1911 Recoil Springs

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Sharps '74

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I'm from the era when it was thought necessary to run 16-18 lb springs in 5" Gov't 1911s.

Surfing on the net, I read that this is now regarded as battering of the gun and unnecessary, the trend being to run the softest springs that provide reliable function even with a limp wrist grip.

Cooper used to hold a 1911 with thumb and middle finger and empty a magazine to prove the point.

What weight are you running?
 
On my brand new Dan Wesson Point Man 9, I replaced the 10lbs OEM spring with a 12,5 lbs, because the slide was not returning completely.
After a few hundreds down the pipe, back with the OEM. with absolutely no issue.
 
What caliber are you using? Are you running factory ammo or reloads to a lower power factor?

my .40 1911 have 11lb spring in for minor, and 12.5-14 for major with a buffer.

my 9mm 1911 has a 9lb and aive seen some as low as 7

I might go higher with factory ammo but with my reloads im tuning the gun to my ammo and watching for feeding and ejection as well as how the gun returns to POA
 
On my 1911's in .45 ACP with factory loads, I have always used 15 or 16 pound recoil springs.
I would think that too light a recoil spring lets the slide come back faster
and that would be battering the pistol.
 
All my 1911s are in .45 ACP. I don't think in terms of them being in any other calibre.

I'm loading to IPSC Major with both 230 RN and 200 gr SWCs.

A little research on the net reveals how there is more risk of battering the lugs that bear on the slide stop pin from too heavy a spring than there is from using too soft a spring, resulting in battering at the stop in the frame.

Recoil buffers are regarded as unnecessary if you are using the correct weight of spring, according to the net.

If you don't have a spring weight gauge such as sold by Brownells, you are not likely to have the weight you think you do, again according to the net.
 
Light springs are for modified guns.. 16-18 pounds is the right springs for .45 ACP ball load.
The trend is for lighter springs but the trend is also towards cracked slides and frames.
Battering occurs when slide hammer the recoil spring guide area - frame and slide retaining pin in it’s rear motion.

Two ways : if your brass is ejected in the next country, increase spring weight until they land 5-10 feet max.
Second : install shock buffer - shoot gun 50 rounds - check buffer - if no mark or light mark - you are good to go. If mark is deep ( I know this is subjective) increase springs weight.

You are better with a heavy spring than a light spring.
Exception - reduced target load - light powder charge and light bullet - lighter springs might be in order.
My advise - keep the gun with it’s original springs weight. If it’s ain’t broken - don’t fix it apply here.
 
Janeau said:
Two ways : if your brass is ejected in the next country, increase spring weight until they land 5-10 feet max.
Second : install shock buffer - shoot gun 50 rounds - check buffer - if no mark or light mark - you are good to go. If mark is deep ( I know this is subjective) increase springs weight.
Click to expand...
Good test for a too-light spring, what about for too heavy?
Will the ability to return to poa be noticed?
 
I think I've got 14 or 16lb springs in my 1911's chambered in 45. Haven't played with spring weights in 9mm, they're original and seem to work fine. The one chambered for 460 Rowland has a 28lb spring I think, it still comes back pretty hard and tears up a buffer pretty quickly, even after putting in a stiffer main spring and a firing pin stop with a square edge rather than a large radius. A firing pin stop with a square bottom edge will contact the hammer lower and slow the slide down when the gun cycles, then you can run a lighter recoil spring.
Kristian
 
Went to the range today with a .45 Remington SS Commander and a SS Ruger SR1911. Loads were 200 gr SWCs (4.2 TiteGroup) and some 170 gr SWCs (4.2 TiteGroup) I was recently gifted with. I was amazed that both guns cycled just fine with the lighter bullets. My blued Remington .45 Commander does the same thing; both guns box stock.

Both guns planted empties within 6 feet of me, slightly to the rear. My blued .45 Remington Commander does the same thing.

A friend has a Norc 'Target Model' 1911 that was throwing it's empties the furthest I've ever seen a 1911 toss brass! I checked the ejector and it was 1/4" long. I cut it back to what looked reasonable using several of my guns as a model. Now it ejects in a civilized manner , the cases landing within 6-8 feet.
 
230g LRN
Titegroup 5.0g doing about 850. Clean powder. Goes a long way.
Clays Univ. 5.9 at 850
I like Wolff XP Variable Power springs. Factory standard for a 45 is 16lbs. I step it up a bit with a 17.5 Variable. With that, I use a full length, stainless guide rod and a buffer.
A bit harder to rack the slide, but I’ve experienced nothing but reliable shooting. For me, it doesn’t get any better than that. And it doesn’t throw cases 20 feet away.
 
Ideally you want the heaviest recoil spring that will function properly with the lightest ammunition you plan to shoot.
To determine spring weight and ammunition compatibility, load a single round using a magazine proven to reliably lock the slide open on the last shot fired.
Fire the shot weak hand only. If you can do this reliably locking the slide back consistently, your recoil spring is not too heavy for the ammunition used.
Typically you want the heaviest recoil spring that will pass this test. The heavier the spring, the more positive chambering a round from the magazine will be.
As I’ve mentioned Variable Power springs, get yourself an XP Variable Power Pak.
17.5, 18.5, 20, & 22lbs. See what works best for the type of ammo used. The Pak comes with 3 Extra Power firing pin springs that should also be installed.
 
Sharps '74 said:
... If you don't have a spring weight gauge such as sold by Brownells, you are not likely to have the weight you think you do, again according to the net.
Click to expand...
I would trust that a reputable company like Wolff Gunsprings would sell the actual weight they advertise. More so than what you read on the errornet. Don’t get your springs mixed up is all.
 
boxhitch said:
Good test for a too-light spring, what about for too heavy?
Will the ability to return to poa be noticed?
Click to expand...

Failure to chamber the next round, hard to rack. If it does, the nose of the gun will dip more.

Too many people try and get others to put too light of a spring in their gun.

I got a SAM 1911 in 9mm, I think it had a 10# spring, well that gun beat itself to death from the factory. I had to put a better recoil spring and change the spring guide. Because it was beating itself into the barrel lug for the bushing link. It wasn't just ruining the finish, it was leaving substantial gouges.
 
I use a wolff variable spring, 16.5#, full size 45 loaded with 230campros and 5gr of win231
The one I replaced functioned but was even lighter I believe(by feel anyways). I didn't like it tbh, gun gets dirty and you have the time to think about the slide running slower from build up.
A little more oomph on the slide makes me feel a little better. At this moment in time anyways.
 
I run OEM spec springs in my 1911's and pretty much all my reloads are on par with factory standards.
The only guns I run heavier then spec in are BHP's and Beretta 92's, saves them getting best up.
 
The pistol comes out of the box with a spring installed at the factory. In a1911 most come with 16#. Fire the gun once wear on the spring. As was said by a poster above, if you check spring fresh out of the box and 500 rds later it’s not going to be 16#. I change springs when the gun ejects poorly.
 
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