A few weeks ago I launched my CGW non-captured guide rod in my shop area, then could not find it, so I found the factory captured guide rod and spring assembly and installed it. I've shot the gun several times since and started seeing one problem that I had had originally with the pistol but forgotten about, and, which was mostly solved by going to the non-captured CGW guide rod...
I normally shoot 10 rounds at a time, twenty rounds total per B-6c target, at 100 yards, 2 or 3 targets per range visit. So I have a slide lock reload just before shots 1 and 11 on each target. I usually video the range session and then match up the holes with the shot sequence, so I know which hole was shot 1, which was shot 2, etc. On days when I get 5 or 6 good shots in a row, I make a video, but that doesn't happen every range trip!
On Tuesday of last week, I shot three targets, so 6 ten shot sequences. Of those six, the first shot of 4 of the six magazine reloads hit high, as in out of video frame, barely on the backer high, so 8"-12" high. I would count 18 holes in the repair center target and find one or two holes high but centered. The consistency here is what got me thinking. The first shot of nearly every magazine hit high.
When I got home, I took the slide off and checked for recoil spring tension with the barrel in the locked up position in the slide. The guide rod nearly fell out, there was just barely enough tension to hold it in place. Good thing is, I've never launched a captured guide rod assembly in the shop! Bad thing is...I think...there isn't enough tension left to get the barrel to lock up tightly against the top of the slide from a slide lock reload. On recoil, for shots 2-10, the barrel lands pretty much in the same position every time. There is a little vertical play which isn't bad as long as the barrel goes to the same side of the slop every time the slide cycles. There has to be some play to allow the gun to cycle reliably, especially when it gets a little dirty. Mine are always a little dirty.
Note that this change in barrel lockup position is only significant for me when shooting at a 100 yards, an 8" shift at 25 yards is only 2", which isn't a problem unless you are shooting golf balls, I guess. But the deviation IS a concern to someone shooting 100 yards.
My replacement CGW guide rod will be here Monday, and I might get to test again on Tuesday of next week.
I may also shim the barrel a few thousandths (like I did with the C and S barrels) if I can do so without creating a new problem. I'm pretty sure just going back to the non-captured guide rod will eliminate the 1st shot high issue, as I believe this was not an issue before I lost the first CGW guide rod, which had been in place for a couple of years.
I'll make a before and after video next week based on what I learn, if I have anything interesting to show. I'll also be putting the Apex kits in the C and S pistols, if and when I ever get the right trigger bars in from CZ-usa. I'm getting kinda itchy to shoot the P-10S again, but it is damp outside today and rain is in the forecast for another day or two, and that may delay any testing until late next week.
Joe L
