what pound recoil spring for .45 semi auto

[silent one]

Hi all,

I'm curious as to which is the best overall recoil spring for .45 semi autos'.
I have some .45's from various manufacturers, and I shoot mostly 230 gr FMJ. factory loads. I bought some springs from Wolff in 16 , 17, and 18.5 lb rate. I am also going to start hand loading soon, and most likely will be using 200 gr, and 230 gr. All of my .45's are full size steel models. Also are variable rate springs worth using?. I hear so many opinions on this subject, and am trying to settle on one weight that will work in any full size .45. Thanks for your help.

good luck, and be safe.


SILENT ONE

 

[Chupacabra]

I'm using a Wolf 16lb spring in my Kimber right now and it works fine.

I think anything between 16 and 18 is okay.

 

[bountyhunter]

16# is the most commonly used spring in a standard 5" 1911 in .45 caliber.

 

[1911Tuner]

Springs

Howdy Silent One,

The thing to remember about springs is that they work both ways.
Heavier recoil springs slow the slide goin' backward and speed it
up on the return trip. The time of the whole cycle doesn't change...
it just shifts in one direction or the other. The total time is about the same.

Slower backward lessens the impact between frame and slide, but
increases it when it goes to battery...The lower lug and slidestop pin
absorb the slap.

A heavier spring also makes the gun more grip sensitive, and makes the
magazine timing more critical because the magazine has to get the round
up to stable feeding position in time to meet the slide. If the slide is too
fast, last round failures to feed occur in a Bolt Over Base malfunction.

Bountyhunter nailed it. The 5-inch gun's standard spring is a 16 pound rating, and the Commander is 18...or so it's claimed. I've been checking
factory springs in Colts for years, and I have yet to find a Commander with a spring that hits 18 pounds in full compression. Most are in the 16 pound range...and most 5-inch Colts are in the 14.5 to 15 pound neighborhood.

The standard load rating for the .38 Super is 14 pounds. Brownells'
Colt section lists the same part number for the .38 Super and the .45
recoil spring. Interesting, methinks...

Luck!

Tuner

 

[silent one]

Chupacabra,bountyhunter, and 1911 Tuner,
Thanks for your help, it's appreciated.
1911 Tuner, your comprehensive and detailed answers to questions never cease to amaze me. Thanks again.

good luck, and be safe.

SILENT ONE

 

[Longbow]

I use 15lb for all of my .45 ACP 1911's. It gives better reliability wether I'm using soft or warm loads (reliable feeding and ejection). The return trip as mentioned, is slightly slowed down so fresh ammo is well positioned for pick-up by the slide. Just use an extended ejector and shok buff. Safe shooting!

 

[silent one]

Longbow,
Thanks for the input. Looks like i'm gonna be calling Wolff for some 15 lb springs. That seems like the general concensus.
good luck, and be safe.


SILENT ONE

 

[1911Tuner]

Answers

Silent One said:

1911 Tuner, your comprehensive and detailed answers to questions ...

Ahhhh I 'preciate it brother. I've been accused of bein' long-winded, but I've found that most people like an explanation of WHY...and in detail...instead of a short "Because I say so" kind of response. Plus the fact that I used to teach guitar, so explanation of theory is kinda second nature.

I don't think that Wolff makes a 15 pound spring...not unless it's a variable rate spring. For a 15 pounder, you might have to go to ISMI. The alternative is to go with a 16# Wolff spring and clip a coil off. Not the
preferred method, but sometimes it's the way to fine-tune the slide timing.

Another thing that I've noticed about Colt factory recoil springs is that in identical pistols, the spring in one has 31 coils...another might have 31.5, one will have 32, and another one might have 30. Since Colt uses Wolff as their spring vendor...or they used to...my guess is that there's some fine-tunin' goin on in Hartford. Who knows? Colt won't say. I've asked.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[Lennyjoe]

I just dropped in a Wilson #22 lb spring in my Kimber Pro Carry II tonight.

Also put in a new mag spring and follower from Wilson in the factory Kimber mag.

I plan on taking them out to the range tomorrow and giving them a whirl. 100 rounds are on the book for tomorrow.

 

[Zak Smith]

14# Wolff in my 1911.

 

[Longbow]

For a 15 pounder, you might have to go to ISMI.

Yup, that's it, ISMI that's what I use. Though, 14# might still be a good compromise. Make sure to use shok buffs during practice, then take it off during matches or CCW. I've seen shok buff got chewed so bad, it induced malfunction on an otherwise reliable gun (mine! )

 

[1911Tuner]

ISMI Springs

Since Longbow tossed ISMI into the thread, I'll say that they are very good springs and seem to be like that Energizer Rabbit...They just keep on
keepin' on. But...on to the point.

ISMI springs come overlength, and must be checked for coil bind during
installation. They also come with instructions for this. Do NOT ignore it.
If the spring is installed as is, and the coil stacks solid before the frame
abutment stops the slide, it can do some expensive damage that ranges from a cracked barrel bushing(preferred) to a busted slide.(heartbreak)

This goes for ANY new spring, though standard Wolff springs generally drop
into a 5-inch gun without fanfare, this may not hold true for Commander
length and under.

Easy to determine and easy to adjust for. Install the spring and rack the
slide medium-briskly. If you hear a sharp metallic "clack", you're probably
okay. If you hear a dull "thud" or a crunching sound, you've got coil bind
and the spring needs to be trimmed before you shoot the gun. Once you've heard this sound, you can determine the condition quickly. If
you're not sure of what you heard, move on to the exact test.

Recoil spring plug out, spring guide rod in...pull the slide fully rearward and
hold it against the impact surface. Put a strip of masking tape on the
slide and make a witness mark that lines up with the end of the dust cover on the frame. (If you have a stub guide rod, leave the spring in to prevent
binding it up...spring just kinda stickin' out the end of the slide)

Replace the spring plug...spring in as usual...and pull the slide fully rearward again. If the witness mark aligns with the dust cover, you're
golden. If the mark is forward of the end of the dust cover, even a tiny bit, you have spring bind. Clip a half-coil off the open end of the spring and re-check. When the mark lines up, take another half-coil just to be sure.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[silent one]

1911 Tuner, Lennyjoe, Zak Smith, and Longbow,

Thanks for your input. It seems like I should stick with the 16 lb springs, and clip the coil as needed. Since I have them on hand I might as well use em.

Tuner, your not long winded at all. I would rather know more on a subject, than not enough. BTW, now I know that I shoulda spent some time at the armory instead of takin my liberty in J-ville. Oh well, live an learn as they say. :banghead:

good luck, and be safe.


SILENT ONE