CZ 75 shadow rod

sookie_69

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So I've a shadow I've been using for IPSC and have been wondering if there is any advantage to upgrading to the stainless guide rod other that it won't break compared to plastic.
 
Adds weight to gun which helps reduce felt recoil and muzzle rise and enables you to get back on target quicker. I also use buffers with mine. I like a heavy gun so works for me.
 
I've read quite a few threads and shot a couple guns with them and my opinion is that it is a negligible improvement.
I don't run one in my gun.
 
Weight difference isn't going to matter it's mostly bling and a reason to spend cash. If you like it go for it if for some reason your factory one is ####ed,go for it. If your buying to try and make your shooting better then you'd be better off buying a box of ammo instead. As far as it breaking I see more slide stop and trigger springs or front fiber optic break then guide rods.
 
One advantage of polymer over steel is if you bend steel you are done for the day. A bend in the polymer guide rod and you have no issues. Waste of money IMHO. I have never seen a polymer rod fail, could happen I just have never seen it happen.

Take Care

Bob
 
IPSC's a game of fractions. Often you'll see only a 1-3% difference btwn groups of 5-10 or more fairly evenly matched shooters in a match. As such any half serious IPSC competitor is going to try and shave off as many fractions of a second and squeeze as many Alphas out of the match as they can. And all those little bits, wherever you can find them, do add up at the End!

There's a reason why the Shadow 2 comes with a SS guide rod, aluminum grips and overall is a fair bit heavier, especially muzzle heavy, compared to the factory Shadow. This added weight, along with several other small improvements, makes for less felt recoil and muzzle flip. Which allows you to get back on target quicker and makes for faster splits and improved accuracy yada yada.

With respect to bending or breaking guide question, am yet to see either occur at a match or practice range. Am sure it can happen, but it's not something I would be concerned with. And if you're gonna apply enough force to bend a SS guide rod, I can assure you a polymer guide rod would likely snap with the same force. And anyone that swaps out a polymer for SS guide rods gonna throw the polymer one in his match spare parts kit anyway. But again you'll likely never need it. And the 'it's mostly bling' comment makes me laugh and suspect yer man there is not an IPSC competitor.

In addition to SS guide rod and or buffers, IPSC competitors will also often install lower weight hammer and recoil springs for slightly lighter trigger pull and less muzzle flip on their Shadows and or S2's. You'll also see the majority reloading for best accuracy and PF loads for their guns and Production shooters using 124 or 147 gr bullets. They may also use a race holster. Etc etc etc. For me the difference in draw btwn a ghost one race holster and ghost stinger is a .10 - .15 seconds. Again we're talking fractions. Have both holsters. Both great, but admittedly have thrown the race holster in the range bag as a back up and am currently using the stinger, even though it's slightly slower for me, but I get more Match peace of mind with it, but that's me.

All of the above individually make for fairly small improvements, but they do add up.

And yes, your biggest match improvements will absolutely...100% gtd....come from quality live and a lot of dry fire practice!! No doubt!! But even then, it's all those little things that you do that much faster and more efficiently that will add up at the end.

Just sayin:)
 
Exactly what Northaways said. A game of fractions.
I have won matches by .25 of a percent.
I have won stages by 100ths of a second.
Anything I can do to gain an advantage within the rules I will do. BUT! A stainless guide rod won't gain you much of anything. Regular practice will gain you much more. If you have the cash, sure, do it but things like changing up your recoil spring, hammer spring, extended firing pin, pre B sear will accomplish more than a stainless guide rod. Personally I don't use one and don't think I need it. But.........I probably will buy one anyway. Just to gain a tiny fraction of weight.
 
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Fractions yes but if someone is asking if they should buy one their not dealing with fractions their mostly looking for ways to pay to shoot better. If you need it and you might be at a disadvantage without it you all ready have it.
 
No gain at all, just extra money spent. You might as well as buy 4 extra polymer guide rod that will last years as you spend extra cash in other parts that will wear as to slide stop, safety lever, firing pin and springs. Other shooters also invest in buffers and specialty lubricants. Your choice.

Safe shooting!
 
Exactly what Northaways said. A game of fractions.
I have won matches by .25 of a percent.
I have won stages by 100ths of a second.
Anything I can do to gain an advantage within the rules I will do. BUT! A stainless guide rod won't gain you much of anything. Regular practice will gain you much more. If you have the cash, sure, do it but things like changing up your recoil spring, hammer spring, extended firing pin, pre B sear will accomplish more than a stainless guide rod. Personally I don't use one and don't think I need it. But.........I probably will buy one anyway. Just to gain a tiny fraction of weight.


Pretty much what Rust said, regular practice until you are playing in the fraction of a second game. I finally hit that mark, second last match, I missed out by 2nd place by 0.023 of a percent and first by less then 10 percent, which would have been a fraction of a second to ge tin second place. Ultimately, I am getting better form dry firing, and range time, once I get my mags running fine, then life will be perfect.
 
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