Spoke with Kahr CS yesterday - anyone else change out their stock striker guide rod?

[balddog05]

i changed out my plastic striker guide rod for a stainless steel rod - i've had no issues with it but it hasn't been that long either since the changeout - while i was on the phone yesterday with Kahr customer service for another issue i happened to mention that I had changed out the stock plastic guide rod for a stainless after market version

the cs rep told me that the Kahr firearms all used to come with a stainless steel striker rod but they switched to a plastic rod because it offered a better buffering from the constant contact with the striker

while there seemed to be no issue with damage or malfunction they decided to switch out to plastic just for added assurance - overall, it just sounded like she was offering me a word of caution

first, does anyone remember when Kahr used stainless steel striker guide rods? has anyone every encountered an issue due to the stainless striker rod?

any previous discussion about this issue in the forums? im somewhat new here after recently purchasing my first Kahr (LOVE IT) so maybe this has been addressed before and im resurrecting old news?????

i purchased the stainless striker guide rod and spring from Precision Galloway - the reviews for it were very positive - keep in mind, this isn't the recoil guide rod, what im talking about is the striker guide rod that sits behind the back plate on the slide

[Bawanna]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I remember the stainless guide rods. Several manufacturers did the same thing, Beretta I know did.
I think it was more a cost saving measure than any kind of buffering thing but it's a good story anyhow.
Of course I got nothing solid to back this up with and I always put more faith into the companies people than myself.
I don't see how a guide rod could actually effect buffering myself.

Maybe Greg has some insight into this?

[gb6491]

i changed out my plastic striker guide rod for a stainless steel rod - i've had no issues with it but it hasn't been that long either since the changeout - while i was on the phone yesterday with Kahr customer service for another issue i happened to mention that I had changed out the stock plastic guide rod for a stainless after market version

the cs rep told me that the Kahr firearms all used to come with a stainless steel striker rod but they switched to a plastic rod because it offered a better buffering from the constant contact with the striker

while there seemed to be no issue with damage or malfunction they decided to switch out to plastic just for added assurance - overall, it just sounded like she was offering me a word of caution

first, does anyone remember when Kahr used stainless steel striker guide rods? has anyone every encountered an issue due to the stainless striker rod?

any previous discussion about this issue in the forums? im somewhat new here after recently purchasing my first Kahr (LOVE IT) so maybe this has been addressed before and im resurrecting old news?????

i purchased the stainless striker guide rod and spring from Precision Galloway - the reviews for it were very positive - keep in mind, this isn't the recoil guide rod, what im talking about is the striker guide rod that sits behind the back plate on the slide
i have an early production K9 and an early production MK9 that have metal striker spring guide rods. I believe these are original to the guns, but I'm no sure if both are stainless. I've had no issues with either.
Here's the one in my K9
https://i.postimg.cc/mDKZ3JRT/ssgrk9-1000.jpg (https://postimg.cc/R6Qz4PNY)
Regards,
Greg

BTW, I believe Bawanna is correct about it being more cost effective to make the rod out of polymer.

[Bawanna]

Not that there's anything wrong with a polymer guide rod either they work.
But to me steel, stainless or other wise is better.

When I went to Beretta armorer class they had just switched to polymer recoil spring guide rods. The instructor who I thought was pretty sharp and knew his stuff said it was a cost saving measure when asked about it. He felt the same way, steel was better but polymer does work and get the job done.

I'll have to check my 2 K's at home, I'm pretty certain they both have steel, like Greg I don't know if they are stainless or not.

[oldtimer]

Over the years I've leaned on the side of caution and stick with stock parts, having said that not sure after market parts harm the weapon.

[berettabone]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I remember the stainless guide rods. Several manufacturers did the same thing, Beretta I know did.
I think it was more a cost saving measure than any kind of buffering thing but it's a good story anyhow.
Of course I got nothing solid to back this up with and I always put more faith into the companies people than myself.
I don't see how a guide rod could actually effect buffering myself.

Maybe Greg has some insight into this? At a certain point, Beretta guide rods had "channels" cut in them to supposedly channel dirt, grime, etc., but especially sand, which makes up a lot of backyards overseas:) I've always preferred stainless myself. Extra machining to make grooves in stainless. Plastic can be molded. Just my theory, and I'm stickin to it.

[balddog05]

Over the years I've leaned on the side of caution and stick with stock parts, having said that not sure after market parts harm the weapon.

a lot of truth in that - on most of the little "upgrades" i've done on my firearms over the years i haven't really seen a huge difference in performance - i have 3 Ruger GP100's and the SA on them was pretty heavy - a simple changeout of the hammer strut springs and trigger return springs to something lighter helped greatly - that's not always the norm

i've had good success in getting better performance by just polishing many of the stock parts, including sears and other moving parts

[jg rider]

i have an early production K9 and an early production MK9 that have metal striker spring guide rods. I believe these are original to the guns, but I'm no sure if both are stainless. I've had no issues with either.
Here's the one in my K9
https://i.postimg.cc/mDKZ3JRT/ssgrk9-1000.jpg (https://postimg.cc/R6Qz4PNY)
Regards,
Greg

BTW, I believe Bawanna is correct about it being more cost effective to make the rod out of polymer.

Hi Greg,
I also have two K9's purchased in 1997 or 98. They had a disc of rubber the same diameter as the guide rod nail head placed between the rod and the back plate. Never knew what that was for

[oldtimer]

Hi Greg,
I also have two K9's purchased in 1997 or 98. They had a disc of rubber the same diameter as the guide rod nail head placed between the rod and the back plate. Never knew what that was for

Buffer to absorb shock, very common few year back.

[Scott321]

Did Beretta switch to a plastic striker guide rod or are we referring to the recoil spring guide rod? It's my understanding that the original metal guide rod was hollow, and could be damaged during reassembly. I replaced my plastic guide rod (M9) with a solid aftermarket metal guide rod, but didn't have issues with the plastic one.

[Bawanna]

I was thinking of the recoil guide rod, we had no issues with the plastic either.