One of my favorite issues!
First, understand that there is a difference between limp wristing
and having the grip broken from fatigue or a misplaced grip on the
pistol. Many times, a limp wrist malfunction will occur near the end of a
long string. If you are in the habit of loading a dozen or so magazines
and running through them without a break, this can happen.
Second...If the slide isn't oversprung, the pistol should function
with a limp grip. At least, if it's a carry gun, it should. Many pistols...
especially the 1911...are running with a recoil spring that is too heavy for
most reliable function. If the pistol is set up properly, you should be
able to cradle it in you hand, resting on your thumb and across your
index finger, with your wrist bent and shoot an entire magazine to
slidelock. The old test of firing one round to see if the slide locks
is only half the story.
On a heavy-use range beater, use the heaviest spring that the pistol
will function with when you use a strong, two-handed grip. If it starts
to show signs of short-cycle type malfunctions, take a break to let
your hand rest. Reliability will likely return. Be aware though, that the
heavy spring will take a toll on certain areas of the gun. No such
thing as a free lunch.
On a carry gun, use a lighter spring in case you have to go for the
gun in a hurry, with the chance that you may not get just the right
grip, because there's at least a chance that you won't...or because
the fight occurs at such close range, you are fending the attack off with
one hand, and grabbing for your pistol with the other, and you fire
one-handed from the hip...with the wrist bent to elevate the muzzle.
As a rule, a 14-pound spring in a 5-inch gun is about ideal, and 16 pounds
in a Commander. Shorter slides than Commander length sometimes
get finicky, so I try to avoid them. If you are going to the range for
an extended session...300 rounds or more, or if you shoot the pistol
weekly with lots of ammo...step back up to the standard spring, but
resist the urge to go too far out of spec on the spring. A 5-inch
pistol doesn't need a 20-pound spring, nor a Commander a 22 pounder.
The last thing to keep in mind is that although a heavy recoil spring
will reduce impact stress between slide and frame, the higher slide
speed as it returns to battery will simply stress other, more fragile
parts of the gun...like the barrel's lower lug feet.
By far, assuming that all is well with the pistol, the most important
aid to reliable function is a good magazine. Often, a seemingly
problem magazine will be cured with nothing more than a fresh spring.
I found one in the range trash can once. It was a well-used, but
undamaged OEM Colt that somebody had apparently gotten disgusted
with and tossed. I took it home, installed a Wolff spring, tweaked the
follower angle, and it works fine.
'Nuff said...
Tuner
