Seems like the only thing they do is make it harder to take down a pistol, no?
I came across this article after I googled my question and it said that the accuracy advantage was not even true…
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_147_24/ai_62655365/
Out of all the gunboards I post in, there is a reason I want to ask this here. 
FLGR’s do provide additional forward weight, providing additional recoil control for competition. Personally, I would never put one on a defensive use 1911.
Me either. :nono: Which is why I ask…
Competition, meh. Not my thing.
The only competitions in which I have been involved had a permanent penalty for second place and the FLGR had no benefit.
Gimmicks like the FLGR come and go and will always have many fools flock to its banner. Reliable is a sole survivor and it lasts forever.
You had to go to a 1911 in combat?
In my experience, FLGRs don’t necessarily negatively affect function. In fact it may help keep the recoil spring from binding with the added benefit of more weight at the muzzle end for better recoil control. People’s aversion to them seems to be rooted in the fact that you can’t rack the slide from the muzzle one handed & that it takes more time and a “tool” (paperclip) to field strip the gun. IMO this is inconsequential since you can’t rack the slide from the muzzle with most (if not all?) modern duty/defensive pistols (I prefer to use the rear use the rear sight method) and I don’t forsee myself needing to field strip my guns when I wouldn’t have:
A.) Time
B.) Tools
C.) Cleaning Gear
Other may disagree but the FLGR hate is overblown in my book. If I still shot 1911’s, I’d take it either way.
I don’t hate the FLGR. I’m indifferent to it. It’s OK if people like them and want to run them. I prefer to stay away from unnecessary additions to my tools.
Why? Have they presented problems with reliability? If they provide additional recoil control for competition, would they not provide the same for any other use?
I’ve always had the same opinion as majority here - unnecessary addition. Then I took a class with PMac in October, you can check the multitude of AARs here. He had a 1911 that was a replica of his work pistol, a pistol he not only carried but took into action. That pistol was set up against all “rules of wisdom”, including FLGR. That got me to think how entrenched and dogmatic a 1911 crowd is, voicing their opinions against mods that do not detract from reliability and at least MAY increase performance.
I have a tungsten FLGR coming in on Friday and I’ll be doing some timed drills to see how much, if any, it adds to performance. Until then, I’ll refrain from stating that it is useless, unnecessary etc etc.
Let me stir the mud a bit!!! This is a SW1911 that I de-enhanced!!! I removed the FLGR and replaced the hammer, MSH, grip safety, added the recoil spring guide and spring cap with all GI parts… I also added the Colt rubber stocks and added Trijicon Night Sights. The trigger is GI 1911 type that has been skeletonized… In my opinion, the SW1911 is the best of the clones…
I prefer the external extractor. I have worked on 1911s for many years and have replaced many extractors with broken tips… SW has used the external type very successfuly for a long time… Even the Hi Power uses this type now…
I have put a lot of rounds of all types through this .45 with ZERO malfunctions… It will eat anything!!! I also have combat experience with a stock GI Colt M1911A1 and I have added a link to one of those incidents. There is NO second place in a gunfight!!!
The first rule of gunfighting is, BRING A GUN THAT WORKS!!!
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/legends/serious.htm
Below is the Colt that I used in Vietnam…
Glad you made it out of that.
Where you from in San Patricio Co?
That’s where I live now!
I was born and raised in Sinton. My father was the sheriff of the county from 1940 thru 1946. I still have many relatives in San Pat and Nueces Counties… My sister lives in Corpus…
I seem to recall reading way back in the '90s that the main idea was to help the gun cycle and lock up consistently…sounded good to me right? So I installed one…gun shot fine but not any better (in my hands) than without so I took it out.
If it gives you more confidence then I say go for it as long as it doesn’t affect reliability.
I do find it interesting that most modern pistol designs have one…
I’ve shot thousands of rounds through M1911A1s with tungsten guide rods, specifically made by Heinie and Wilson. I like the additional weight the rods add forward of the barrel link, however the caveat is I’ve had them fail at 5,000 rounds and at 100 rounds, fracturing and breaking off where the rod attaches to the steel guide head. I knew exactly when they happened because I heard them go clanking downrange on the concrete floors in indoor ranges.
I haven’t used one in nearly 17 or 18 years.
They aren’t necessary and for a combat weapon I would strongly recommend NOT using one. They will help reduce muzzle flip on a gun used for games and routine training, especially if shooting lighter 185-grain target loads.
If it breaks there’s NOTHING guiding the spring and it starts to bind between the receiver “Dust cover,” the bottom of the barrel, and the end of the slide and spring cap.
Do you remember what the original idea was behind them?
Well, if my experience repeats yours, we’ll soon add EGW to the list of no-gos for tungsten rods. Then again, with current 45 ammo prices, who knows when I get to 5K rounds…
Yes overblown, I have a EdBrown full size & SW PD Both came with FLGRs no problems over 11thousand in the PD & coming up on 7thousand the the EB.
Something must be wrong with mine because I’ve never needed a “TOOL” I simply press on the edge of the plug turn the bushing & field strip it like any other 1911.
Competition is a great way to hone and test your skill against other shooters with simulated stress. When I carried a 1911 I had versions with and without a FLGR and frankly its not a big deal either way. If you want the most recoil control get a full length guide rod. Furthermore the merits of a FLGR in an actual gun fight or the percieved disadvantges are not likely to be seen at all. The shooter not the gun is what mattes most.
Pat
I had one break on and early Springfield Mil-Spec I had “upgraded”. In 2004 I came in 3rd overall in CDP at the IDPA Nationals, behind Robbie Leatham and Greg Martin with a Wilson KZ-45. That gun didn’t come from Wilson with a FLGR and I didn’t feel that it needed one.
Gentlemen, thank you for the discussions.
While I won’t lie that my tastes in 1911s lean more toward the traditional, I really did wonder why the rods got longer.
So I googled it, read that bit I posted in my OP and them came here for further discussion and enlightenment.
Say, are there any cases of springs binding at all with USGI length rods anyway?
I have only one 1911 with a FLGR and it is a Colt Commander XSE. It doesn’t require any special tools or any different technique to take it down and it has never caused me any problems. On the other hand, I have never had a recoil spring bind in any of my other 1911s that have standard guide rods. To me, a FLGR is something that neither adds or detracts from the operation of a 1911. I have no intention, at this time, to remove the FLGR from my Commander but I will not waste my time or money replacing a standard guide rod with one. YMMV 