two pice guide rod

4thHorseman · November 18, 2009, 09:22 PM

Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop a two pice guide rod in a 1911 type pistol from loosening (unscrewing into two pieces)?
Thanks

Netzapper · November 18, 2009, 09:27 PM

Loctite?

LHB1 · November 18, 2009, 10:01 PM

Replacing it with a one piece guide rod would definitely stop the problem.

drail · November 19, 2009, 08:29 AM

Replacing it with a GI type rod will solve the problem also. I ran competition guns for years with one and two piece full length guide rods. Now all I run are GI type rods.

AirForceShooter · November 19, 2009, 08:51 AM

Red Loc-Tite

But replacing it is probably the best solution.
Take your pick of FLGR or a GI

AFS

CowTowner · November 19, 2009, 09:23 AM

If it's coming apart when you're shooting the gun, then it has done its job and time for a new one.

**Unclenick** · November 19, 2009, 10:05 AM

Note that Red Loctite is permanent and won't let you take it apart again witout heating to about 250 degrees. Use the removable stuff for this kind of application.

Harry Bonar · November 19, 2009, 05:05 PM

Sir;
No. That's why I don't use guide rods.
Harry B.

Ivan · November 19, 2009, 09:44 PM

Peening the threads slightly also works reasonably well. The side of a round screwdriver blade works pretty well. If you are going to Red Loctite it in place, MAKE SURE YOU CAN DISASSEMBLE THE GUN!!! If you want the guide rod long, you might have to start your disassembly by removing the slide stop.

- Ivan.

4thHorseman · November 19, 2009, 11:50 PM

I have a commander size pistol. If I use a one piece guide rod, I cannot assemble or disassemble it. I have to have a way to break it down.
The guide rod is brand new. I have had this problem before on an older guide rod and I had to continue to tighten it during the shooting at the range.
It has a bull barrel so I cannot use a plug.

drail · November 20, 2009, 06:37 AM

4thHorseman, can you not remove the slide stop, remove the slide and then remove the spring and guide rod from the rear of the slide? This is how I takedown all of my bull barrel guns. I use a GI short guide rod and a reverse plug. If you're running a heavy spring it can be a little tough to control until you get used to it.

LHB1 · November 20, 2009, 11:37 AM

Quote: "I have a commander size pistol. If I use a one piece guide rod, I cannot assemble or disassemble it. I have to have a way to break it down.
The guide rod is brand new. I have had this problem before on an older guide rod and I had to continue to tighten it during the shooting at the range.
It has a bull barrel so I cannot use a plug."

Talk to Wilson Combat. My 4" Wilson 1911 uses a one piece guide rod with a small hole drilled thru it vertically. I retract the slide and insert a short tiny nail stub. This locks the recoil spring so I can then remove the slide stop, remove slide, and remove captured recoil spring from the rear. LEAVE THE PIN/NAIL IN THE ROD UNTIL GUN IS FULLY REASSEMBLED. Then retract slide and remove pin. Works slick and easy.

James K · November 20, 2009, 04:04 PM

Except for adding a small amount of weight, a full length guide rod of any type is a solution without a problem. Its only purpose is to make money for the maker. Get a standard guide rod.

Hi, Harry B.

No guide rod? I have tried that and had a problem with the spring kinking, plus the rear of the guide rod is what stops the slide.

Jim

LHB1 · November 20, 2009, 05:52 PM

Quote: "Except for adding a small amount of weight, a full length guide rod of any type is a solution without a problem. Its only purpose is to make money for the maker. Get a standard guide rod."

As you can see, some shooters like full length guide rods in 1911's and some don't. I happen to like them. Use standard or full length according to your preference. I think that with the 4" guns, use of short guide rod will leave an opening at front of slide under the barrel. Using a full length guide rod cut flush with front (like my Wilson 4" Protector), the front surface of guide rod will fill that opening and look much better (in my opinion).

4thHorseman · November 22, 2009, 07:48 PM

LHB1 -Talk to Wilson Combat. My 4" Wilson 1911 uses a one piece guide rod with a small hole drilled thru it vertically. I retract the slide and insert a short tiny nail stub. This locks the recoil spring so I can then remove the slide stop, remove slide, and remove captured recoil spring from the rear. LEAVE THE PIN/NAIL IN THE ROD UNTIL GUN IS FULLY REASSEMBLED. Then retract slide and remove pin. Works slick and easy.
Thank you all for your responses.
I have asked Wilson and they told me all they had was a two piece guide rod. I will call them again ask them again tomorrow. I know I have gotten several answers from several reps there, but they meant well each time.

Again, thanks guys

LHB1 · November 23, 2009, 12:03 AM

Quote: "I have asked Wilson and they told me all they had was a two piece guide rod. I will call them again ask them again tomorrow. I know I have gotten several answers from several reps there, but they meant well each time."

Perhaps they only cut shortened one piece guide rods for their own custom pistols. My gun is a 4" Wilson Professional and the shortened guide rod was fitted during original manufacture. Either Nick (X105) or Matt (X107) should be able to give you a straight answer to the question.

4thHorseman · November 23, 2009, 02:19 PM

I called Wilson to day. I talked to a rep. I asked them to make me one. They said they would. The oddity about them, they have to be just a bit longer than the other manufactures to fit into the the reverse plug from Wilson.
Again, you guys have been wonderful with your help. Thank you all.

LHB1 · November 23, 2009, 06:59 PM

Quote: "I called Wilson to day. I talked to a rep. I asked them to make me one. They said they would."

Great. Hope that solves your problem. Ask them to send you a couple of the short, cut off pins to use for locking the guide rod during disassembly. You can use them to buy additional small nails and cut lots more as needed once you see what size and length is appropriate. Remember which rep you talked to and check back with him later if you have problems or to tell him thanks for taking care of your needs. IME those guys really try to help customers out and a thank you is appreciated. They also like to know that the problem was successfully solved.

AJG · November 25, 2009, 10:29 AM

Peening the threads slightly also works reasonably well. The side of a round screwdriver blade works pretty well. If you are going to Red Loctite it in place, MAKE SURE YOU CAN DISASSEMBLE THE GUN!!! If you want the guide rod long, you might have to start your disassembly by removing the slide stop.
- Ivan.

Peening! WOW, why didnt I think about that! In my SA Micro-Compact .45, the guide rod starts to come apart after 500ish rounds and gets to be a major PIA replacing it all the time. I used red loctite most recently, but after I get off work,,, will definately be sitting at the work bench.

Alex

Harry Bonar · November 25, 2009, 12:45 PM

Sir;
I'm with Jim on this - I built a P14-45 and put a one piece giude rod in it (why, I don't know) - it tied the slide up several times and they tend to bur the bottom of your barrel. Get a standard spring tube and go with common 1911 configuration!
Harry B.

**Unclenick** · November 25, 2009, 01:39 PM

I remember almost 20 years ago at Gunsite they reported having tried extended guide rods on a comparative basis for several years. No improved feed reliability. No improved accuracy. No improved ease of operation. Conclusion: John Browning didn't need as much help as some might suppose.

The one two-part rod I bought and played with on my Goldcup (sometime around 1983 or '84, I suppose) is still in my parts box where I returned it after finding it was mostly just in the way. I'd hoped the added weight might be useful, but can't say that I found it benefited my scores.

JohnSmallTX · November 25, 2009, 01:54 PM

On my two piece guide rod I use a wrap or two of teflon plumber's pipe seal tape. Easy, cheap, not permanent, and it works.

brickeyee · November 25, 2009, 02:40 PM

Degrease the threads (male and female) completely and tighten it up.

November 18, 2009, 09:22 PM	#1
4thHorseman Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2001 Posts: 698	two piece guide rod Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop a two pice guide rod in a 1911 type pistol from loosening (unscrewing into two pieces)? Thanks __________________ The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed -- where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees. However improbable these contingencies may seem today, facing them unprepared is a mistake a free people get to make only once." -- Justice Alex Kozinski, US 9th Circuit Court, 2003 Last edited by 4thHorseman; November 19, 2009 at 11:53 PM.

November 18, 2009, 10:01 PM	#3
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Replacing it with a one piece guide rod would definitely stop the problem. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

November 19, 2009, 09:23 AM	#6
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Replace it If it's coming apart when you're shooting the gun, then it has done its job and time for a new one. __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

November 19, 2009, 10:05 AM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Note that Red Loctite is permanent and won't let you take it apart again witout heating to about 250 degrees. Use the removable stuff for this kind of application. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 19, 2009, 05:05 PM	#8
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	guide rod Sir; No. That's why I don't use guide rods. Harry B.

November 18, 2009, 09:27 PM	#2
Netzapper Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Location: Gilpin county, CO Posts: 261	Loctite?

November 19, 2009, 08:29 AM	#4
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	Replacing it with a GI type rod will solve the problem also. I ran competition guns for years with one and two piece full length guide rods. Now all I run are GI type rods.

November 19, 2009, 08:51 AM	#5
AirForceShooter Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Location: Sarasota (sort of) Florida Posts: 1,296	Red Loc-Tite But replacing it is probably the best solution. Take your pick of FLGR or a GI AFS

November 19, 2009, 09:44 PM	#9
Ivan Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Posts: 141	Peening the threads slightly also works reasonably well. The side of a round screwdriver blade works pretty well. If you are going to Red Loctite it in place, MAKE SURE YOU CAN DISASSEMBLE THE GUN!!! If you want the guide rod long, you might have to start your disassembly by removing the slide stop. - Ivan.

November 19, 2009, 11:50 PM	#10
4thHorseman Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2001 Posts: 698	I have a commander size pistol. If I use a one piece guide rod, I cannot assemble or disassemble it. I have to have a way to break it down. The guide rod is brand new. I have had this problem before on an older guide rod and I had to continue to tighten it during the shooting at the range. It has a bull barrel so I cannot use a plug. __________________ The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed -- where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees. However improbable these contingencies may seem today, facing them unprepared is a mistake a free people get to make only once." -- Justice Alex Kozinski, US 9th Circuit Court, 2003

November 20, 2009, 06:37 AM	#11
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	4thHorseman, can you not remove the slide stop, remove the slide and then remove the spring and guide rod from the rear of the slide? This is how I takedown all of my bull barrel guns. I use a GI short guide rod and a reverse plug. If you're running a heavy spring it can be a little tough to control until you get used to it.

November 20, 2009, 11:37 AM	#12
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Quote: "I have a commander size pistol. If I use a one piece guide rod, I cannot assemble or disassemble it. I have to have a way to break it down. The guide rod is brand new. I have had this problem before on an older guide rod and I had to continue to tighten it during the shooting at the range. It has a bull barrel so I cannot use a plug." Talk to Wilson Combat. My 4" Wilson 1911 uses a one piece guide rod with a small hole drilled thru it vertically. I retract the slide and insert a short tiny nail stub. This locks the recoil spring so I can then remove the slide stop, remove slide, and remove captured recoil spring from the rear. LEAVE THE PIN/NAIL IN THE ROD UNTIL GUN IS FULLY REASSEMBLED. Then retract slide and remove pin. Works slick and easy. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB Last edited by LHB1; November 21, 2009 at 12:31 AM. Reason: Correction: Hole is drilled vertically, not horizontally.

November 20, 2009, 04:04 PM	#13
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Except for adding a small amount of weight, a full length guide rod of any type is a solution without a problem. Its only purpose is to make money for the maker. Get a standard guide rod. Hi, Harry B. No guide rod? I have tried that and had a problem with the spring kinking, plus the rear of the guide rod is what stops the slide. Jim

November 20, 2009, 05:52 PM	#14
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Quote: "Except for adding a small amount of weight, a full length guide rod of any type is a solution without a problem. Its only purpose is to make money for the maker. Get a standard guide rod." As you can see, some shooters like full length guide rods in 1911's and some don't. I happen to like them. Use standard or full length according to your preference. I think that with the 4" guns, use of short guide rod will leave an opening at front of slide under the barrel. Using a full length guide rod cut flush with front (like my Wilson 4" Protector), the front surface of guide rod will fill that opening and look much better (in my opinion). __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

November 22, 2009, 07:48 PM	#15
4thHorseman Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2001 Posts: 698	LHB1 -Talk to Wilson Combat. My 4" Wilson 1911 uses a one piece guide rod with a small hole drilled thru it vertically. I retract the slide and insert a short tiny nail stub. This locks the recoil spring so I can then remove the slide stop, remove slide, and remove captured recoil spring from the rear. LEAVE THE PIN/NAIL IN THE ROD UNTIL GUN IS FULLY REASSEMBLED. Then retract slide and remove pin. Works slick and easy. Thank you all for your responses. I have asked Wilson and they told me all they had was a two piece guide rod. I will call them again ask them again tomorrow. I know I have gotten several answers from several reps there, but they meant well each time. Again, thanks guys __________________ The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed -- where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees. However improbable these contingencies may seem today, facing them unprepared is a mistake a free people get to make only once." -- Justice Alex Kozinski, US 9th Circuit Court, 2003

November 23, 2009, 12:03 AM	#16
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Quote: "I have asked Wilson and they told me all they had was a two piece guide rod. I will call them again ask them again tomorrow. I know I have gotten several answers from several reps there, but they meant well each time." Perhaps they only cut shortened one piece guide rods for their own custom pistols. My gun is a 4" Wilson Professional and the shortened guide rod was fitted during original manufacture. Either Nick (X105) or Matt (X107) should be able to give you a straight answer to the question. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

November 23, 2009, 02:19 PM	#17
4thHorseman Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2001 Posts: 698	I called Wilson to day. I talked to a rep. I asked them to make me one. They said they would. The oddity about them, they have to be just a bit longer than the other manufactures to fit into the the reverse plug from Wilson. Again, you guys have been wonderful with your help. Thank you all. __________________ The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed -- where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees. However improbable these contingencies may seem today, facing them unprepared is a mistake a free people get to make only once." -- Justice Alex Kozinski, US 9th Circuit Court, 2003

November 23, 2009, 06:59 PM	#18
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Quote: "I called Wilson to day. I talked to a rep. I asked them to make me one. They said they would." Great. Hope that solves your problem. Ask them to send you a couple of the short, cut off pins to use for locking the guide rod during disassembly. You can use them to buy additional small nails and cut lots more as needed once you see what size and length is appropriate. Remember which rep you talked to and check back with him later if you have problems or to tell him thanks for taking care of your needs. IME those guys really try to help customers out and a thank you is appreciated. They also like to know that the problem was successfully solved. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

November 25, 2009, 10:29 AM	#19
AJG Member Join Date: November 21, 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 88	peening Peening the threads slightly also works reasonably well. The side of a round screwdriver blade works pretty well. If you are going to Red Loctite it in place, MAKE SURE YOU CAN DISASSEMBLE THE GUN!!! If you want the guide rod long, you might have to start your disassembly by removing the slide stop. - Ivan. Peening! WOW, why didnt I think about that! In my SA Micro-Compact .45, the guide rod starts to come apart after 500ish rounds and gets to be a major PIA replacing it all the time. I used red loctite most recently, but after I get off work,,, will definately be sitting at the work bench. Alex

November 25, 2009, 12:45 PM	#20
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	Guide rod Sir; I'm with Jim on this - I built a P14-45 and put a one piece giude rod in it (why, I don't know) - it tied the slide up several times and they tend to bur the bottom of your barrel. Get a standard spring tube and go with common 1911 configuration! Harry B.

November 25, 2009, 01:39 PM	#21
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I remember almost 20 years ago at Gunsite they reported having tried extended guide rods on a comparative basis for several years. No improved feed reliability. No improved accuracy. No improved ease of operation. Conclusion: John Browning didn't need as much help as some might suppose. The one two-part rod I bought and played with on my Goldcup (sometime around 1983 or '84, I suppose) is still in my parts box where I returned it after finding it was mostly just in the way. I'd hoped the added weight might be useful, but can't say that I found it benefited my scores. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle Last edited by Unclenick; November 25, 2009 at 01:44 PM.

November 25, 2009, 01:54 PM	#22
JohnSmallTX Junior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Posts: 14	Easy / Cheap Fix On my two piece guide rod I use a wrap or two of teflon plumber's pipe seal tape. Easy, cheap, not permanent, and it works.

November 25, 2009, 02:40 PM	#23
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	Degrease the threads (male and female) completely and tighten it up.