New firing pin spring?

[jimster]

I have a question about my SA Mil-spec.

I been slowly replacing a few parts on it. I want to change the mainspring housing now, and put in a lighter mainspring and different hammer strut.
My question is, do I need to put in a lighter firing pin spring also if I go to a lighter main and different hammer strut?  
Just wondering if the hammer will hit the firing pin hard enough.

Could use some advice

Thanks

[Iowegan]

Your standard firing pin spring will work just fine with a lighter mainspring. You never want to use a lighter firing pin spring in a 1911 without the Series 80 firing pin interrupt device. Doing so may result in slam fires and a full auto condition.

When you install a heavier recoil spring, a heavier firing pin spring is suggested to prevent slam fires.

Here's a good way to see if your mainspring and firing pin spring will work. With an empty gun, cock the hammer and insert a standard full size pencil in the barrel, eraser end first. Point the muzzle straight up and pull the trigger. The pencil should launch at least a couple feet. That will tell you there is enough spring power to get a solid primer hit.

[jimster]

Thanks for the advice. I guess I wasn't thinking about slam fires.
Hey, I didn't know about the pencil trick, I tried it and sure enough the pencil was launched out of the barrel. I don't have the new parts in yet,  but when I do I'll have something to go by now. Neat trick. Thanks a million.

JW