FLGR for Springfield Champion?

[Washita]

I recently bought a used Springfield Champion (Commander-size) in excellent condition.  Today I field stripped it for cleaning for the first time, and reassembly was a wooly booger.  The problem was with the stubby guide rod and relatively long & stiff recoil spring.  I had a helluva time with the spring buckling.  Never had a problem like this before with a full-sized 1911 or clone, with either the short or full-length guide rod, & I've done many of them.  I'm thinking maybe a FLGR would help by holding the spring in position.  Anybody have any ideas on this, including availability and whether it'd really help?

[Iowegan]

Sounds like it has the wrong recoil spring. Not a bad idea to put a new one in anyway. They compress and don't last as long as the spring in a full size. If you're shooting factory ammo or factory equivalent reloads, go for the 18 lb recoil spring. Lots of shooters install heavy springs thinking it will work better when the factory spring is just fine. Make sure you buy a Commander spring, not a Govt Mod spring. Way different in length.

You probably know how but just in case: When you reassemble the gun, install the spring guide and spring from the rear with the barrel and bushing installed in the slide, then put the slide on the frame. After you insert the slide lock, put the spring cap on, rotate the bushing fully CW through a coil of the spring, then press the spring cap down and rotate the bushing CCW until it locks in place.

Full length guide rods are OK but they really don't do much more than make the gun harder to disassemble / reassemble. You won't find it any easier to compress the recoil spring when using a FLGR because they are two piece units. The front piece screws on with an Allen wrench after you seat the spring cap as above.

[Washita]

Thanks, Iowegan, for the input.  I thought maybe a 2-piece FLGR would help keep the *&%$# spring from buckling during reassembly.  I don't know what recoil spring is in it now, but I suspect it's a pretty stiff one 'cuz the previous owner used the gun for IDPA and his loads had to make major caliber.  It's not all that hard to compress, but it's a real pain to hold it straight while putting the slide back on the frame.

My handloads are not full house (230 gr LRN, 5.1 gr WW 231), but judging from the distance it tosses fired hulls I think it's about right.  The previous owner had installed a recoil buffer, which I removed 'cuz I was getting FTE's (I didn't know there was a buffer in it when I fired the gun, and think the buffer was keeping the slide from going all the way back.  I'll test that theory next time I shoot the thing.)

FWIW, the Champion doesn't have a barrel bushing.  It uses a tapered barrel instead.  Nice gun - even came with tritium night sights.  If the FTE problem does indeed go away as I hope, I'll probably relegate it to CCW & use only factory loads in it.

I agree, BTW, about the FLGR basically being a pain-in-the-patootie for disassembly, having had one in a Kimber once, but almost anything would be better than the damb spring buckling nuisance I now have to put up with.

[hendog]

I just bought a use Champion too. Do you know if it has a steel or aluminum frame?

[Washita]

I believe the standard Champion has a steel frame, the Lightweight Champion an aluminum frame.  The steel frame version weighs 34 oz., the lightweight 28 oz.