'll see what they respond to my email with. Looks like the owner's 5 year old was running the CNC the day this popped out. What was advertised: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/300247/1000012927_jpg-3594779.JPG What I received: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/300247/1000012925_jpg-3594780.JPG NDZ did refund my money but did not request return of the guide rod. I cleaned it up with a wire wheel and it runs great. Noticeable muzzle weight increase. I shot so accurately/quickly with the gun before that I couldn't say if it reduced follow up shot times. |
Crap Magnet Extraordinaire