Do recoil springs wear out?

[russian_babushka]

Specifically has your SIG P226 recoil springs ever worn out? Or are recoil spring Salesmen foisting them upon me?

 

[RePete]

They should be changed every so often as preventitive maintenance.

The SIG springs are wire wrapped and are better than most.

They do weaken over time, with use.

Indicators can be that the brass is flying further, sensed increase in recoil, and shiney spots inside the slide, where the slide stops at full recoil.

RePete.

 

[eliteboris]

I know when mine wore out on my CZ it caused the slide release to break, due to the extra force hitting it.

 

[Canuck223]

For the little cost involved, swapping out your recoil spring every 5-10k is money well spent.

 

[JCM298]

I try to remember to change the recoil springs every 5,000 rounds. On my two shot barreled Para's and my Colt OM, I change them more often.

John

 

[cybershooters]

Specifically has your SIG P226 recoil springs ever worn out? Or are recoil spring Salesmen foisting them upon me?

They do wear out, like Dave says, every 10,000 rounds is probably worth it, a lot of people I suspect would say a lot longer like 30,000 rounds on a 9mm P226, but it's not exactly a high cost part to replace. Depends on the slide velocity, with something in .357 SIG for example you would need to replace it a lot more often than with a 9mm or .45. .40S&W would be somewhere between .357 SIG and 9mm.