flat spring wire vs round wire?

socalbeachbum · Mar 20, 2019

I received a Glock 17 spring from Wolff gun springs and it is made of round wire rather than the flat wire on the OEM spring. So... slid it over the guide rod and installed, it is semi-compressed of course, and the spring is not perfectly coaxial with the guide rod, it zig zags.

I'm wondering if it touches the locking block or barrel, other internals, and does it matter or not?

I was told old Gen 1 Glock springs were like this and to not worry about it. Any advice?

Jim Watson · Mar 20, 2019

Wolff wants you to buy a larger diameter guide rod to go with their springs, too.
Do you NEED it? I don't know.

MY Gen 1 Glock has a flatwire recoil spring, but it is not the very early "pencil barrel" variant.

LiveLife · Mar 20, 2019

socalbeachbum said:
Glock 17 spring from Wolff ... spring is not perfectly coaxial with the guide rod, it zig zags.

Don't worry.

Glock went from non-captive recoil spring to captive recoil spring and factory non-captive recoil springs also "zig zag" on recoil guide rod.

I used Wolff and Springco non-captive recoil springs on my Gen3 Glocks without issues after factory went to captive recoil spring assemblies.

socalbeachbum · Mar 20, 2019

I was not aware that the Wolff guide rods are larger in diameter than Galloway, Suarez, and others. Wolff does not say they are larger. Captive vs non-captive I'm not worried about,

I just did not want the 'zig-zag' to drag on other internals and cause binding or added friction.

rpenmanparker · Mar 20, 2019

Captive guide rods in flat recoil springs suck. There are very difficult to keep clean. I like round wire springs separate from the guide rod.

Mizar · Mar 20, 2019

rpenmanparker said:
Captive guide rods in flat recoil springs suck. There are very difficult to keep clean. I like round wire springs separate from the guide rod.

Amen! Flat wire springs are used for saving space, no other advantage is present. In my limited experience they tend to be more prone to breaking. As for the Wolff - does it binds while racking the slide: Yes (find out why), or No (quit reading self-proclaimed firearm experts).

LiveLife · Mar 20, 2019

Here is my dual spring set up installed showing "zig zag". If you look at factory captive flat spring, you will notice it also "zig zag" a bit.

And no, my springs do not bind when racking the slide.

socalbeachbum · Mar 20, 2019

BDS, thanks!

ulflyer · Mar 21, 2019

I have read that flat springs last longer; not sure where, possibly on H&K sites! I have guns with both, even an early Sig with a twisted wire coil spring. They all work.

JDR · Mar 21, 2019

IMHO I’m convinced that the Wilson Combat FWRS with the WC 1/4” guiderod & plug is a big improvement on a 1911, I have this on my STI Trojan 9mm 1911.

I keep the stock FWRS assembly on my Gen3 17 & 19, if it’s not broke why fix it?

flat spring wire vs round wire?

socalbeachbum

Member

Jim Watson

Member

LiveLife

Member

socalbeachbum

Member

rpenmanparker

Member

Mizar

Member

LiveLife

Member

Attachments

socalbeachbum

Member

ulflyer

Member

JDR

Member

Similar threads