recoil spring weight

[myronman3]

if'n a guy wanted to shoot a little stouter load in his 1911, what # spring would you replace the factory with?   

[Questor]

20# seems to be a favorite. I like the Wolff spring kits that allow you to pick the right spring for your particular ammo. They've got a light-weight range for bullseye shooters like me, and a heavier weight range. Costs about $20 and I found it to be worthwhile.

[petepaaz]

...I have also found the 20# Wolf spring to be a great compromise spring; good for both standard and plus P loads (ie Buffalo Bore 230 gr JFP@950fps)....w/in my Springfield Armory GI model it has been 100% reliable....includingCCI shotshell loads too!

[44 Man]

An 18# spring is standard in the Commander and a 16# for the Gov't (5").  I would only go up 2# in spring wt.  Or you could buy a good Wolff variable spring. 
You don't want to 'overspring' a 1911.  A heavier recoil spring will soften the slide impact on the frame somewhat. But the frame is made with a big boss where the dust cover of the slide hits to take this.  But that same heavy spring also returns the slide to battery at a higher velocity.  When that happens, the slide stop pin and the link take all of that inertia when the slide closes and they weren't made for heavy pounding.  A seriously oversprung pistol is also prone to feed failures.  So get a slightly heavier spring for your loads, but don't go any higher than necessary to ensure proper function.  44 Man

[44 Man]

Another note.  If you are shooting heavier loads, make sure you have a full power hammer spring.  A lot of the initial impulse to the slide is taken up in cocking the hammer.  A lighter hammer spring to get a nicer trigger pull will allow the gun to unlock sooner than it should.  44 Man

[myronman3]

i havent monkeyed with the hammer spring.  i put in a heavier spring, and it feeds and functions perfect.  i am shooting mid range 45 loads with 230 grain cast bullets.  while i know they aint heavy loads by any means,  i figured the heavier spring would reduce the damage to the gun.  it definately recoils in a different manner.  much less flip. 

i never drop the slide on an empty chamber, especially not now.   

[Mikey]

Just exactly what Questor, Pete and 44 Man said.  Mikey.

[Lloyd Smale]

I agree with 44 man. The stock 16 lb springs are adequate for any factory loads and i useually drop to a 14 or 15 and have no problem with even factory ball. If your loading ammo that requires a 20lb spring your eventually going to bang up a good gun. Lots of guys load heavy bullets and very stout loads in 1911s but ive never seen a reason to do it. You gain very little buy hot loading a 45 acp other there tearing up a good gun. When i load for my 1911s in any caliber what i look for is reliability first and accuracy second and ft lbs of energy come in a distant third.  Even a 200 grain swc at 800 fps will do alot of killing and if you maintain your gun properly it will last 100s of thousands of rounds at that level.

An 18# spring is standard in the Commander and a 16# for the Gov't (5").  I would only go up 2# in spring wt.  Or you could buy a good Wolff variable spring. 
You don't want to 'overspring' a 1911.  A heavier recoil spring will soften the slide impact on the frame somewhat. But the frame is made with a big boss where the dust cover of the slide hits to take this.  But that same heavy spring also returns the slide to battery at a higher velocity.  When that happens, the slide stop pin and the link take all of that inertia when the slide closes and they weren't made for heavy pounding.  A seriously oversprung pistol is also prone to feed failures.  So get a slightly heavier spring for your loads, but don't go any higher than necessary to ensure proper function.  44 Man

[myronman3]

like i said before, i am running a 230 gr hardcast lead truncated cone bullet over a mid range charge of bullseye.   i guess the speed to be at 800 fps.  with the heavier spring i was getting good functioning and good ejection.  my thought was the spring would be absorbing more of the recoil saving wear and tear on my gun.  it also reduced muzzle flip noticeably.   

am i wrong in my assumptions? 

[ras1500]

Don't forget...a heavier recoil spring is also going to slam the slide forward with more force than the standard spring.  That will also add to the wear and tear of the firearm.