Quote Originally Posted by Airways View Post
Thanks Clarky sound advice, interested why you go the single guide Vs two one at each end, also your views on lining the piston to prevent lube entering the chamber
Well you wont need a liner if not lubing and if you are lubing dont do it....the internal parameters generate too much heat due to the restricted transfer port versus the powerful mainspring and flash over in the gun....hence the smoke seen when any 45 is shot.

Well you got 2 choices when going the way of guide rod tuning.
You can reduce the length of the rear guide to allow the fitting of a top hat which i would whole heartedly recommend in a rifle or go for no top hat and a longer rear guide.
My most recent testing has realised a smoother, deader shot cycle when all the spring is guided that is not within the constraint of the piston when the gun is at rest.
In otherwords, with the piston fired, im looking to have all the mainspring guided which is left outside the piston and hopefully a bit inside too.
Top hats are a good spring centraliser but cost us in guiding at the opposite end....
If the mainspring is a good fit in the piston already, its more than a good enough reason to go for a longer rear guide.
You also remove any weight addition to the piston