Recoil springs for 1911a1

[ibfestus]

I bought a new susposedly milspec spring kit for my Argentine Sist. Colt.  The recoil spring is longer (more coils) and stronger than the old one.  My question is this:  How do you know what is "right?"  I shoot primarily 185 gr hollow points usually ahead of 6.5gr of Unique.

[gunnut69]

The only way to know for certain the weight of a spring for the 1911 is to test it.  That said usually one can trust the brand name spring makers such as Wolff to provide a good product..  The spring testers can test for closed pressure, open (compressed) pressure and compressed length..  The spring can be tested for compressed length by compressing the spring while arround a rod to the point the coils touch..  That length must be less than the spring tunnel length on the pistol in question..  A tester is needed to complete the other two tests. Good luck from the gunnut69..