1911 recoil spring

[BP Hunter]

I have a question on the recoil of the 1911. I have 2 1911's - Colt Combat Elite Government model and a newly purchased Remington R1 Gov't Model. I am used to the comfortable recoil of the Colt but was surprised how the R1 kicked using the same 200gr RN bullet. It actually felt like a 40SW.

Will changing the recoil spring to (whatever poundage, I don't know) change the recoil on the R1?

Thanks for your expert advices.

 

[98Redline]

The standard 1911 recoil spring weight is 16# if I recall correctly.
I always changed them to 18# Wolf springs.

The other thing that will change the feel is a lack of beavertail on the Govt model. The beavertail spreads out the energy more evenly into the web of your thumb. The Govt profile grip safety sort of concentrates it where it contacts.

 

[larryh1108]

Swap out the 2 springs and see if either one feels different. If it does, it's the spring. If nothing changes then it's the specific gun's ergos.

 

[reddog81]

Changing the recoil spring will have some effect. I'm not sure what you mean by saying it felt like a 40 SW. Does that mean it recoiled harder or lighter than the Colt?

Was the ammo from the same box? Different types of ammo can feel completely different even if they are both using a 200 RN bullet.

You can get heavier or lighter recoil springs depending on the purpose. The mainspring also has an effect on the recoil, along with the type of radius on the firing pin stop, along with other variables.

 

[nettlle]

If the gun runs well it might be better to leave well enough alone.

 

[drband]

You can get heavier or lighter recoil springs depending on the purpose. The mainspring also has an effect on the recoil, along with the type of radius on the firing pin stop, along with other variables.

^^^^This^^^^
There are others better prepared to recommend changes than me, but I would concur with the post above. In particular, do the FP stops have the same radius, are the mainsprings the same weight, are the recoil springs the same weight? Any differences in any of those components will yield a different feel to the recoil impulse.

There are many roads to reduced recoil... which one you choose is up to you. I have my own preferences-- 16lb recoil spring, 23lb mainspring, flat bottom firing pin stop. YMMV

 

[cfullgraf]

My 40 S&W M1911 has a softer recoil than my 45 ACP M1911 shooting 230 RN loads.

16 lb is the standard recoil spring for a 45 ACP shooting military ball ammunition. Some folks will bump up to an 18 or 20 lb spring for higher performance ammunition.

Target M1911s shooting target 200 or 185 grain SWCs will have something like a 12 pound spring, maybe 14.

38 Super and 9x19 will have a 12 or 14 lb spring.

Swap the springs as suggested by larryh1108 and see how the guns shoot.

Recoil springs are relatively inexpensive, you can buy a few different ones to try. Keep them organized as many have no way to determine differences from others.

 

[nettlle]

Lighter recoil springs may cause failures to feed. As long as that is kept in mind it wouldn't hurt to try a softer spring.

 

[BP Hunter]

Thanks for the replies. I will try to exchange the recoil springs of the Colt and Remington to see how it feels.

 

[Mizar]

Remington claims, that the recoil spring weight on R1 is 16 lbs.

https://support.remington.com/MODEL_1911_R1™/How_many_lbs_is_the_recoil_spring_on_the_Model_1911_R1?

 

[Stubert]

I have a Colt Defender and a Colt Lightweight Commander, Both .45s. The Defender weighs less than the Commander but felt recoil is less, The Commander bites the web of my hand, but the Defender doesn't.

 

[RA40]

I liked the feel of the flat recoil spring in the Sig that I installed a Wilson 17# in the SA leaving the hammer spring stock. Felt a tad nicer-smoother. I like what the small radius firing pin stop does in that perceived recoil characteristic. Both my 1911's have the flat bottom FPS installed now.

Flat wire recoil spring:
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Flat-Wi...-45-ACP-Chrome-Silicon-17-Lb/productinfo/614/