1911 Mercury guide rods?

Kveldulf said:
Nah. Only good if it's at least forty degrees below zero. Above that, they melt. :cool:
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LOL. I believe he's referring to mercury-filled guide rods.

I have no personal experience with these, but they add a little bit of weight to the front of the pistol, which may theoretically improve after-shot recovery time at the expense of "pointability". Personally, I find the Government Model as heavy as it needs to be.
 
From what I heard most of the effect of these mercury recoil devices are due to their added weight rather than the mercury...
I don't see how a guide rode could add alot of weight
 
RevolverRodger said:
From what I heard most of the effect of these mercury recoil devices are due to their added weight rather than the mercury...
I don't see how a guide rode could add alot of weight
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Mercury is heavier than steel - that's where the added weight comes from.
 
I have one. I've never noticed an appreciable difference from all steel guide rods so it's not installed in any of my 1911s.

RevolverRodger said:
From what I heard most of the effect of these mercury recoil devices are due to their added weight rather than the mercury...
I don't see how a guide rode could add alot of weight
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It's not so much the weight of the mercury as it's the effect of it 'sloshing around' inside the guide rod. In theory, that's supposed to 'dampen' the recoil.
 
Dragoon said:
It's not so much the weight of the mercury as it's the effect of it 'sloshing around' inside the guide rod. In theory, that's supposed to 'dampen' the recoil.
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That doesn't make much sense. If the "sloshing action" dampened recoil, why not just fill the guide rod with water?
 
It is my observation that shooters are always looking for a widgit that will shrink a group. If Joe Blow wins a match with a carrot stuck up his wazoo there would probably be a run on carrots.

Or maybe not.
 
im having awhole pile done to the gun, figured I would add the mercury as well. I dont find any real recoil in a 1911 anyways. So the rod is basically a slight at most dampener?
 
capp325 said:
That doesn't make much sense. If the "sloshing action" dampened recoil, why not just fill the guide rod with water?
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If you don't believe me, I'll tell you what: take a jar partially filled with water and a similar jar filled with the same volume of mercury. Shake them slowly back and forth and see which one is more difficult to maintain the movement.
 
Dragoon said:
If you don't believe me, I'll tell you what: take a jar partially filled with water and a similar jar filled with the same volume of mercury. Shake them slowly back and forth and see which one is more difficult to maintain the movement.
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I don't have any mercury on hand, but common sense suggests that mercury would be more difficult to move back and froth - because it's much heavier. But that does not explain how the "sloshing action" itself (rather than mercury's heavier weight) is responsible for reducing recoil. Take a jar filled with any liquid and a solid object of identical weight. Shake them back and forth and see which one is easier to move. I don't think you will find any difference.
 
Not so much that I didn't like it, more the fact that I didn't notice any appreciable difference. Another consideration is that a heavy recoil spring (18 lb) is required and that shok-buffs can't be used with it. Lastly, its use is prohibited in most of the pistol sports that I compete in.
 
capp325 said:
I don't have any mercury on hand, but common sense suggests that mercury would be more difficult to move back and froth - because it's much heavier. But that does not explain how the "sloshing action" itself (rather than mercury's heavier weight) is responsible for reducing recoil. Take a jar filled with any liquid and a solid object of identical weight. Shake them back and forth and see which one is easier to move. I don't think you will find any difference.
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Suit yourself......:jerkit:
 
HEY!!! dont #### on my thread! ;)


Capp mercury inserts are common in big bore rifles or shotguns. The heavy liquid controls firearms inertia rearwards. The question is in a pistol is it the weight of the rod itself or the small amount of liquid that has has real effect...

Either way it sounds pimpin... and thats mainly what this project is about.
 
USP said:
HEY!!! dont s**t on my thread! ;)


Capp mercury inserts are common in big bore rifles or shotguns. The heavy liquid controls firearms inertia rearwards. The question is in a pistol is it the weight of the rod itself or the small amount of liquid that has has real effect...

Either way it sounds pimpin... and thats mainly what this project is about.
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That's exactly my point though. The added weight of mercury is what (theoretically) reduces recoil, not the fact that it sloshes around. You can get the same effect with a tungsten guide rod.
 
capp325 said:
That's exactly my point though. The added weight of mercury is what (theoretically) reduces recoil, not the fact that it sloshes around. You can get the same effect with a tungsten guide rod.
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you might be right, I have heard that in shotguns at least that in larger volumes the mercury is better than just adding lead weights in the stock as the recoil is partially absorbed during the "slow" movement of the mercury...

Dragoon you wouldnt happen to have a pic of your mercury rod would you? Thanks
 
I shot a Canuckistani IPSC Chanpionship with a HARRTS mercury guide rod in my Spacegun .45 Para.

While YPMMV,
I found the guide rod alone made a distict difference in how close the double taps were.

You may not feel the difference in slow fire, but I certainly could measure the difference on quick multiple shots.

like I said,
YPMMV,
but the point might be moot ... last time I looked in the Brownells's catalog, I coudn't find and HARRTS mercury filled guide rods.
[;{)
LAZ 1
 
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