Removing Recoil Spring - High Standard H D Military

[Buckskin]

I have a High Standard H D Military (148xxx) that was my Grandpa's  that has been sitting in my gun cabinet for many years. It's in reasonable shape but obviously needs a new recoil spring.  So since I needed a winter project I decided to see if I can get this thing running.  I have taken the slide apart as far as I can comfortably do without suggestions.  I loosened the rear screw and took out the bottom screw to remove the firing pin.  That looks ok, but may replace if its suggested.  I pushed out the 2 pins from the bottom of the slide and am trying to figure out how to get the recoil spring out from there.  Any help or suggestions about this gun would be great!

[Cornbelt]

PM for you

[gunnut69]

Yhe attached diagram should show the answer to the question posed. I certainly hope the slide is already off the frame as there can be major problems if takedown is attempted in the wrong sequence..

http://stevespages.com/ipb-histandard-hb.html

[Buckskin]

Thanks, but I already got it figured out thanks to Cornbelt.  And yes the slide was off, I had the right idea just not enough force to get the spring out.  After I got the recoil spring out, it was all bent to hell, I ordered a spring kit for it.  In the mean time I tried straightening the spring and cleaned everything, put it back together and believe it or not she worked. The only issue was that the recoil spring didn't have enough power to reset the hammer every shot.  Cycled cleanly everytime, but about 50% of the time I had to set the hammer a little.  Hopefully the spring kit will fix this.  Its the only gun I have from my Grandpa and it hasn't fired a shot in 10+ years, so it's nice to have it running again...

[Buckskin]

Got my spring kit and wasn't satisfied with just changing the recoil spring... Wish I would have shot it before moving on as I've found that all of the springs aren't the correct length and had to be trimmed not to mention that I'm having a heck of a time trying to get the sear and sear spring in place....

[gunnut69]

The recoil spring is unlikely to cause the hammer to not be reset by being too weak.. The recoil springs job is to return the slide after a shot is fired and the ejection cycle has occured. It has to have the power to strip a new round from the magazine and force it into the chamber. The hammer is reset by the rear of the recoiling slide. If it follows down, the usual failure here it is most often a worn sear notch in the hammer or a worn(chipped) sear. Note, an old shooting friend of mine told me once the HD's had a tendancy to break the sear off. This would allow the pistol ro fire. He had the hole in the calf of his leg to prove the point. I suppose a worn(weak)sear spring could also keep the sear from capturing the hammer when presented as could grung in the action. Be very careful here as a defective sear/hammer interface can and will cause accidental discharges..