Springfield GI recoil spring question

[03Shadowbob]

I went to my local shop and was picking up some cleaning supplies and looking at holsters and saw he had a Wolf spring package. In it is a 17lb recoil spring and a new firing pin spring (not sure of tension). I could be mistaken but I thought the factory recoil spring was 16lb and was wondering if any of you had replaced it with the Wolf 17lb spring. If so, how did it work? If not, why not? Should I replace the spring or just hold onto the new Wolf spring just in case.
Also, is it worthwhile to replace the firing pin spring? Is it a job for a gunsmith or can a regular joe like me replace it easily without special tools?
BTW, I have only shot 200 rounds through it so far.
Thanks.

 

[daysleeprx]

I run 16 pound springs in all my 1911s. A 17 pound spring probably won't make a big difference though.

Installing a firing pin spring is a piece of cake...should take about 2 minutes.

 

[cdrt]

Yep, the factory spring is 16 pounds (at least in Colt autoloaders). I've changed springs based on the kind of load I'm shooting. When I was using my Gold Cup in Leg Matches, I went with the 18 pound spring and shock-buffs since I didn't want to batter the heck out of the slide (the Gold Cup has less metal at the back end).
If you're shooting slightly hotter loads, the 17 pound spring would help, but you have a lot of rounds to go before you really need to change out the recoil spring. Some say to change it out every 1,000 rounds. Again, no absolutes in shooting; if you're shooting light loads, the recoil spring will last a lot longer than 1,000 rounds.

No problem changing out the firing pin spring in a 1911. You just need a small drift pin to depress the firing pin so you can remove the firing pin stop. About a two minute job.

 

[03Shadowbob]

Thanks. So the 17lb spring really doesn't matter then since all I am shooting is 230gr factory ball loads.
Should I do the firing pin spring or is it also a waste of time/energy? If I should, I hope to find a diagram on line showing how to do it.

 

[cdrt]

Sent you a PM on how to do that.

 

[jad0110]

cdrt,

Hey, can you PM me that too, or just post it here?

 

[03Shadowbob]

thanks cdrt