BT Guiderods M&P Guiderod Tool

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

I went looking for a way to change the springs on my M&P’s to avoid buying a new guiderod every 5000 rounds. The stock springs provided with the guns are junk compared to a quality spring like ISMI. My search brought me to www.btguiderods.com.

I sent an email via the contact page, and within about 30 minutes my phone was ringing. I had the opportunity to speak with Bill, the owner about some of the products he was offering. I explained my situation to include the recent discussions about some M&Ps unlocking early causing accuracy issues. While I don’t know how many guns this affects (I have heard less than 1% from a very reliable source) it is a problem nonetheless. While everyone is waiting on Apex to release their barrels, I thought increasing the spring rate may alleviate this issue as a short term solution. I wanted to test the idea, but did not want to purchase an entirely new aftermarket guiderod. Bill offered to send me one of his STA-TITE tools and a 17lb ISMI spring. I thought this seemed like a better idea that using vice grips to take the stock guiderod apart. (Full disclosure, he offered this tool to me for free. After he offered it, I told him I would likely write a review on the blog).

I received the tool in the mail about a week later. Before we start, I can honestly say if you 1. Want to change your springs to higher quality springs or 2. Shoot competition and change spring weights. Get this tool. Its invaluable.

The tool consists of two parts, a clamping base, and a compression ring. To use the tool:

  1. You safely remove the recoil spring assembly from your firearm.
  2. Clamp the base on the fixed (rear) portion of the guiderod.
  3. Compress the spring with the compression ring, and lock into place.
  4. Remove the screw with the proper wrench
  5. Unclip the compression ring, and remove the spring.
  6. Reverse the process to install a new spring.

As a note, the screw does not need loc-tite, the threads are not cut to the base of the hole, and you get a mechanical interference.

This tool makes life so easy, it can be used at the range, and the entire process takes 1 wrench and about 30 seconds. The compression ring prevents the spring from going flying as well. The tool is so simple but useful, it’s one of those “duh” moments.

This is an ISMI 17lb spring next to the original, the ISMI is slightly longer.

The two tools.

The base secured, and compression ring installed.

Spring Compressed. The compression ring locks directly to the base.

Screw removed.

Compression Ring Removed
Just reverse the process and you are done.
Bill told me he has not set pricing for this kit and does not have it on the webpage yet. If you are interested in buying one, please email him at info(at)btguiderods.com.
I have 4 M&Ps, and much prefer using a slightly stronger (17lb vs 16lb) higher quality spring in my guns, this is certainly worth the investment.

2

Looks like a nice tool and well made. Did you notice any differences in reliability or shooting characteristics shooting your M&P with a different spring?

3

I forgot to mention this works on glocks.

I haven’t really noticed a difference, I believe the ISMIs have a longer life however. Maybe someone with more rounds downrange in an M&P would notice a difference.

4

Anything under 15 pounds will run the risk of unlocking simply by shaking the gun. Even worn 15 pound springs tend to unlock rather easily.

Does it cause an issue? It can. I have had several instances where on a really dirty gun during some drills the gun would fail to return to battery after jarring the firearm a bit such as when going prone quickly.

I believe the factory spring weight is 17 or 18 pounds (been a while so i cannot remember the exact number) but i always felt as though the springs themselves felt more like 16.

Staying in this weight range will be a good idea unless you’re shooting lower power factor ammo and want to drop to a 15 pounder. Still, keep your eye on the 15 pound springs and replace every 2k rounds to avoid issues.

Neat tool, i wonder what the cost will be? I would personally rather buy an uncaptured rod if i was going to be running lighter springs due to the frequency at which i replaced them.

Also, why do you think the stock M&P springs are junk? The entire guide rod assembly costs 8 bucks including the spring. I ran stock guide rods and springs for a combined 170k rounds between four guns and i was replacing assemblies every 15k rounds…Hell, my very first recoil spring went 23k rounds before i knew enough to change it.

5

The spring in my M&P 40c has performed flawlessly. I have been torture testing this gun for 3 years as a T&E example and have just over 11,000 rounds through it without cleaning. I have oiled it but never cleaned it. So far I have had no malfunctions except for the slide going forward when I reload on occasion, but it did that when new. So I think the recoil springs must be pretty good.

6

Junk was a poor word choice. I don’t think there is anything wrong with the S&W spring, and I’m not a spring expert, however in talking to some that are, ISMI has better QC with these and some slight differences. Let’s make the thread about the tool ignore my spring comment.