I have paired down a spring from a 'robust' pen for just a purpose. I tried it about 100 times with 1xf brass then a few more with re-sized brass with just primers in (no powder or boolit), I could tell no apreciable differance. This was in a hunting rifle, not a bench gun.
I would up finding the spring I lost in the far corner of the basement before I actually had to use the make shifted rifle.
I wouldn't trust my life to such a thing (ie: hunting bears), but for a quick range trip, or to bag a deer? Why not.......
New parts should be available fairly readily from any g-smith in Canada. I have a spare from a trigger I swaped out for a Timney, I would expect may smiths do as well.
Cheers!
