Rebound Spring Limits?

[Magnum Opus]

I'm curious, to use a full size (N frame) S&W revolver as an example, what would be the limits of replacing the rebound spring before you'd probably have problems?

I know the factory standard is I believe 18 lbs., and I presently use a 15 lbs. rebound spring.

How low can one go before it become problematic, would you say?

 

[Old Fuff]

Rebound springs seldom take a set, but if you cut one down, or replace it with a lighter one, it may at any time fail to rebound the hammer and tie up the gun. If the trigger return is slugish the spring may be trying to tell you something.

 

[rcmodel]

The rebound slide spring and the mainspring work in conjunction with each other on a S&W to some extent.
When you change one, the other needs to be adjusted to work properly with it.

Just putting a very light rebound spring in will actually slow the gun down for double-action use.

And as Old Fuff noted, it can actually cause a gun to malfunction in a high stress situation.

If you use the gun for anything more serious then a range plinker, I'd suggest you don't molest the springs at all.


rcmodel

 

[JoeHatley]

I use 11# rebound springs in all my S&W N & K frame revolvers. About half of them needed a little extra smoothing to reset the trigger 100% of the time.

Joe

 

[pinkymingeo]

I've found 14# is about the low limit without changing the mainspring. With a reduced power main, you can drop to 11# no sweat. Gets to be Federal primer time, though.

 

[MR.G]

I use Wolf 11 lb rebound springs in all of my S&W revolvers. I polish the internal parts, especially the rebound block, when the springs are replaced.