Looking for softer springs for my .380's

[Sky Dog]

I would like to replace the springs in my Sig 230 and Beretta 85. My wife has Rhumatoid Arthritis and has a hard time cycling my auto loaders. She's OK with my 92F, but I think she would like the softer recoil of my .380's better.
I've run less than 500 rounds thru both pistols and their both still incredibly stiff. Any suggestions Guys AND Gals?

 

[Acera]

Be careful with reduced power springs as you can damage your firearm when using full power factory loads.

You might consider something else to help her out, a revolver or a racker for the slide might be a better choice.

However if you want them anyway, Wolff has them.
https://www.gunsprings.com/SIG-SAUER (SIGARMS)/P-230 & P-232/cID1/mID4/dID255

Don't know about the Beretta, but you could cut a few coils off if you really wanted to make it easier to rack the slide. I would not do it, but it's your gun.

You might check out this article.
http://www.usacarry.com/racking-pistol-slide-devices-supplement-technique/

If it is a strength issue, teach her to straighten her arms, lock her elbows, and use her shoulders to apply the force needed. Sometimes that helps even with arthritic hands.


.

 

[wally]

Unfortunately they've been discontinued, but the Beretta Model 85 Cheetah .380 sounds about perfect since she'd never have to rack the slide. Its an 8 shot single stack with a "tip up" barrel like the .25ACP Jet-Fire. OTOH to me, being blow back, the recoil is worse than the 9mm 92, but to my wife its not, I think its the lower muzzle blast from the full sized .380 vs. the blast from the supersonic 9mm rounds in the 92.

Another suggestion, take a look at the SIG P238 its small size enhances recoil, but being locked breech the recoil spring is among the lightest I have. What would help the most is that she could split the slide racking force into two halves by manually cocking the hammer, apply the safety, and then rack the slide to chamber a round.

The "gas retarded blow back" of the 9mm Walther CCP was supposed to address the issue, but when I looked at one it seemed to me when the striker was un-cocked it was harder to rack than the P380 with the hammer back. The Walter P380 is bigger than the SIG P238 and would let her split the slide racking force in the same way, but I won't recommend it because my friend has one and he hates it despite being a huge Walter fan -- says its the most inaccurate gun he's ever owned.

 

[71velle]

Have her cock the hammer first and then the slide.

 

[toivo]

What Acera said: Reduced-strength springs need reduced-strength loads. If she's got arthritis issues, that's a win-win anyway.

Another vote for the SIG P238. The locked-breech design makes it an easy-shooting, easy-racking pistol. The all-steel HD model is bit heavier, making felt recoil even less.

The SIG P230 and the Beretta 84 are both somewhat difficult to rack. I'm not surprised that she would have problems with those two. You'll see a world of difference with the P238.

 

[Drail]

The main function of a recoil spring is to close the side, strip a round from the magazine and place the barrel fully back into battery - that's all it has to do. The recoil spring does not "protect" the frame or slide from "damage". When the slide is coming back in recoil the mainspring under the hammer provides almost all of the resistance. Running lighter springs probably won't do any real damage to your gun but go too light and you will start to see feed issues - not good on a gun used for self defense. I have developed arthritis also so I know what she is dealing with. If racking a semi auto is too much for her try to allow her to shoot some DA revolvers. Just point and click - no racking. I used to instruct women's classes as an NRA instructor. We would have an older woman once in a while who had trouble with semi autos. I once had an 82 year old grandmother in a class and while she could not rack a .45 1911 - you should have seen her chew up targets with it while grinning like a little girl. It was a beautiful thing............

 

[Tejano_UT]

It was the Beretta 86 that came with a tip up barrel. I used to own two.

 

[Sky Dog]

Lot's of good info here. Thanks guys. Her cocking the hammer before cycling does the trick in a worst case scenario. Also thanks for the Wolf Springs link as well. I have 2 Match Target and 1 Colt Woodsman that are very old and need a little TLC .

 

[RX-79G]

There are several pistols that are known to wear out faster and get frame cracks if the recoil springs are not replaced regularly, so I completely disagree with Drail that all they do is load the chamber.

Blowback .380s like the 230 and 85 generally have stiffer recoil springs than recoil operated .380s or even 9mm pistols, so that would be an avenue to look into.

If you want to try and decrease the recoil spring strength a little, store the weapons with the slides locked open for a few days.