Glock 27 recoil spring assembly - OEM or Wolff?

[toejamm]

I had a failure to feed with my G27 the other day (Using Fiocchi target stuff). It is the first time EVER it has failed to do anything. I've run all kinds of ammo through it and no problems. It may have been the ammo, but it got me to thinking that I might want to replace the recoil spring assembly anyway.
I guess the current RSA has 2000 (+/-) rounds on it.
So any Glock Guys out there with suggestions on which is the best? Lone Wolf, Glock or Wolff?

Glock haters......Please save it for another day, thank you.

 

[Mac's Precision]

I personally hate the captured double spring setup from the mini Glocks. I run the Wolff setup that is UN-captured. It is machined from quality steel and obviously uses Wolff's quality springs. That said...order a number of replacement spring packs for the unit so you have them on hand. Change them when they are fatigued. To test this...

UNLOAD THE PISTOL

Dry fire in a safe direction.

Point the muzzle at the sky. Gently tug the slide back about 1/8th -1/4 inch as it would during recoil...carefully let go. The slide should under it's spring pressure...return fully to lock up. If it is lazy..or fails to re-lock the barrel into the slide...replace the spring set.

The interval varies with the kind of ammo you run. Lots of +P rated loads will fatigue the spring a bit faster as it has to react faster and more violently thus heating and tiring the spring wire. The more cycles and the more violently the cycles the faster a spring fatigues. I don't use round count as the yardstick to decide when to replace them. I use the slide function test strictly. I've seen some guns go a LONG time on an OEM spring...and some get saggy pretty prematurely.

Remember, the recoil of a Glock is managed by means of the weight of the slide. The stock weight spring is adequate for 99% of all uses. You MAY wish to purchase a set or two that are 1 pound heavier spring rate if you run +P rated social use loads. It does little to manage recoil but it simply starts the spring out at a higher rate and thus will remain "in spec" longer....with lots of warm ammo.

Now, all that said you are addressing a FTF issue. Are your magazines loaded 24/7/365 as a carry gun typically is? Are your magazines old? It could be that the 2000 rounds you have on them are resulting in some mag spring fatigue. Realize that with every shot the rounds surge DOWN against the spring pressure. As the Mag springs weaken they struggle to hold the rounds UP. So when the slide is to the rear...the rounds have surged DOWN and the slide simply misses the top round as it slides by.

Remove your floor plate on your mags..check to see that the springs have 1.25 inches of stick out. If the springs are shorter than 3/4" stick out... order some replacements from Wolff. You may give them a gentle attitude adjustment by stretching them a bit longer. Don't get carried away with this. Just get them to 1.25 inches stick out...no longer. This is a short term solution as once they fatigue, they won't hold a longer set. The replacement Wolff mag springs are stronger spring rate and a tougher more set resistant wire. They work well....and are a cheap fix to ensure your mags are up to the task.

I re-spring the little glocks more than the larger models it seems.

 

[LiveLife]

I do the following to test the recoil spring tension:

1. Unload pistol and ensure that it is empty.
2. Point the pistol at the ceiling
3. Pull the trigger and hold the trigger back (so the striker release don't catch the bottom of the striker and add tension to the recoil spring).
4. Pull the slide all the way back.
5. Hold onto the slide and slowly ease it forward.
6. If the slide goes into battery, your recoil spring is good.
7. If the slide does not go into battery, replace your recoil spring.

If your Glock 27 has "only" 2000 rounds shot through and experiencing issues with "only" one type of ammunition, I would first try different brand of ammo. If problem goes aways with different ammo, then I would be inclined to suspect the ammo, not the pistol.

If the problem persists with different ammo, I would next check the magazine spring/mag follower. If using a different magazine (preferably new/newer) don't reproduce the feeding issue, then I would investigate the magazine spring/follower and replace as necessary/worn. I prefer to replace my magazine springs with Wolff 10% extra power springs. After spring replacement, I replace the follower if I have feeding/chambering issues.

I shoot both factory and reloaded target loads and prefer OEM factory replacement for recoil springs. If you want to "customize" the recoil spring rate for a particular reload, you can buy appropriate spring rate recoil springs but keep in mind that you may be "locked" into only shooting that particular load for your pistol to reliably function.

 

[Glock Doctor]

Wolff Gunsprings, NP3 coated, all-steel, non-captured, guide rods AND springs in all of my 3rd generation Glock pistols.

I absolutely swear by Wolff Gunsprings. The springs you get from the Glock factory can vary greatly in: quality, strength, and flexibility; (even the finish can be different) but NEVER with Wolff gun springs. Wolff springs are highly consistent, very flexible, durable, and they last a long long time.

All this said, one FTF don't mean a whole lot. It just might be the magazine spring, a dirty interior wall, or a worn follower, too

 

[Mac's Precision]

The small amount of influence the striker spring will impart on the slide is irrelevant. The pistol should pass the test, trigger pulled or not. In real world situations prior to live fire the slide will have to lock up with the cruciform sear plate in the elevated position. When the striker engages the sear plate it doesn't compress the striker spring enough to impart any considerable amount of added tension.

 

[Zak Smith]

Hmm

 

[LiveLife]

Zak, which make of recoil spring set is that?

 

[Zak Smith]

Wolff, circa 10 years ago. My strong recommendation is to stick with stock parts.

 

[toejamm]

Mac's and bds,
Thanks for that info. I will definitely order new mag springs and followers for my 9 round mags, +10% as suggested. I do keep them loaded most of the time. Maybe I'll buy a couple extras and start a rotation.

Zak,
Is that the same recoil spring set mentioned by Glock Doc?
Is it the same one Wolff sells today?

 

[Zak Smith]

I don't know if they've made changes since then. Aftermarket springs solution to non-problem unless you are using seriously underpowered ammo (under 110 PF).

 

[jackpinesavages]

Wolff pak. Done.