Upgrading Recoil Spring on Compact 45 Auto?

[147 Grain]

Goal:

Improve controllability with 230-gr. +P rounds in a compact polymer framed 45 auto.

Question:

Concerning the compact EAA Witness 45 auto (3 3/4" pipe), do you folks believe that upgrading the recoil spring from 17 lbs to 22 lbs will be beneficial in handling +P 230-gr. loads?  

If so, will the slide be very difficult to operate?

http://www.eaacorp.com/images/Witness-Polymer/WitC2005.jpg?px_fullquility_384564

Thanks in advance of your advice!

Steve

P.S.:  Wife will be using a similar 9mm semi-auto and Lady Smith revolver for protection, so I suspect that operating the slide with 22 lb recoil spring will be difficult for most women.

[gunnut69]

I have no experience with the compact EA/CZ so have no real basis but routinely install higher powered springs in Officer ACPs on the 1911 system.  I've found accuracy and controllability both were inproved by such change.  That seems a radical increase though and in a defensive weapon reliability is paramont.  It must always work!!  A thorough checkout would most certainly be in order before betting your posterior on the weapons reliability..

[147 Grain]

So does heavier recoil springs result in more of a push than the standard variety?

[gunnut69]

I don't believe it really makes any difference in the actual recoil of the firearm but it slows down the velocity of the cycling mass of the weapon, i.e. the slide assembly. This is done by using more of the recoil energy to compress the stiffer spring. What I've noticed is that tailoring the recoil spring tension to the load's intensity seems to make the pistols shoot better.  I attribute that to the weapon staying locked a bit longer in the operation cycle. The 'felt' recoil of the weapon is still there but it seems softer. Probably because it's spread over a bit longer period..

[ScoutMan]

147,

As an old IPSC shooter, I don't think much is to be gained in the + P ammo. After all 230 gr. has been doing it successfully since 1911. They use an 18 lb. spring for that load. I might go up to 20 lbs.

In my Commander I use a 22 lb spring, but I don't think that I am gaining very much. My load duplicates hard ball: 230 gr. rnd nose bullet behing 6.5 gr of Unique.

Just duplicate hard ball loads and you will be all set. Your pistol will last forever.

Jeff Cooper's optimum load for the 45 ACP was the 215 gr markell (?) bullet behind 7.5 gr of Unique for about 1,00 fps.

[Mikey]

147 grain:  I agree with the Scoutman and have done the same with both my Commander and my Mil-Spec Springer - added 22 lb recoil springs.  In both my pistols they seem to help me with control.  

Also, the 45 has worked quite effectively for all these years with the hardball 230 gn - you really do not need to '+P' that load.  Just about the only real improvement you could make would be to 'flatnose' that roundball and shoot it at the same velocities.  Major improvements in wound damage were found with flatnosed or semiwadcutter design slugs over the original round nose configuration in many calibers - the 38 Spl and 44 Spl immediately come to mind.

Now, there is this one cast slug used in cowboy shooting that can be used in the 45 - it's a 230 grainer that looks like a slightly 'de-edged' wadcutter - that I am lusting to try in my 45 autos.  Mikey.