Springfield Champion with full length guide rod questions

by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Thursday, April 18, 2013, 10:42 (4182 days ago)

Buddy has the above pistol which has been giving him fits. He shoots in our little league and started noticing a failure to go into battery. Ordered out a new recoil spring and swapped it out. Last night, clean pistol, with the new spring, another issue cropped up.

Preface: As I have earlier exposed my ignorance with regard to using correct part names , bear with me as I know even less about full length guide rods.

With the slide pulled back and locked open, the exposed guide rod is a thin rod with a 'head' at the business end. It is decidedly cocked to one side such that, when the slide is released, the head of the guide rod catches on the reverse plug. Just a little push on the rod will allow the slide to close completely.

I did not disassemble anything so I don't really know what's in the guts. Buddy reports this morning that the original spring is shorter and has a definite bend. As springs will take a set, and sometimes in an odd fashion, this may be 'normal' through use---round count is unknown; pistol was used when he bought it.

What options does he have here? Can (or should?) the FLGR be swapped out for a traditional length one? How about the aftermarket one like the Wilson unit offered by Brownell's (item 965-025-004WB)? The part description mentions slide modifications and that is a little off-putting...

Thanks in advance for the long distance troubleshooting.
Hoot