katit Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Shadow custom with 2k rounds - guid rod looks like on picture. Is that normal? Or is that maintenance item? I shoot all minor power loads, <140PF for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prov1x Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 that is not normal wear. those are chunks missing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfd147 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) Did you replace the recoil spring? It looks like the spring is compressing completely before the slide is all the way back battering the guide rod into the frame (actually the lower barrel lug). Or those are really hot loads that you are running through the gun. Jason Edited March 31, 2014 by kfd147 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katit Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 Nope. All <140pf loads and all stock, nothing replaced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgardner Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 My Shadow with the stainless guide rod showed some minor wear like that at a few hundred rounds and I replaced it with the stock plastic guide rod and a 13 pound instead of the 11 pound spring. That was a year ago (probably 8000 rounds) and I just replaced it again and it showed no signs of wear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc361 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Ive never seen wear like that on a guide rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhop Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 mine did that i have since switched to a stock plastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feralshooter Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I also turfed my SS rod in favour of the plastic one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 i've been running a SS rod for about 8 months or more. nothing like that one mine. that is not right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_C Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Disagree. I had a completely stock Shadow Target running 132 PF and the guide rod looked very much like that. I just pull it out every now and then and dress it with a file. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueorb Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I can't imagine that is normal. I have been shooting 139 PF with a 11.5 # spring and I have no wear or marks on my guide rod (about 3000+ rds so far). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magsz Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 My guide rods are also chewed to pieces but not quite THAT bad.... The edges are peened and not round...that one looks...damaged. I would replace that to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebp45 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I am glad I found this thread as my guide rod is looking the same. I couldn't believe that it was supposed to be getting beat up like that. Guess I will order a new one and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorfish Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 When my Shadow's guide rod starts getting a little dinged up/ rough around the edges, I know it's time to change the recoil spring. This usually happens between 5,000 and 7,000 rounds (130 PF 9mm ammo). Once I change the recoil spring, it smoothes out until it's time to change again. From the looks of the guide rod in the picture, it's either "really" old, has a worn out recoil spring and/or the recoil spring is too light for the ammo being used. This is my experience only and I could be completely wrong here, but I would bet that Blueorb who posted above will start seeing some minor nicks around his guide rod base just pass 5000 rounds. Better be ready with a new recoil spring FYI I use factory 11lb. springs from CZ Custom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgardner Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I'm thinking someone made the guide rods from 303 stainless which is a very soft alloy but machines nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorfish Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I'm thinking someone made the guide rods from 303 stainless which is a very soft alloy but machines nicely. In an all metal gun you've got the metal slide recoiling against the metal frame. The recoil spring and guide rod are the only things in between this recoiling of the frame and slide. I would assume you would want the metal guide rod to be the "softer" of the metals. I suppose going back to a plastic guide rod or adding a shock buffer would also cure this condition, but I'm thinking these metal guide rods are working as designed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohsevenflhx Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 I used to go through guide rods like that too, always chewed up like that. I put a new guide rod into the frame just the guide rod, and noticed a significant burr in the frame. I cleaned it up with a round file, and haven't had problems since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgardner Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 I'm thinking someone made the guide rods from 303 stainless which is a very soft alloy but machines nicely. In an all metal gun you've got the metal slide recoiling against the metal frame. The recoil spring and guide rod are the only things in between this recoiling of the frame and slide. I would assume you would want the metal guide rod to be the "softer" of the metals. I suppose going back to a plastic guide rod or adding a shock buffer would also cure this condition, but I'm thinking these metal guide rods are working as designed. I believe that you would want the end of the guide rod to stay flat and in contact with the frame and be hard enough to resist battering. Like in my 1911's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I used to go through guide rods like that too, always chewed up like that. I put a new guide rod into the frame just the guide rod, and noticed a significant burr in the frame. I cleaned it up with a round file, and haven't had problems since. that makes sense. I just checked my older of my 2 shadows. it's had the steel rod for probably close to 5,000 rounds. it's basically un-marked. certainly no gouges or peening or anything on the head. the kind of wear posted above is definitely not right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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