Is there anything a used gun spring is good for?
Yes, I know the springs in a GI 1911 etc. are good for a long, long time. But a match gun is usually run closer to the edge. An 8-round 1911 magazine spring will eventually get squashed until it won't lift the slide stop. Hopefully before it stops feeding the last round. It is often recommended to replace a recoil spring when it gets beat down two coils, three coils, half an inch, etc., shorter than new.
Are "set" springs good for anything other than light steel scrap?
Yes, I know the springs in a GI 1911 etc. are good for a long, long time. But a match gun is usually run closer to the edge. An 8-round 1911 magazine spring will eventually get squashed until it won't lift the slide stop. Hopefully before it stops feeding the last round. It is often recommended to replace a recoil spring when it gets beat down two coils, three coils, half an inch, etc., shorter than new.
Are "set" springs good for anything other than light steel scrap?