[eljay45]

What is the benifit of installing a Tungsten guide rod.Is cutting the barrel
flush with the barrel bushing and having it crowned a benificial thing to do on a 1911

 

[eerw]

Benefit of the Tungsten guide rod is to add stationary weight to the gun to help absorb recoil. However..it adds weight to the gun..That is why in IPSC limited class guns you see the long dust cover, full slide, tungsten magwells, tungsten guiderods and tungsten barrel sleeve/barrels..To add weight to lessen recoil. It works for some..

Not sure if it is an advantage to having your barrel cut back flush with the bushing. I think it lookes better than having extra barrel haning out..maybe someone can come up with an advantage..maybe it protects the barrel crown better..

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Adds muzzle weight. This makes felt recoil much less and makes double taps a little faster as getting back on target occurs faster. I have one and really like it. It is from Wilson Combat and adds about 3.5 oz up front, where you want it. It really does make a big difference. I let a friend shoot my gun and he thought I was shooting powered down reloads. I wasn't. I was shooting full power 230 gr ball.

 

[EXEC]

I agree with the above, but, over at the 1911 Forum [just before it crashed today!], someone got on and said that he wouldn't use a tungsten guide rod on any defense/carry pistol, because [he claimed] tungsten was too brittle and the rod was break-prone.

Does anyone know anything about this comment? I'm having a real hard time imagining how you could break a full length guide rod in any case. Any factual info would be welcome from those with direct knowledge.

Thanx

 

[Dan in Alaska]

Tungsten is a very hard and dense metal. The high density makes it desirable to for adding weight to firearms.

As a rule of thumb, the harder the metal, the more brittle it is. I know that tungsten electrodes, as used for TIG welding, chip and sometimes break when they are dropped on a concrete floor, particularly the larger sizes like 3/16" and 1/4". I would assume that under normal care a tungsten guide rod would last for a long time, but I have read some first hand accounts to the contrary.

I don't own one myself, but I have been toying with the idea of getting one. To be honest, I am not really sure what to think.