Appropriate loads for a particular recoil spring weight.

[USSR]

Guys,

I am having a Kart Xact NM barrel installed on my Series 70 Gold Cup. What I would like to pick your brains for is this. I want somewhat mild loads such as are used in Bullseye competition, although I won't be using it for such. I will be using a 200gr H&G 68 clone at an OAL of 1.250" and have the following powders: Bullseye, 700X, Solo 1000, AA#2, and W231. I have the following weight springs: 16#, 14#, 12#, and 10#. Can someone please give me what charge weights/loads you are using for a particular weight recoil spring? Thanks in advance for your reply.

Don

 

[243winxb]

Gold Cup Factory spring with 3.8 gr Bullseye. Never replaced the spring.

 

[Walkalong]

Test with a 16# spring in a full sized 1911 using W-231 and 200 gr jacketed bullets.

How low can you go.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/low-charge-weight-velocity-cycling-test.523172/

I know you know this already, but as a reminder, the recoil spring gets the gun back in battery. Go too low, and it can cause issues. (More for the readers than you. )

 

[ess45]

3.6 gr. Bullseye, 200 gr SWC. 12lbs spring on Les Baer Premier II with square bottom firing pin stop.

 

[USSR]

3.6 gr. Bullseye, 200 gr SWC. 12lbs spring on Les Baer Premier II with square bottom firing pin stop.

Thanks ess45, that's the kind of data I'm looking for. Looks like my Bullseye powder is going to have some competition for target loads. Just picked up some WST powder - 8# for $125, oh yeah.

Don

 

[Kingcreek]

16# in a springfield custom full size does fine with 200gr LSWC and 5 gr of 231.

 

[LiveLife]

Looks like my Bullseye powder is going to have some competition for target loads. Just picked up some WST powder - 8# for $125, oh yeah.

8 lbs for $125, that's great price!

I think it will be hard to beat Bullseye and WST for light target loads.

Kart Xact NM barrel ... Series 70 Gold Cup ... I want somewhat mild loads ... 200gr H&G 68 clone at an OAL of 1.250"

Bullseye, 700X, Solo 1000, AA#2, and W231 ... I have the following weight springs: 16#, 14#, 12#, and 10#. Can someone please give me what charge weights/loads you are using for a particular weight recoil spring?

For my railed Sig 1911 XO with factory match barrel, tight chamber with no leade, 200 gr SWC cycles 16# factory, Wilson Combat and Wolff springs with 4.8 gr of W231/HP-38. Due to no-leade Sig barrel, I need to use 1.240" OAL with most 200 gr SWC.

FWIW, if you are looking for mild load with light recoil that is plenty accurate, 200 gr SWC with 4.0 gr of Red Dot/Promo - It's my favorite light recoil load that's a joy to shoot in 1911, M&P45 and particularly compact PT145.

 

[cfullgraf]

Here is a recoil spring application chart for M1911s. The basic information came from Bill Wilson's information.

http://www.1911talk.com/threads/recoil-spring-selection-tips.816/

If memory serves me correctly, a 16 to 16-1/2 pound spring is the standard spring in USGI 45 ACP government models. Wilson recommends an 18 pound spring for Government Models.

Current Colt Gold Cups, I just obtained one, come with two recoil springs, one for standard ammunition and one for target. The Colt info does not state what the spring rate is but I suspect it is around 16 pounds for standard ammunition, 10-12 pounds for target ammunition.

The M1911 is pretty forgiving and springs are fairly inexpensive, so trial and error can identify the appropriate spring. In my first 38/45 Clerk I used 38 Super specs for choosing a recoil spring as the velocities are similar., I've tried as light as a 10 pound spring and am currently trying a 13 pound flat wire spring. I cannot say I really have seen much difference in performance.

Similar observations experimenting with 16 and 18 pound springs but then I've never pushed my 45 ACP hardball ammunition.

 

[243winxb]

I would not load a lot of ammo in advance, thinking a spring change will make it function correctly. Custom guns may have there own problems built in , depending on who the smith was.
http://www.bullseyeforum.net/t8288-appropriate-loads-for-a-particular-weight-recoil-spring

 

[jmorris]

I loaded lots of 200gn SWC's pushed by 4.5gn of 231 using an 11lb spring in a Goldcup.