No signs of contact on the face of the guide rod head. But, could these to parts even make contact? It seems like the plug would be stopped by the lip and the back of the channel it rides in and the length of the guide rod is too long for plug to make contact with the face of the guide rod... or am I reading this wrong?Check for contact at the face of the guide rod head. Check for contact on the OD of the spring. Check the front of the guide rod for signs of spring contact. If the spring is kinked, it's hittin' the end of the rod hard.
Slide travel is good. No problems there either.Check slide travel with the plug in the gun and out of the gun...like a coil-bind check. You can do it with the bushing only holding the plug.