1911 springs confusion

jgh4445 · Jul 20, 2017

I've seen a few posts lately on other forums and in other reading material about reducing recoil in 10mm 1911's. I see people referring to a "stronger main spring" reducing felt recoil. Don't they mean a stronger recoil spring? I thought the main spring or hammer spring as it is also known, only really made the hammer easier to pull back or makes it fall lighter. It might even help a very heavy trigger pull to lighten the hammer spring. Am I thinking correctly? I am going to shoot 200 gr bullets at about 1200 fps and plan to install a GI short guide rod, Wolff recoil spring in about a 23-24 lb weight, a flat bottomed firing spring stop from EGW and perhaps a lighter Wolff main or hammer spring. Does this sound right?

drband · Jul 20, 2017

No. You need a stronger main spring (hammer spring). The flat bottom fps will help slow the slide if you DON'T reduce the mainspring. The slide is slowed in recoil by the force necessary for the slide to cock the hammer back.

I don't know optimal spring weights for a 10mm 1911. (For my .45acp 1911, I use a 23lb mainspring, a 16lb recoil spring and a flat bottom firing pin stop.)
Someone with 10mm experience would be a better resource for you.
Let us know how it works out!

BBBBill · Jul 21, 2017

jgh4445 said:
Don't they mean a stronger recoil spring? I thought the main spring or hammer spring as it is also known, only really made the hammer easier to pull back or makes it fall lighter. It might even help a very heavy trigger pull to lighten the hammer spring. Am I thinking correctly?

No. As for the trigger pull, the mainspring has some effect, but for a reasonable street trigger, any negative effect from a heavier mainspring can be overcome by tuning the sear, hammer, disconnector, and sear spring. The so called "recoil" spring would be better named the feed spring as its primary function is to feed the next round into the chamber. Too heavy or too light can negatively influence that process. The square bottom firing pin stop is a win-win as it slows the slide in recoil, but has near zero effect in feeding. Add to that a slightly heavier (say 25#) main spring and the recoil spring can be kept at a more reasonable rate.

jgh4445 · Jul 21, 2017

Thanks guys. Good advice and I've learned things I didn't realize.

tark · Jul 26, 2017

drband said:
No. You need a stronger main spring (hammer spring). The flat bottom fps will help slow the slide if you DON'T reduce the mainspring. The slide is slowed in recoil by the force necessary for the slide to cock the hammer back.

Another BINGO! Good advice. Putting in an extra strength recoil spring will increase the forward velocity of the slide, which can lead to lots of problems, like cracked lugs on the barrel. Stick with the standard weight recoil spring for a 10 mm.

1911 springs confusion

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