While shooting the other day I had fired around 150 rounds of TZZ 230 ball. Occassionally I would feel the slide sort of pause and then move forward in sort of a sling shot motion, this continued on and off for the next 50 rounds. Prior to shooting the pistol a 1911A1 Springfield was clean and lubed well and I lubed it again after the first 100 rounds. The recoil spring is a standard 16 pound factory spring. A friend of mine suggested that a heavier spring should be used with a steady diet of 230 ball and recommended I replace the 16 pound with a 17.5 pound. So I would appreciate any and all input on this.
1911 Recoil Spring
- Thread starter TC8500
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MaterDei
Member
I disagree with your friend.
What kind of history do you have with this gun? Has it always acted this way? If not, please don't mess with the spring. Something got gunked up somewhere would be my bet. Give it a good thorough cleaning and see what happens.
What kind of history do you have with this gun? Has it always acted this way? If not, please don't mess with the spring. Something got gunked up somewhere would be my bet. Give it a good thorough cleaning and see what happens.
Your spring is fine but you definitely need to have the gun looked at if you can feel the slide hanging. Don't fire it any more until you know what is happening or something is going to break. It sounds as though the barrel is not linking up and down correctly.
243winxb
Member
creeper1956
Member
Drail and MaterDei have offered the best advice here. There is nothing wrong with the original 16lb spring or the stock, GI type recoil system. You do have a problem elsewhere though... so unless you know what to look at, take it to a gunsmith, or if the gun is in warranty, call SA.
1911 guy
Member
Full length guide rods in a 1911 are like armpit hair on the prom queen. Just shouldn't be there.
The 1911 is notorious for beating the dickens out of ammo when loading. Faulty mags make this even more pronounced. I'd check mags first. Make sure they're of reputable make and design, then that the springs aren't shot. Shoot the same load through a known good mag and see what happens.
Second thing to check is round count on the recoil spring. Have you changed it? How many rounds downrange on that particular spring? Unless you have a very good reason to change it, stick with the stock 16 pound. For the record, shooting 230gr ball isn't one of those reasons. The pistol, and the 16 pound spring, were designed with that particular bullet weight in mind. Anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 rounds is my personal limit. If it's a range-only gun, then waiting for malfunctions is an acceptable practice. Mine get carried a lot, so PM is better than corrective action.
The barrel link is a possibility, but far down on the list compared to mags and normal wear.
The 1911 is notorious for beating the dickens out of ammo when loading. Faulty mags make this even more pronounced. I'd check mags first. Make sure they're of reputable make and design, then that the springs aren't shot. Shoot the same load through a known good mag and see what happens.
Second thing to check is round count on the recoil spring. Have you changed it? How many rounds downrange on that particular spring? Unless you have a very good reason to change it, stick with the stock 16 pound. For the record, shooting 230gr ball isn't one of those reasons. The pistol, and the 16 pound spring, were designed with that particular bullet weight in mind. Anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 rounds is my personal limit. If it's a range-only gun, then waiting for malfunctions is an acceptable practice. Mine get carried a lot, so PM is better than corrective action.
The barrel link is a possibility, but far down on the list compared to mags and normal wear.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Sounds like it's hanging up on the disconnect. Do a quick test. Pull the slide all the way back. Pull the trigger and hold it semi-firmly. Ease the slide forward until it contacts the disconnect and see if it hits a snag.
I've seen this problem in a few that would hold the slide until the trigger was released.
If it does, that's whence the bug nests. As to why...that will require a partial detail strip.
Could be that the center leg on the sear spring is too short, or that it's worn into the 46 degree angle on the backside of the disconnect spade...or it may be that the head of the disconnect is poking too far out of the frame.
I've seen this problem in a few that would hold the slide until the trigger was released.
If it does, that's whence the bug nests. As to why...that will require a partial detail strip.
Could be that the center leg on the sear spring is too short, or that it's worn into the 46 degree angle on the backside of the disconnect spade...or it may be that the head of the disconnect is poking too far out of the frame.
Assuming the spring hasn't weaken for one reason or another, it's fine as is. Maybe the gun just needs a thorough cleaning followed by proper lubrication.
Never hurts to try several brands of ammunition if you don't hand load. Not every gun shoots equally well with all ammunition.
Never hurts to try several brands of ammunition if you don't hand load. Not every gun shoots equally well with all ammunition.
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