how to bend shotgun magazine spring?

[breakingcontact]

I am installing a new spring in a shotgun.

How do I bend the ends of the spring so they lay flat?

 

[rcmodel]

Needle-nose pliers works for me.

Just use the old spring for a pattern and make it look just like that.

rc

 

[breakingcontact]

I've got it bent down somewhat flat using needle nose. Figure it will flatten some more under compression. The original had 2-3 coils compressed down and the end tucked in nicely. Can't get my new one like that.

 

[rcmodel]

Just as long as the moving end fits in the follower with nothing hanging out you should be good to go.

The front end next to the spring plug / mag cap isn't ever moving, and it doesn't matter whether it is perfectly flat or not.

rc

 

[Zoogster]

Well actually the front shape does matter somewhat if the spring gets compressed enough to crunch the loops together. As it does in some length/shell number combinations when fully loaded (usually in tube lengths that just barely allow for that last shell rather than have a good portion of the length of another one remaining.)
Some shapes will be more inclined to grab onto other coils and increase the chance of binding than others. So you still want a smooth surface without hooks or a point that can thread itself through other coils.
Of course having less excess spring up there to begin with should reduce how important that is.