Just joined THR. Have been reading this forum for some time and have been very impressed with the level of knowledge. I have been shooting for fun for over 4 decades and have owned (or own) 1911s in .45 and 9mm, S&W 39-2 (several), BHP, CZ 75B SA, Glock 17, CA 83, Browning BDM, S&W 28-2, S&W 29-3, S&W 49, Ruger Blackhawks, Vaqueros and Single Sixes, Security Sixes (several), P94, Mk II, and 22/45, Ballester Molina (this was delivered to my college room via mail and left on my bed pre-1968 gun laws), Beretta 92FS, and Beretta mdl. 70 plus all kind of rifles. Started my firearm training in the military so I'm not a stranger to firearms. I like 9mm for the cheap (er) ammo but understand the "authority" of a well-placed .45 ACP round and also understand that the likes and dislikes of a particular gun is very subjective. Blue steel and wood are my preference but plastic receivered guns have their place. I've had a Glock 17 since 1995 and every once in a while, I think about getting rid of it but darn it all, it always fires, looks as good as the day I bought it, and when the SHTF all you got to do is squeeze the trigger. --
Anyway, here goes:
I've been following the threads re using different recoil spring weights in the 1911 and have been experimenting on a SA 1911 9mm. A 14 # recoil spring is nominal for the 9mm, so I've gone to 16# (EP), 12# (RP), and 10# (RP). With the 16# EP, the 1911 recoil is more of a big push (I think the spring pushes the frame and the gun is in recoil when the slide hits the frame). The RP springs give less and less push until with the 10# the effect is like the gun "popping" in the hand as opposed to recoiling. Does that make sense? Little up and down movement but more of a back and forth movement. O.K. so far? I understand that top competitors routinely underspring their race guns to get just that effect to minimize the sights coming off target during competition. -- I also understand that by the time the 1911 slide moves about .1 inch, the bullet is out the barrel and imparted momentum completes the guns operation. I added a heavier Cominolli tungsten recoil plug and have the distinct feeling that the slide slowed a little. I sense a slight hesitation between firing and frame impingement. Also, it seems that my groups get slightly smaller when I use the heavier recoil plug. What do you all think? -- Lee
Anyway, here goes:
I've been following the threads re using different recoil spring weights in the 1911 and have been experimenting on a SA 1911 9mm. A 14 # recoil spring is nominal for the 9mm, so I've gone to 16# (EP), 12# (RP), and 10# (RP). With the 16# EP, the 1911 recoil is more of a big push (I think the spring pushes the frame and the gun is in recoil when the slide hits the frame). The RP springs give less and less push until with the 10# the effect is like the gun "popping" in the hand as opposed to recoiling. Does that make sense? Little up and down movement but more of a back and forth movement. O.K. so far? I understand that top competitors routinely underspring their race guns to get just that effect to minimize the sights coming off target during competition. -- I also understand that by the time the 1911 slide moves about .1 inch, the bullet is out the barrel and imparted momentum completes the guns operation. I added a heavier Cominolli tungsten recoil plug and have the distinct feeling that the slide slowed a little. I sense a slight hesitation between firing and frame impingement. Also, it seems that my groups get slightly smaller when I use the heavier recoil plug. What do you all think? -- Lee