1911 recoil spring length, too long? Advice needed

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supahdave

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Have a norc 1911 government and recently bought a dlask recoil spring for it. Noticing the dlask is longer by 2 coils than the factory spring. I assume it's for tuning the proper length to a specific gun.

So I went down the YouTube rabbit hole and now am confused as to the proper length needed for operation (no short stroking etc). The norc spring is 30 coils which is apparently the proper amount of coils but when I fully push the plunger down on the spring on the guide rod it doesn't bottom out on the bottom of the guide rod as it should, it's about 3/4" too long according to the YouTube video talking about it. So now am totally confused as to what the proper length should be. Thoughts?
 
supahdave said:
Have a norc 1911 government and recently bought a dlask recoil spring for it. Noticing the dlask is longer by 2 coils than the factory spring. I assume it's for tuning the proper length to a specific gun.

So I went down the YouTube rabbit hole and now am confused as to the proper length needed for operation (no short stroking etc). The norc spring is 30 coils which is apparently the proper amount of coils but when I fully push the plunger down on the spring on the guide rod it doesn't bottom out on the bottom of the guide rod as it should, it's about 3/4" too long according to the YouTube video talking about it. So now am totally confused as to what the proper length should be. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Maybe there is more than one way to get a 20 pound spring. 30 coils of soft spring or 28 cols of stiffer spring. Same end result.

Install the spring and see if it works.
 
That's the other thing I'm unsure of is the feeding issues with the factory norc spring which lead me to believe it was a bad recoil spring. So I bought the dlask one thinking it would be better quality and just drop it in and try it. But its longer than the norc and I'm not sure if the norc is even proper length which could be why I would occasionally have feed issue due to short stroking
 
Anyone out there with a high quality 1911 that works flawlessly able to weigh in if their spring plunger can touch the base of the guide rod when the spring is fully compressed?
 
Take slide off.
With your hand push recoil assembly out as if the gun was under recoil.

Does the guide bottoms out against the slide? If it does not your spring is too long. The spring should compress fully and allow the guide rod to touch the slide, if it is not, the spring will bind and jam/not cycling properly and damaging the slide, barrel, rod, etc

It does not matter how long it is. Just follow the process above.

Follow the high end smiths on FB for tips like this. What I just wrote was recently shared by Brendan Bunker from Bunker arms. He makes the most exquisite 1911/2011 money can buy. We are talking $10.000 fully one of kind custom pistols, better than any SVI (Not STI)

cheers
 
Springs can sometimes be designed to take an initial set on installations.

Spring rate is a function of wire size, material, coil pitch, number of coils, etc. A standard recoil spring for a 5" .45 is 16 lb/in. I wouldn't worry about comparing coils/lengths between springs from different sources. I'm sure the Dlask one is more likely to adhere to an actual spec than the Norinco one.
 
Are taking about full length , or commander?
The weight of the spring is what matters, can you pull the slide all the way back just past the slide lock? if so , good, shoot the gun.
Chinese 1911's as a rule will shoot fine, only problem I have had was mags with their sharp edges.
I see more feed issue with Hi End match guns with tight throats, and real tight slides .
 
If it doesn't work just get a Wolff spring. Most gunsmiths use them. Wolff also exports to Canada with a $500USD per order limit.

Springs are consumable and you should have a good supply of them.

Having a fresh spring helps to reduce impact and damage to your 1911.

According to gunsmith Jason Burton, 5" guns in .45 ACP/9mm/.38 super should have new recoil spring every 2000 rounds, while 4.25" guns should have springs changed every 1500 rounds.

For aluminum frames he recommended changing springs every 1000 rounds.
 
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