Any advantage of stainless steel guide rod?

[wbw]

My recently acquired SIG 2022 has a plastic guide rod. Is there any noticeable advantage in switching to a stainless steel rod? Thanks for any input.

[wpsdlrg]

Probably no real advantage to a steel rod - as long as the plastic rod is properly designed. The only issue that comes up (sometimes) with plastic rods is with the type that capture the recoil spring (making the recoil spring and rod into one assembly). In some cases, the end buttons on such plastic rods have been known to fatigue and break. Plastics do not hold up to constant shearing/ tension force as well as metal - that is a fact. However, this is probably not a common occurrence.

I am not familiar with the set up used in your 2022. But, I would say that, unless there is a problem developing with the plastic rod, it is not worth worrying over.

All that being said, I will add that I prefer steel guide rods and NON-captured recoil springs. I can't point to an advantage for them, but I prefer them anyway.

[arch308]

I recently acquired a used 2022 in stock configuration. I can tell from the wear on the barrel it has been shot alot. After taking it to the range for some test firing and cleaning when I got home I found no discernable wear on the guide rod. I think I'll just keep the original and my money.

[dgludwig]

Some argue that the slight additional weight of a steel guide rod over one that's made from plastic affords a slight advantage in terms of controlling recoil on repeat shots. I suppose there's a slight merit to this claim, at least theoretically.

[carguychris]

The only issue that comes up (sometimes) with plastic rods is with the type that capture the recoil spring (making the recoil spring and rod into one assembly). In some cases, the end buttons on such plastic rods have been known to fatigue and break.

Another issue sometimes arises when the recoil spring isn't captive. Some pistols rely on a notch under the barrel to retain the guide rod and recoil spring during reassembly. Some plastic guide rods are prone to flexing and popping out of the notch- a problem that can get progressively worse after the guide rod pops out a few times and the relatively soft edge starts to round itself off.

OTOH I'm not sure if the SP2022 is prone to this particular problem.

[wbw]

Thanks guys. I'll probably just keep the stock guide rod until such time as it becomes a problem.

[ninjaamt]

I always like to replace/up-grade from plastic to steel where I can! I have the stainless steel compound spring assembly in my Glock19gen4. It works well and gives you a secure feeling that it would be the last item to go! LOL

[pete2]

I have an LC9 with a plastic guide rod, so far no wear on the rod. I've probably run 400 rds thru it. Why ad another ounce to an already heavy gun if it serves no purpose?

[sigarms228]

I have never heard of anyone having a problem with the poly guide rod that comes with the SP2022 including myself. One thing that steel does not do is flex like poly will which possibly could be an advantage for the guide rod in a particular firearm. I stick with the factory guide rod.

An advantage of going to stainless steel?? You help put the manufacturer's kids through college.

[57K]

The slight advantage may be in that the steel guide rod is not going to flex and spring compression might be more consistent. My SR9 came with a plastic guide rod and it works fine, but since I am going to load and shoot high velocity 147 gr. JHPs, I ordered a S.S. guide rod assembly with a 20# spring vs. the 18# factory. Galloway springs are captured but the rod disassemble's so that you can change to whatever weight you feel is needed.


With my former XDm in .45 ACP I also used a S.S. guide rod that was fairly heavy compared to the hollow factory steel guide and it did help improve the balance of the pistol by increasing the weight up front.

[arch308]

I don't understand. You buy a poly-framed gun because it's light, then try to add weight. Am I missing something?

[Walt Sherrill]

Guide rods are not a highly stressed part. If a gun came with a plastic guide rod there's good reason to think that the gun will do well with a plastic guide rod. (I've heard of a cases where the Glock guide rods broke -- but the guide rod continues to work despite the break.)

In a few cases, installing a steel guide rod can cause problems -- when the rod's steel is harder than the gun's frame (be it's polymer or alloy), causing there to be wear to the "receiver stop" (the spot on the frame where the base of the guide rod rests.) This is an observed problem with the alloy-framed CZ compact guns, and CZ warns against using steel guide rods with their alloy-framed weapons.

(With many guns, the guide rod tilts a bit as the slide retracts, and that tilt causes some wear on the frame. That sort of frame wear isn't covered by warranty, so be sure to check with the gun's maker before installing, if you're not sure.)

For a steel-framed gun, it probably won't hurt -- but you probably won't see any real change in performance, either.

.

[RC20]

Plastic guide rod had the same reaction for me, but the more I thought about it and got experience with he gun that worked just fine it was. Ok, they tested this thing with 100, 200 thousand rounds? It didn't fail.

Mine will never see that kind of round count and if I introduce a metal part into a polymer frame it will not be any better and it could very well cause unintended issues.

So, I opt to keep the poly rod and have yet to hear a report of a problem with them.

I understand the impulse (pun) to change it, but I think there is no down side to keeping the original and the law of unintended consequences could kick in if you do so. .

[TunnelRat]

I have never felt the need to replace the factory guide rod. If that is what the weapon was designed to use, then that's what I'm going to use. Simple.

[zincwarrior]

Weight if you're competing ro desire faster follow up shots.

[TunnelRat]

Weight if you're competing ro desire faster follow up shots.

Depends on the type of competition. Weight at the front of the handgun also slows transition time between targets and can cause the barrel to swing passed targets when changing POA. There are pluses and minuses.

[zincwarrior]

This is very true. Its a trade off. I always thought that if you want a heavier gun buy a heavier gun.

[Skans]

Yes. They look nicer than the plastic ones.

FWIW, they should change the name of this gun part. A better name would be "recoil spring shaft". All it does is keep the recoil spring in place. It does not guide the barrel, slide, or anything like that.

[Walt Sherrill]

A better name would be "recoil spring shaft". All it does is keep the recoil spring in place. It does not guide the barrel, slide, or anything like that.

And, for most guns, it keeps the recoil spring in place ONLY during installation, after a field strip -- cause the dust cover will keep the spring in place the rest of the time...

Some folks claim they see improvements in accuracy when using steel guide rods. I wonder if that was put to a blind test -- i.e., the shooter didn't know which guide rod was installed -- whetherthey'd see improved results.

Accuracy (or, more correctly, precision) generally has to do with the barrel and slide lining up consistently with each shot -- and the guide rod doesn't seem to play too big a role in that function.

[virg]

Originally Posted by arch308

I don't understand. You buy a poly-framed gun because it's light, then try to add weight. Am I missing something?

Exactly. That's about the only thing you would be gaining by going to a stainless steel guide rod is weight. Glock has been using them for over 25 years now with no problems.

[wbw]

OK guys. I'm the OP. I get it. I'm keeping the plastic rod.

I just saw that people make the steel rods and some folks must be buying them. Thought there might be some advantage other than looks. Seems not.

[TunnelRat]

OK guys. I'm the OP. I get it.

Sometimes the conversation continues passed the answer for you, hence the forum. No problem with conversation.

[wpsdlrg]

" The only issue that comes up (sometimes) with plastic rods is with the type that capture the recoil spring (making the recoil spring and rod into one assembly). In some cases, the end buttons on such plastic rods have been known to fatigue and break.
Another issue sometimes arises when the recoil spring isn't captive. Some pistols rely on a notch under the barrel to retain the guide rod and recoil spring during reassembly. Some plastic guide rods are prone to flexing and popping out of the notch- a problem that can get progressively worse after the guide rod pops out a few times and the relatively soft edge starts to round itself off. "


Well then ! THERE'S a reason to prefer steel guide rods !

[MLeake]

The question I have is whether the stainless steel rod might actually cause wear damage where it passes through the slide, on a gun that wasn't designed with a stainless steel rod.

[Walt Sherrill]

The question I have is whether the stainless steel rod might actually cause wear damage where it passes through the slide, on a gun that wasn't designed with a stainless steel rod.

Wear on the slide opening isn't likely to be a problem -- cosmetic, but not functional. (The front of the slide is just an opening to let full-length guide rods protrude.)

CZ warns against using steel guide rods with their alloy-framed models, noting that they've seen wear on the "receiver stop" -- the spot on the framee where the base of the guide rod rests as the slide retracts -- and that wear can become quite severe, over time. That damage is not covered by warranty, as those models have NEVER been delivered with steel guide rods.

The same thing COULD happen with other alloy-framed guns, depending on how the guide rod is positioned..

SIG started delivering guns with plastic guide rods some years back, and there was such a stink raised by SIG owners that SIG quickly went back to steel, even though SIG thought that plastic guide rods were better. A lot of shooters assume that steel is better, but that might not always be the case. You see similar discussions when the topic of full-length or shorter guide rods are discussed.