abwehr
SP2022 NOVICE
Posts: 91
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Post by abwehr on Jul 23, 2012 3:49:00 GMT -8
I decided last Thursday to order a steel Guide Rod for my new SP2022 in .40 S&W. I thought I would get to shoot her this past weekend, but got busy and did not. The new Guide Rod should arrive within the next 2-3 days and a trip to the range is due this weekend! For some reason, I just can't get comfortable with the plastic Guide Rods. I know they is little stress on the rods and they should last a long time, but I just want steel, It is a Bedair Rod like the one I bought last year for my SP2022 in 9mmP and have had no issues with any from Bedair. Heck, it took me a loooong time to ever decide to buy a "Polymer" receiver handgun, LOL!
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Geobob
SP2022 INTERMEDIATE
"dum spiro spero"
Posts: 135
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Post by Geobob on Jul 23, 2012 20:20:32 GMT -8
I read something on the SigTalk forum about the steel guide rods. Someone posted that the plastic was intended to help absorb some of the shock away from the other handgun components. I'm not knowledgable on this, but wanted to let you know in case you wanted to research further.
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abwehr
SP2022 NOVICE
Posts: 91
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Post by abwehr on Jul 24, 2012 3:44:51 GMT -8
Geobob,
Yes, I have heard the same thing myself about the plastic rods absorbing shock. The Plastic will do that, but I have also heard the Beretta Guide Rods (plastic) in the Middle East War have or were breaking with the soldiers using the pistols.
Not having definitive research info, my "feelings" are that steel Guide Rods were used for many years with no problems. I saw a video on YouTube of an SP2022 that had beed used for approximtely 2K rounds, still good, but the surface had "scarring" from the Spring. In my opinion, the "scarring" should not be a problem as long as the body of the rod was still in good condition. I see the plastic rod an an expendable part which will require replacement at some point in time.
I also like the Sig P250 and carry a P250 SC pistol. Before deciding to get the P250 for carry, I did a lot of reseach on the pistol. The one thing with the early P250 was the plastic Guide Rod breaking on a frequent basis. Sig began replacing the Gude Rods when they broke and are now providing steel Guide Rods in all new pistols as standard. I would like to "pick" the Sig engineers brains on why, LOL!
Since the steel rod is used as a guide only, there should not be much pressure on the rod. The rods are supported on each end, and only provide support for the Recoil Spring to keep it in a straight line to use it's energy fully during recoil. The support of the Spring is where the scarring was noted in the YouTube video. With the steel rod, which should have a little less hardness than the Spring, would stand up to the constant "rubbing" of the Spring against the rod surface and provide a slick surface drng recoil. Since the Recoil Spring should be changed out every 2 - 3 thousand rounds per Sig, the steel rod should last almost forever.
It took me a long time to go with "Plastic" framed pistols, so a plastic Guide Rod is still on my list of items I don't like, LOL! Honestly though, the plastic Guide Rod should be fine and last a long time, but this old fellow still likes steel somewhere.
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Post by MVRK on Jul 24, 2012 6:07:00 GMT -8
Does your gun make the squeaky noise with your bedair rod?
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Post by kennyd on Jul 24, 2012 6:15:48 GMT -8
If it squeaks, oil it. Lol. I have not noticed it on mine.
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abwehr
SP2022 NOVICE
Posts: 91
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Post by abwehr on Jul 24, 2012 6:46:52 GMT -8
I have not had any squeaks with the Bedair rods. Of course, I do keep a light grease on the rod and spring.
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abwehr
SP2022 NOVICE
Posts: 91
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Post by abwehr on Jul 25, 2012 3:35:31 GMT -8
According to my shipping notice, My Guide Rod is due thru USPS TODAY! I will clean and lubricate te rod and install tonight. No where to try it out, but will do that this weekend at the range. Before I intall, I a going to take measurements of the Plastic Rod and the Steel Rod to make a compaison. I will post the info tomorrow morning.
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abwehr
SP2022 NOVICE
Posts: 91
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Post by abwehr on Jul 26, 2012 3:58:16 GMT -8
My Guide Rod showed up in yesterdays mail!!! Once I got setteled in last evening, I got the SP2022 out and put the rod in place......Oops, a little problem, the rod was a tad too long an ould not fully insert due to the angle going into the slide. I was tired, so I did not do anything last night, but will work on it this evening if all goes well.
The body of the rod is a little larger in diameter than the plastic rod and a little too long. I can take care of this easily and it will be a custom fit. I will shorten the rod, put a larger bevel on the end so it will just slide in. The quality is great and no compliants about the rod. The one thing after I saw the body diameter is a little larger is that it should provide slightly more stability to the slide as the hole in the slide will be a closer fit than the plastic rod. I want to get this done prior to the first shots from the pistol. I love "tweaking" stuff, LOL!
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Post by MVRK on Jul 26, 2012 10:36:34 GMT -8
Can you take a picture after your changes, maybe a before and after?
Sent from my HTC One X using ProBoards
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abwehr
SP2022 NOVICE
Posts: 91
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Post by abwehr on Aug 1, 2012 5:15:24 GMT -8
Guys, Sorry to take so long to respond, but I lost the Hard Drive on my computer! What a bummer with no computer over the past weekend and the past day and a half. I have a new Hard Drive now and most of the data got saved.
Over the weekend, I did get the new Guide Rod working fine! The body diameter was .012 larger than the plastic rod, but this was no problem at all and provided a better fit to the Slide guide rod hole. I did have to remove .120 from the front of the rod, and put a much steeper angle to the bevel. The Bevel took me two tries to get the rod to slide into the hole and then it worked perfectly. All in all, it took me about 10 minutes to get it operational and then a few more minutes to polish the cut end to match the rest of the rod.
I did not get to the range the past weekend as I had planned, but I know it will work fine. I also keep my steel rod and the Spring well lubricated with an NLGA 2 grease (actually, Castol Wheel Bearing Grease). With the grease there is no binding, squeking, etc with the rod. Love the new rod and feel the slide operation is much smoother!!!!
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Post by bunk22 on Aug 11, 2012 18:50:16 GMT -8
I've had a SS guide rod in both my Sig P226 Navy and 2022 since day one, no issues at all.
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abwehr
SP2022 NOVICE
Posts: 91
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Post by abwehr on Aug 12, 2012 1:47:48 GMT -8
I do not like the plastic rods and have changed them all out to steel. I would prefer a regular steel rod so they can be blued, but most you are stainless steel. I made my first steel rod from C8620 steel and put a light case hardening on the outside, polished after hardening, and rust blued the final part. Now, I just buy the stainless steel rodes from Bedair and it saves $$$$ and a lot of time, LOL
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flashman
SP2022 INTERMEDIATE
I am Brian
Posts: 120
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Post by flashman on Aug 12, 2012 11:56:03 GMT -8
I will buy one of these rods fairly soon. Probably another month or so. Is it common for the rod to be slightly larger than the polymer rod?
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Post by kennyd on Aug 12, 2012 16:30:44 GMT -8
If the spring slides over the rod easily without having to force it, and the rod is flush with the muzzle end of the slide then you shouldn't have a problem. If you receive one from Steve Bedair that is out of spec and does not fit your pistol, I am sure you can contact him and he will take care of you.
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flashman
SP2022 INTERMEDIATE
I am Brian
Posts: 120
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Post by flashman on Aug 15, 2012 15:03:29 GMT -8
Well, I decided to buy one over the weekend and got it today. It is perfect and just have to lube it and fire.
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