[HIPOWER]

Hi folks. I tried this on FNHiPower and didn't get much feedback, so thought I'd try here. Forgive me if this is a well-worn question. Steve Camp offered some excellent advice, as usual, but I thought I'd see if others have any input.

Cylinder and Slide offers a 22lb mainspring (with matching reduced power f.p. spring) which is significantly lighter than the stock 32lb. spring. I'd like to try it, but I'm wondering about any negative effects (i.e. reduced lock time, wear on lugs, frame battering, etc.).

Is the 22lb mainspring a reliable set-up? Any worries or downsides? Anyone use it? BTW, I plan to use an extra power recoil spring with it. Thanks for any thoughts.

[mattk]

I have found that 26 lbs is about the lightest you can go in still get primers to ingnite in a reliable manner. I generally run a 28 lbs spring with a couple of rings cut off the bottom.

[HIPOWER]

Is there a reason why BHP mainsprings need to be stronger than 1911 mainsprings? Lots of people use 20lb or even 18lb mainsprings in 1911s without trouble. Any ideas?

[MrAcheson]

The barrel lockup on a hipower is completely different from a 1911 and part of the point of the heavy mainspring is to keep the barrel from unlocking too early. IIRC the hipower didn't start going to heavier mainsprings until later in its life though...

[mattk]

I kind of jumped the gun so to speak on my answer. I am assuming you have a Mk111 with the FP safety. 22lbs maybe ok in an older HiPower.

[Wildalaska]

I use the std factory mainspring..

WildstiffisgoodAlaska

[Harold Mayo]

The 22 lb mainspring is AWFULLY light. So light, in fact, that I didn't like the trigger when I put the spring in and so I immediately changed it out. It is just SOFT as opposed to crisp.

I have no idea about longevity or the effect on lock time. C&S puts in out and they are supposedly experts on the BHP, so you wouldn't THINK that they would put something out that wasn't OK for the gun, but that means very little.

It can't hurt for you to try it out. What's the cost of the kit? $12? $15? Something like that. If you don't like it, replace it with something else. Wolff sells various spring weights. 26 lb or 28 lb is what I end up using most often and they have no problem igniting any primer that has been tried, even while using an extra-power firing pin spring.