White Sound Defense offers an array of corrosion resistant and high reliability products designed especially for professionals operating in harms way.   All White Sound Defense products are proudly made in the U.S.A.  Click Here for several technical articles covering reliability, corrosion, and lubrication.  I found the low tech Spring Material Weathering test especially interesting.

Steel Guide Rods for Glock 3rd Generation Glock Pistol Models 17, 22, 31, 34, 35 & 37.  Decreases Muzzle Rise - For Improved Follow Up Shot Speed.  Improves Reliability.
Does Not Accelerate Recoil Spring Corrosion Like Stainless Steel

White Sound Defense steel guide rods for Glock pistols provide improved follow up shot speed, improved cycling, improved CQB reliability, and improved durability.

Adding mass to the front of the gun decreases muzzle rise. The reduced movement of the muzzle reduces the time it takes to recover from a shot and get back on target. Because the guide rod is located far forward of the center of rotation, it is one of the most effective places to add weight. In a non-compensated gun, the improvement in shot-to-shot speed is significant.

The additional mass also reduces the likelihood of 'limp wrist' induced malfunctions. This is especially a concern when operating the weapon while injured or when shooting with one hand. Because the guide rod does not move with the slide, the additional inertia of the rod acts as an anchor for the slide to pull against. This greatly increases the reliability when the weapon is not gripped in an ideal manner.

The guide rod has been slightly extended past the muzzle of the weapon to reduce the likelihood of a malfunction if the muzzle is inadvertently pressed into an opponent in a CQB circumstance. The geometry of the rod has been designed to avoid interfering with any additional accessories such as suppressors.

Stainless steel guide rods encourage galvanic corrosion of the recoil spring. This problem is exacerbated because the guide rod is of much larger mass than the recoil spring. As such, using a material like stainless that encourages corrosion of the coupled spring is not recommend for field environments.

To manage environmental exposure White Sound Defense guide rods are made from 4340 alloy steel which is more corrosion resistant than plain carbon steel. The guide rods are then heat-treated, ferritic nitrocarburized, and then subjected to a post-nitriding oxidation treatment. This results in a guide rod that is as just as corrosion resistant as the rest of the rest of the firearm without causing increased corrosion in the recoil spring. An additional advantage of 4340 alloy steel is that it is more crack resistant than stainless steel.

These guide rods are produced as uncaptured to avoid the engineering compromises that must be made with captured guide rods. The first issue is that any screw type capture system increases the likelihood of a crack developing at the muzzle end of the guide rod. The second issue is that lug type retention requires the use of dead coils (closed ends) on the recoil springs. This takes up space that could be used for active coils. It also makes replacing springs more difficult. After testing dozens of designs White Sound Defense settled on an uncaptured rod as the recommended solution for 3rd generation pistols. However, a transverse hole that fits the standard Glock armorer's tool was added to make assembly easier with gloves or when hands are cold. (See Video Links Below For Details)

Note: This rod will not be of benefit for muzzle contact discharges in models 17L, 34 or 35 because of the longer slide length of those models.
 

Heavy Composite Plating To Maximize Salt Water Corrosion Resistance.  Made From an Enhanced Tensile Music Wire.  Optimized Spring Geometry - More Active Coils For Improved Reliability
Extensive Post Wind Processing

White Sound Defense recoil springs for 3rd generation Glock pistols allow the use of aftermarket weighted guide rods without sacrificing the corrosion resistance needed for reliability in military and field environments. These springs are heavily plated with a protective composite that provides a high level of protection, even in the presence of salt water. It is this composite that gives the springs their spotted green and silver surface. When combined with reasonable firearm maintenance these springs will endure the most hostile of environmental conditions.

As these springs are intended for military / tactical applications they are OEM equivalent rate (poundage) for use with standard commercial or military loads.

WSD recoil springs for Glock pistols are made from an enhanced tensile strength music wire designed and produced specifically for this spring. This steel exhibits extreme toughness and durability while providing an excellent substrate for the protective plating. It is the most durable and longest lasting material available for this application. Stainless is not used in the Glock recoil spring application because of the extreme tensile strength requirement imposed by the geometry of the firearm.

Unlike other recoil springs for Glock pistols these springs have open rather than closed ends. This means all the coils are active which improves the function and longevity of the spring. However, the open ends are not effectively retained by most captured guide rods, so the use of uncaptured rods is recommended.

Stainless Steel Magazine Springs  

Recommended Fitments:
9mm 17 round w/ Standard baseplate
9mm 19 rounds w/ Glock magazine extension

.357 Sig 15 rounds w/ Standard baseplate
.357 Sig 16 rounds w/ Glock magazine extension.

.40 S&W 15 rounds w/ Standard baseplate
.40 S&W 16 rounds w/ Glock magazine extension

White Sound Defense magazine springs are designed to withstand extended field use. These exceptional quality magazine springs provide approximately 10% higher average pressure than standard springs. The additional pressure is designed to improve reliability with tactical lights and improve feeding in dirty/dusty environments. These springs are also longer than stock to better maintain spring tension when using magazine extensions. To compensate for the additional length the coils have been offset in order to ease seating during tactical reloads.

In the field, the real threat to spring life and function is corrosion. Condensation, rain, sea water, and sweat all contribute to the corrosion of magazine springs. Corrosion creates irregularities in the surface of the wire. These irregularities result in stress risers which lead to the formation of cracks in the spring wire. Once these cracks start, it is only a matter of time before the spring fails. Music wire, chrome silicon and chrome vanadium are all very vulnerable to this type of corrosion. For tactical or military use, modern stainless steels are the best available material choice.

These springs are made from 17-7PH stainless steel. 17-7PH is a precipitation-hardening stainless steel that provides high strength and excellent fatigue properties. It also offers good corrosion resistance, good formability, and constancy in production.

Installation:
Glock magazines have a geometry that cause new springs to be quite stiff when first installed. If the magazine feels overly stiff, use a magazine loader to load the magazine to capacity and allow it to stay fully loaded for a few days. Alternatively, use a magazine loader to load and unload the magazine several times.

Maintenance:
No mechanical device will last forever. The more hostile the environment the more often springs and other components must be inspected. In a marine environment even stainless steel springs can experience some corrosion.

Magazine extensions:
White Sound Defense recommends using only Glock brand magazine extensions, as the magazine inserts in some other brands can foul springs resulting in failures to feed.

Material Talk:
There is a lot of hype about the various materials that are used for magazine springs and most of it is just that – hype. 17-7PH, music wire, chrome silicon and chrome vanadium are all good spring materials. There is relatively little difference between any of the materials when it comes to how long the spring will last. Spring geometry not spring material makes the real difference in fatigue life of magazine springs. The material choice is determined by the environment. In high temperature environments you need heat resistant materials. When corrosion is a concern you need corrosion resistant materials. For more information on spring materials see the Gun Spring Materials document.  Compact or Sub-compact model springs are not available at this time.

The H.R.E.D. assembly is designed to increase extractor reliability under harsh operating conditions or when employing poor quality ammunition. It accomplishes this by redistributing mass so that the movement of the slide assists the plunger, rather than fighting against it. The components are machined from a corrosion resistant stainless steel and include a White Sound Defense heavy duty extractor spring to further ensure reliable function. The H.R.E.D. is compatible with both 3rd and 4th generation pistols.

Extractors:
This product should be used with a Loaded Chamber Indicator (LCI) style extractor.

Installation Note:
The short solid end is inserted first into the rear of the slide. When installed correctly the short solid end will be in contact with the extractor and the longer solid end will be touching the slide cover plate. This is opposite in appearance to the stock assembly.

Detailed Information:
The most obvious difference between the H.R.E.D. and the stock assembly is that the longer part of the mechanism is located at the rear of the H.R.E.D. assembly rather than at the front as with the stock design. In the stock design the longer part is the extractor plunger which transfers force to the extractor itself. In the H.R.E.D. the longer part is a stand-off bar which serves to relocate the spring toward the front of the firearm and serves to provide mass to the rear of the spring.

In the stock design the vast majority of mass is located forward (toward the muzzle) of the spring. In the H.R.E.D. the majority of mass is located to the rear of the spring. This change in mass distribution ratio is further increased by the geometry of the stand-off bar. The stand-off bar maintains its maximum diameter for its entire length in order to maximize the mass of the bar.

The most significant reason for this mass relocation is to reduce to the effect that recoil has on extractor function. Once the bullet and propellant gases have exited the barrel the slide begins to decelerate. This deceleration causes free mass in the slide (extractor assembly, firing pin, etc) to exert reward pressure on the slide. Said another way, as the slide decelerates, free masses in the slide will press against the rear of the slide just as a person presses into their seatbelt during sudden braking.

In the stock design this deceleration causes de-loading of the extractor. The deceleration in a recoiling firearm is not generally smooth and tends to sharpen at several key points prior to extraction:

First, when the recoiling barrel makes contact with the locking block.

Second, when the barrel first starts to unlock and the extractor shifts on the cartridge rim
 
Third, when the barrel binds in the locking block and the extractor attempts to dislodge the cartridge

At each of these points, any mass forward of the extractor spring will apply compressive force (rearward force) to the spring and reduce the pressure on the extractor. In other words, the mass of the extractor depressor is thrown toward the rear of the firearm away from the extractor as the slide decelerates. As there are significant G-forces involved, the mass of the extractor depressor is multiplied many times. This is why it is critical to keep the mass forward of the spring relatively low.

This compressive force on the extractor spring is further exacerbated by anything that increases the frame's resistance to movement as this increases the rate of deceleration in the slide. Put simply, the harder the frame is to move, the more quickly the slide will come to a stop. This means the addition of mass such as tactical lights or metal guide-rods all result in reduced extractor effectiveness.  The effect is also more pronounced with very experienced shooters who take a very high, very firm grip on the weapon. In the case of aftermarket metal frames the difference is even more pronounced.

Also, by redesigning for a lighter sprung mass the system is able to keep tension on the extractor longer and returns tension sooner during vibrations that occur during operation of the pistol. The reason for this being the frequency of rebound is increased for the extractor depressor.

The next major difference in design is the overall mass of the system. The mass of the H.R.E.D. assembly is designed to be higher than the stock system which provides an advantage to extraction during the acceleration phase of the slide's movement. During acceleration, additional pressure is exerted on the extractor as the mass of the entire assembly bears on the extractor. The higher the mass the more force is applied. Again the significant G forces involved greatly magnify differences in mass. This additional force on the extractor increases the likelihood of the extractor being fully seated before extraction phase begins. It also allows the extractor to more fully 'bite' the softer bass of the cartridge and displace fouling.

In short, during the rearward movement of the slide you want high mass when the slide is accelerating and low mass when the slide is decelerating. The H.R.E.D. approximates this by changing where the mass sits in relation to the spring.

However, in order to fully take advantage of the modified mass distribution several design issues had to be overcome. The stock assembly relies largely on the length of the extractor depressor bar to keep it aligned so that it doesn't bind in its raceway. Using a shorter lighter extractor depressor bearing meant that some other method of preventing binding had to be found.

Several design features were added to facilitate functioning of the new shorter depressor bearing:

First, the length of the bearing nose (thickest part) was increased slightly to provide greater resistance to canting.

Second, the diameter of the spring retention section of the bearing spring guide adjusted to ensure that the first coil of the spring which is wound around the bearing has a slightly greater diameter than the bearing diameter. As a result the first coil of the spring makes solid contact with the raceway. This effectively lengthens the nose of the bearing (reducing canting) without adding mass. This also shields the sharp edge of the bearing seat from the raceway.

And finally, the geometry of the spring guide was designed to limit canting to around 1 degree, so even if other measures fail the spring itself will hold the bearing in the proper position. 

There are several additional minor design features that are intended to further ensure reliability. A few examples would be:

The total length of the combined spring guides is set to provide rigid support and protect the spring from deformation should it be compressed to the point of coil-bind.

The rear of the stand-off bar is slightly radiused to reduce point loading on the slide cover plate.

Material selection is also tailored for reliability, such as stainless steel of the appropriate grade and heat treatment.

Aside from the machined parts a new spring was designed for the assembly. The new spring is fairly similar in design to the stock spring with a few key differences. A stainless spring wire is used to reduce the likelihood of a sudden spring failure resulting from corrosion or pitting. Additionally, the spring rate was increased slightly to further ensure reliable extraction.

The H.R.E.D. assembly is compatible with a stock Glock plunger spring. It is recommended that only springs with flat ground ends be used with either the stock or H.R.E.D assembly. Any spring that does not have its ends ground flat will show additional side flex may exhibit buckling and rub against the sides of the raceway making it more difficult for the spring to do its job properly.

This assembly currently has a pending patent application.

FAQ
Q: Can I use the OEM extractor spring with the rest of the H.R.E.D. assembly?

A: Yes, you can use the OEM spring. However, no other parts are interchangeable with the stock assembly.


Q: Does the H.R.E.D. work with all generations of Glock pistols?

A: Yes, it has been tested extensively with pistols up to and including Gen 4. However, we do recommend use of a LCI extractor in all cases.


Q: Will the H.R.E.D. fix my extraction problem?

A. Possibly. The H.R.E.D. was designed to improve reliability in extreme environments and we believe it does this job very well. That said, Glock pistols are well engineered, so if you have one that will not function with OEM components, something is out of tolerance. The root issue should be identified, even if installing the H.R.E.D. resolves the problem.
 

These are extra strength springs designed to increase extractor pressure by approximately 20% over the stock spring. The additional extractor pressure reduces the likelihood of a failure to extract when there is grit or carbon build-up in the chamber.

From a tactical perspective, a failure to extract is one of the most dire malfunctions. If the extractor fails to dislodge a spent case, the end result is typically a double-feed. In the best case, the operator must completely unload and reload the gun, in order to get it back up and running. In the worst case, the shell has been more tightly wedged into place by the double-feed. At that point, the shooter must resort to prying the shell out of the chamber or running a rod down the barrel.

Most other types of malfunctions can be cleared using a standard immediate action drill. It is our opinion, that a serious use firearm should be preferentially optimized to minimize the most difficult to resolve malfunctions. This heavy-duty spring serves that purpose.

Just like the stock springs, the ends of these heavy duty springs are ground flat to ensure that they do not misalign and cause excessive friction inside the plunger raceway. WSD strongly recommends only using extractor springs where the ends of the spring ground flat.

White Sound Defense extractor depressor plunger springs for Glocks are made from 17-7PH stainless steel. This material not only provides excellent fatigue properties, but just as importantly, provides excellent corrosion / rust resistance in the field.

These springs can be used with White Sound Defense’s H.R.E.D. plunger assemblies, as well as with stock Glock plunger assemblies.

Extractors:
We recommend the use of the most current Glock extractor.

Maintenance:
No mechanical device will last forever. The more hostile the environment the more often springs and other components should be inspected. In a marine environment even stainless steel springs can experience some corrosion.
 

Tactical Light Conditioner - prevents the Adhesion of Soot Making Lens Cleaning Simple.  Conditions Seals to Improve Water Resistance.  Rubber Safe - Won't Damage Seals. Ultra Clear - Won't Distort Light Pattern

Description:
In both training and deployment, tactical lights rapidly collect soot and debris from weapon discharge rendering them much less effective. This residue is difficult to remove which makes clearing the lens a chore in training and impractical in a tactical environment.

Tactical Light Conditioner is a blend of high grade siloxane oils intended to simplify maintenance and improve the performance of weapon mounted tactical lights. When applied properly to the lens, powder residue and soot can be cleared by simply wiping with a finger. The oil is also rubber safe and therefore appropriate for lubricating O-rings, rocker switches and pressure pad connectors to improve water resistance.

If you run a tactical light on your duty weapon, you should train with the light affixed to the gun. Tactical lights affect function, balance and ergonomics. If the light isn't attached you are effectively training with a different weapon.

Directions:
Clean the lens thoroughly. Apply one drop to O-rings and switch seals. Apply one drop to the lens of weapon mounted lights. Use a clean cloth to remove excess, leaving only a thin film. Allow to set for 1 hour. Applying too heavily to lens will disrupt light pattern. Do not apply to laser lens.

Notes:
The practice of using regular gun oil on the lens is not recommended as it can degrade the seals around the lens allowing water infiltration. Standard gun oil can also scorch making the lens harder to clean.

If your lens is dirty before using the product, place a drop of water on the lens, and gently rub the soot off using a clean eraser on the back of a new #2 pencil. Once the product is properly applied, future cleanings will simply be a matter of wiping the lens with a finger or cloth and reapplying the lens conditioner.

Mag Chalk is a specialty lubricant designed to improve the reliability of firearms by reducing magazine related failures. This purpose-formulated lubricant does not hold grit, is waterproof, and is engineered to effectively lubricate the types of fouling that are most likely to cause malfunctions. It will not contribute to corrosion like graphite or molybdenum disulfide (moly). It goes on wet and dries to a chalky film that 'sheds' as it comes into contact with particles of grit. It is suitable for use in all temperature ranges down to -40C. It is ideal for lubricating all types of magazines including tube, box, drum, etc.

Poorly functioning magazines are one of the most common causes of malfunctions in modern firearms. In sandy environments friction and fouling can cause rounds to advance sluggishly, resulting in a slide or bolt over-ride. In severe cases the follower may bind or jam preventing the magazine from feeding at all. In cold weather environments frost can form inside a magazine causing it to jam. A proper lubricant can greatly increase the environmental tolerance of the magazine.

Traditional wisdom has been that little or no lubrication should be applied to magazines to avoid attracting dirt and grime. This concern it understandable as experience has shown that even supposedly 'clean' lubricants fail to function correctly in a magazine. And unfortunately, the few that do avoid attracting grit, lack the ability to effectively lubricate the larger particles that cause most malfunctions.

Up until now the best option was to use powered lubricants such as graphite or molybdenum disulfide (moly) in an effort to get effective lubrication in magazines. However graphite, while a decent lubricant, encourages galvanic corrosion in steel and aluminum, so to some degree you are trading one problem for another. On the other hand, moly tends to cause acidic corrosion on surfaces it is in contact with. Neither is an ideal solution and neither holds up particularly well in wet environments.

The solution developed by White Sound Defense is a liquid product that dries to a thick waterproof semi-solid film that 'sheds' as it comes into contact with particles of grit. It is unlike any grease or lubricant used for general firearm lubrication. The product also forms a thinner highly durable lubrication film that bonds to the internals of the magazine itself.

Mag Chalk was designed and developed start to finish to do one job – reduce magazine related malfunctions no matter what the environment.

Directions:
Product settles - Always shake well before applying. Start with a clean and empty magazine. Apply a total of 10-20 evenly spaced drops of Mag Chalk around the edges of the follower. Attempt to get the lubricant between the sides of the follower and walls of the magazine. Lightly depress the follower a few times to help spread the lubricant. Load the magazine. The lubricant will dry to a white film.

FAQ:
Q: Aren't magazines supposed to be run unlubricated?

A. It is true that standard gun oil is not recommended for magazines. However, various specialty lubricants have been used in magazines to improve reliability for over 100 years. Manufacturers of drum magazines often provide dry lubricants to improve reliability. Silicone based wet lubricants are used by various artic warfare units to prevent frost from jamming magazines. Most magazines will run without lubrication, but they will run better with it. The more hostile the environment, the greater difference proper lubrication makes. In 2007 the Army ran a dust chamber test and 27% of the weapon stoppages were attributed to magazine malfunctions. Many of these stoppages would have been prevented by lubrication.  Lubricating magazines is not a new idea. The issue has always been one of finding a suitable lubricant.

Q: How does molybdenum disulfide (moly) cause corrosion?

A: Moly contains sulfur in a form that produces a weak sulfuric acid when combined with water. In the field this water can come from condensation, sweat, rain, or humidity in the air. The weak acid attacks the metal and accelerates corrosion. A moly and water mixture can cause surface roughness on most steels within 24 hours.

Q: How does graphite cause corrosion?

A: Graphite causes corrosion in metals through a mechanism called galvanic corrosion. Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process in which one metal causes corrosion in another. It occurs when dissimilar metals are in electrical contact while in the presence of an electrolyte, such as water. The electrolyte can be from atmospheric humidity, sweat, or other sources. Graphite is on the extreme cathodic end of the galvanic series and will cause corrosion in nearly all metals.