Happiness is a new gun 2

[JohnR]

Maybe they do it to sell more bushing wrenches.

[Barth]

Full length guide rods in a 1911 are a good thing, right?

My DW V-Bob doesn't have one (neither does an Ed Brown Kobra Carry).
And I totally love my V-Bob.
Can disassemble it by hand with no tools
Seems like the guide rod thingy is "personal preference".
Not sure one is really better than the other.
If I remember correctly, Hickok45 doesn't like a full-length guide rod.

[kenemoore]

Some folks believe a full length guide rod increases either accuracy or dependability. I don't agree with that.
I have a Kimber Gold Match II, that came with a FL rod. You have to use a wrench. My Ed Brown has a short GR, and the instructions tell you to remove the guide rod and spring, push the barrel forward an inch or more, then rotate the barrel bushing. They claim rotation of the bushing under load leads to inaccuracy over time. BTW, my Executive Elite, is the most accurate firearm, I have ever shot.
Bar None.

I dislike Bull Barrels with a passion. You have to use a tool (aka paper clip) to field strip them. What happens if you are in the middle of BFE, and no paper clips in sight?

[Barth]

Some folks believe a full length guide rod increases either accuracy or dependability. I don't agree with that.
I have a Kimber Gold Match II, that came with a FL rod. You have to use a wrench. My Ed Brown has a short GR, and the instructions tell you to remove the guide rod and spring, push the barrel forward an inch or more, then rotate the barrel bushing. They claim rotation of the bushing under load leads to inaccuracy over time. BTW, my Executive Elite, is the most accurate firearm, I have ever shot.
Bar None.

I dislike Bull Barrels with a passion. You have to use a tool (aka paper clip) to field strip them. What happens if you are in the middle of BFE, and no paper clips in sight?

+1
I shoot my DW V-Bob far and away better than any semi-auto I own

[JohnR]

So I bought the Citadel. It has a full length guide rod and open ended plug, which the magazines will depress adequately, but I did order a bushing wrench. It has modern sights, but all black, so the rear site got white dots added. It was test fired two years ago, so the store (in Texas) must have had a hard time getting rid of them, hence the $389 price tag.

How is it, you ask? It’s tight and needs breaking in. The trigger measured about 5 lbs at first, but it’s crisp. The grips are a blonde wood, very attractive and felt good. But I tried those Hogue palm swell rubber grips and I like them better. It shoots great, zero malfunctions in a hundred rounds of Federal FMJ. I haven’t shot a 1911 in a while, but it seemed accurate considering. Once we break each other in, I think it’ll shoot very accurately indeed.

This is my 6th 1911. I kinda threw a tantrum and got rid of the others, but I have a feeling this might be the keeper.

Pics? After I soak the barrel and reassemble it. There was residue in the bore and it’s not coming out, so I’m soaking it in bore cleaner overnight.

Anyone want an M&P 45? I’m done with mine. The Citadel beats it hands down.

[Bawanna]

Don't blame ya none at all. I'd take the Citadel all day long over the M&P and I kind of liked them years back when the department was looking.

[Barth]

Don't blame ya none at all. I'd take the Citadel all day long over the M&P and I kind of liked them years back when the department was looking.

+1
I've got four pre-lock S&W revolvers that are keepers.
Not interested in anything with a Hillary Hole
Real or imagined, it seems like S&W quality has deteriorated over the years.
I'm not interested in anything they currently have in production.

Read some quick reviews on the Citadel.
It appears to be a fine meat and potatoes 1911.
Enjoy!

[Barth]

Some folks believe a full length guide rod increases either accuracy or dependability. I don't agree with that.
I have a Kimber Gold Match II, that came with a FL rod. You have to use a wrench. My Ed Brown has a short GR, and the instructions tell you to remove the guide rod and spring, push the barrel forward an inch or more, then rotate the barrel bushing. They claim rotation of the bushing under load leads to inaccuracy over time. BTW, my Executive Elite, is the most accurate firearm, I have ever shot.
Bar None.

I dislike Bull Barrels with a passion. You have to use a tool (aka paper clip) to field strip them. What happens if you are in the middle of BFE, and no paper clips in sight?

+1
I've been tempted to go with a Bull Barrel and the paper clip thingy just puts me off.
Really prefer to be able to field strip my guns without tools

[JohnR]

I had a Citadel Officer that used the paper clip. It was sub-optimal.

[Bawanna]

My Tisas has the bull barrel and the paper clip hole but I don't even use it. The recoil spring is easy enough to depress that I just take it apart like all the others. My Cbob I've never actually tried, I use the clip. I suspect it would be more difficult.