Posted: 10/9/2008 6:29:40 PM EDT
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Hello, So I just disassembled and cleaned my Springfield loaded for the first time. What's the deal with the 2 piece guide rod? It was a PITA to get off. Any advantage to it vs. one piece? Thanks. PS- Avoided the idiot scratch - but I can see how easy it could be to do. |
Yes, lets not, "He that throws stones behind a gun with FCS" 
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The biggest gripe I had with the two-piece system was that on each pistol I owned that was so-equipped, the darn thing would unscrew during use. I never had one fall or fly off, but came close. Some users advised using Loctite to secure the two guide rod pieces, but that brought on problems of its own. The need for an allen wrench for disassembly and reassembly is an issue, albeit a minor one. The second issue was reassembly and the special recoil spring plug with the sharp edges became the issue. Given that the two-piece system has no documented advantage over the conventional G.I. system, a change to the G.I. system has been the answer for a lot of users. Some, maybe most, SA owners do not object to the two-piece guide rod system but there are enough SA owners that do bitch loudly, indicating that the problem is not an isolated one, and the solution is so simple, it's hard not to plunk down the $25 for the replacement parts. The fact that Springfield uses the conventional G.I. stubby guide rod in their Custom Shop pistols, including the Pro, says it all for me. |
You've got it. I think it took about a week to get the parts. |
You don't even need a new spring guide. The back half of the two piece will work just fine. |
I've read postings buy guys who have done just that with no issues, and thought about doing the same. The only reason I didn't was a concern (also expressed by others) that a spring coil could catch on the square/sharp edge of the end of the guide rod (the back half of the two-piece config). The G.I. guide rod has a hemispherical fwd end, which I'd think would be less likely to hang up. Probably a needless concern, but or the few $$$ involved I went for the G.I. stub rod. |
I haven't had any issues using that setup in my TRP to date. I pretty sure the diameter of the coils is greater than the depth/pitch of the threads of the on the end of the guide rod so I don't really see it being an issue as long as your not a uber anal perfectionist. I'll try to take a picture later for reference. |
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The one-piece is easier to deal with. You disassemble it the same way as the GI guide / plug, it's just a bit harder to depress because the plug has a big hole in the end. It gives you some weight at the muzzle, makes the slide feel smoother when racking it, allows you to take the top end off as one unit, and can be used as an emergency squib rod. |