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Guide rod question

Glock 43 
24K views 48 replies 35 participants last post by  GlockyQ 
#1 ·
Ive been using my glock 22 for nearly 23 years. We've upgraded Generations over the years but the same model none the less..

We are switching to the Glock 19, qualifying this week actually. So I bought a new G43, since its the same caliber. I've never had a mis feed, jamb or stove pipe, accept intentionals for training purposes, in all the years I've used the straight stock Department issued 22.

Love the feel of the 43,bought the SI +2 mag extensions, the Crimson Trace Green laser and waiting on the Talon grips.

My question is, are the metal guide rods, steel or tungsten worth the money, do they work? And if so, what would be better, the DPM Recoil Reduction System of the metal guide rod?

Thanks in advance. Peace, Woody
 
#3 ·
Uh oh. Didn't you know that for serious gun work you cannot substitute one single OEM part for aftermarket, else you run the risk of getting kilt to death in a gunfight that you'll never ever get into?

Sarcasm mode: oFF. Do what you want. I have stainless steel recoil assemblies in numerous Glocks and they all work fine, perhaps offering a scant advantage in the added weight over that of the plastic OEM recoil assembly.

The use of a metal recoil assembly with a spring of the proper tension has never been proven to be a hazard, detriment, or a cause of malfunctions with Glock pistols. Many have claimed they're snake oil and a waste of money...thankfully you are free to do as you please. Mine were all purchased from Lone Wolf Distributors for their respective models.
 
#5 ·
I have a steel one in 43 and in my 17L. Personally, I don't think it brings a noticeable amount of change for either but that's my perception. I don't mind having it though; the 43 was stainless to match my first barrel and the one in the 17L was just because I could. I've looked at the DPM recoil system and it seems kinda neat. Can't say how useful it would actually be over stock but I thought about trying one in my CZ.
 
#8 · (Edited)
The only benefits of the SS/Tungsten guide rods that make sense to me are for:
1. Ability to install stronger than OEM springs for high power loads ... slide slam and brass recovery.
2. Recoil reduction. Minimize time back on target.
3. Minimal cost savings for spring replacement over re-purchase of entire assembly.

With the 9mm round, those benefits seem doubtful. I've looked into a Lone Wolf Gen4 RSA and found that LW doesn't have replacement springs available ... so no benefit over OEM RSA. DPM seems to have a following for recoil reduction in .45 and 10mm, otherwise nearly all responses are "no noticeable recoil reduction" in 9mm ... so doubtful any benefit over OEM, especially at 5X+ the cost of OEM RSA. Other SS/Tungsten guide rod suppliers seem to only have the Gen3 rods with a Gen4 adapter ... so maybe some benefit if you are willing to revert the RSA to non-stock configuration, up to you.

FWIW, the OEM RSA (G40) has run OK for me so far (3000+ rds) without problems, with all loads of PF>200, and still passes the RSA RTB checks, with no apparent frame damage. I would think that an aftermarket RSA wouldn't be an upgrade in the G43.
 
#9 ·
Welcome, Keith.


Maybe just leave it alone. It is easy to make things worse with aftermarket internals, but difficult to make things better. Tungsten and titanium and bling bling almost never make the gun more reliable or run better. Consider that after 35 years, Glock might have made these changes already if they had any objective reason to do so.

So consider just leaving the gun alone and shooting it. Talon grips are nice because they actually do improve performance on the 43.
 
#10 ·
Never found one that did anything the factory one won't do, with the exception of making it easy to swap recoil springs for light target loads. A Glock 43 isn't usually a target gun, unless you're real serious about GSSF, so there's no reason for a different recoil spring or guide rod. No matter how much you spend, it will not do anything the original won't do.
 
#11 ·
A couple of years back a friend gave me a new RS with SS rod to fit my gen3 G-21. He said he ordered the wrong one for his gen4, and rather than go through the hassle of trying to return it he just ordered a new one and gave me the other one.
I had my G-21 with me that day, and would shoot a few rounds with it and a few without it. Shooting 5 rounds back and forth with each one on two separate targets side by side.
I could tell no difference between the targets, or the feel of the gun. In my non scientific test I could not tell any difference between the two.

The only conclusion IMHO is that you will save money by not purchasing it.
 
#12 ·
So to sum up, for 23 years you've used a stock Glock and NEVER had a problem, so you get a new one and immediately want to throw aftermarket parts at it for no apparent reason?? What is it you think an aftermarket recoil spring will do for you that the OEM one wont?
Since it's a smaller gun, I've never shot a sub compact, from what I've read it provides a little more forward weight to reduce muzzle flip. It also supposedly makes the pistol go into battery faster and more reliably for better accuracy on "double taps." That's why I'm asking the experts in this forum for their opinions.
 
#43 ·
The only subcom I have in 9mm is a HK P30SK which is stock. I do have a G30 and a G30s. There is a little weight difference between the two pistols and having a little more weight helps on those subcoms with flip.
I ran a metal guide rod on the 30s some yrs back and did not get a real noticeable difference in forward weight for flip. I have shot the 43 and it is a great SC gun.
 
#13 ·
I unfor
Uh oh. Didn't you know that for serious gun work you cannot substitute one single OEM part for aftermarket, else you run the risk of getting kilt to death in a gunfight that you'll never ever get into?

Sarcasm mode: oFF. Do what you want. I have stainless steel recoil assemblies in numerous Glocks and they all work fine, perhaps offering a scant advantage in the added weight over that of the plastic OEM recoil assembly.

The use of a metal recoil assembly with a spring of the proper tension has never been proven to be a hazard, detriment, or a cause of malfunctions with Glock pistols. Many have claimed they're snake oil and a waste of money...thankfully you are free to do as you please. Mine were all purchased from Lone Wolf Distributors for their respective models.
Thanks for the reply. In my line of work, I unfortunately have been in a gun fight and have the possibility of being in more.
 
#14 ·
Never found one that did anything the factory one won't do, with the exception of making it easy to swap recoil springs for light target loads. A Glock 43 isn't usually a target gun, unless you're real serious about GSSF, so there's no reason for a different recoil spring or guide rod. No matter how much you spend, it will not do anything the original won't do.
The G43 is going to be a back up and off duty gun. I will only, hopefully, be useing it a the range.
 
#17 ·
To add to the above benefits...it will ALSO make you feel empowered and confident, since you installed it yourself and made the decision to do so. Thus less anxiety meds.

Placebo power will also make you shoot better with lighter recoil, since you invested time money and effort to do same. And stimulates the economy because we need more fools to buy dumb stuff in the gun markets to keep it alive.
 
#18 ·
I have been using the DPM recoil reduction system in my G43s with great success. Below is personal experience with it.

Reliability
I shot about 11K rounds through one of my G43s with the first DPM system inside, and shot about 4K+ rounds with the second DPM system in it subsequently. Of those 15K+ rounds, about 990 rounds are premium JHPs that I carry. Of those 990 rounds of premium JHPs, about 200 rounds are +Ps. The DPM system does not seem to undermine the reliability of the gun at all. As a matter of fact, I have not experienced a single malfunction with any of those 990 rounds of premium JHPs. Based on my own live fire testing, I trust the DPM system in my G43 as much as or even more than I trust the OEM RSA.

Felt-Recoil Reduction
You cannot really tell if the felt recoil is reduced when you are shooting standard pressure ammo. However, you’ll notice some reduction in felt recoil over the Glock OEM RSA when shooting +Ps.

Cost-Effectiveness
The manufacture claims that their system can last virtually indefinitely. I shot about 11K rounds with it in my G43 with no issue. It was still working just fine, but I replaced it with a new unit as a precaution. It costs about $90 and lasts for at least 9K rounds easily, which means we are talking about only 1 cent per round or even less.

Conclusion
The DPM system works reliably in my G43s, and it also reduces the felt recoil when shooting +P rounds. Because I carry HST 124gr +P, I use it in my G43s. However, if you do not carry +P ammo in your G43, I think you can do just fine with the OEM RSA.
 
#19 ·
T
I have been using the DPM recoil reduction system in my G43s with great success. Below is personal experience with it.

Reliability
I shot about 11K rounds through one of my G43s with the first DPM system inside, and shot about 4K+ rounds with the second DPM system in it subsequently. Of those 15K+ rounds, about 990 rounds are premium JHPs that I carry. Of those 990 rounds of premium JHPs, about 200 rounds are +Ps. The DPM system does not seem to undermine the reliability of the gun at all. As a matter of fact, I have not experienced a single malfunction with any of those 990 rounds of premium JHPs. Based on my own live fire testing, I trust the DPM system in my G43 as much as or even more than I trust the OEM RSA.

Felt-Recoil Reduction
You cannot really tell if the felt recoil is reduced when you are shooting standard pressure ammo. However, you’ll notice some reduction in felt recoil over the Glock OEM RSA when shooting +Ps.

Cost-Effectiveness
The manufacture claims that their system can last virtually indefinitely. I shot about 11K rounds with it in my G43 with no issue. It was still working just fine, but I replaced it with a new unit as a precaution. It costs about $90 and lasts for at least 9K rounds easily, which means we are talking about only 1 cent per round or even less.

Conclusion
The DPM system works reliably in my G43s, and it also reduces the felt recoil when shooting +P rounds. Because I carry HST 124gr +P, I use it in my G43s. However, if you do not carry +P ammo in your G43, I think you can do just fine with the OEM RSA.
Thank you for the time and effort into your reply. My duty ammo for the new 17's we were issued. I thought we were getting the 19's, is 147gr Speer Gold Dot. I will be carrying 147 gr +P in the G43.
 
#21 ·
I've tried the stainless jobbies but have the plastic factory guide rods in all on mine. Just a note, at one time Glock began supplying the G18 with a Lightning Strike stainless unit. I believe extended full auto melted the plastic rod.
 
#23 ·
...forgot to mention that you can impress other gun guys (or be admired for your gunsmithing experience) by saying your rod is stainless or tungsten, rather than the boring stock polymer (it can potentially melt.. ..ya know ?).

Unlikely that any ladies would be impressed.
 
#26 ·
T

Thank you for the time and effort into your reply. My duty ammo for the new 17's we were issued. I thought we were getting the 19's, is 147gr Speer Gold Dot. I will be carrying 147 gr +P in the G43.
You’re welcome. If you are going to carry 147gr +P, you will notice reduction in felt recoil withe DPM system over the stock RSA. Some people (legitimately) worry about its effect on reliability. In my experience it does not have any ill effect at all.
 
#27 ·
I plunked down 50 bucks 15 years ago for one of those tungsten-filled guide rods for a Glock 23.
Didn't notice any difference whatsoever. Turns out, it's just a part that gives the recoil spring something to slide back and forth around. I bought into the hype, but should have bought 2 extra 13 rd. mags instead.
 
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