Teach me about recoil springs... please?

[Dorrin79]

ok - so I think the problem with my new Hi-Power is that it has an overly stiff recoil spring, being a milsurp gun. I had a lot of failures to (fully) extract with 115gr WWB 9mm.

I think a lighter recoil spring will fix the problem. Question is, how light of one should I get? Are there any drawbacks to putting a lighter spring in the gun? I carry 124gr+p in my 9mms, and I don't want to damage the gun from the higher pressure loads because the spring is too weak.

I realize I could just shoot hotter loads at the range as well, but to me the whole point of a 9mm is cheap, plentiful range ammo.

Also, where does one get recoil springs? I'm assuming I can order them online...

Thanks in advance...

 

[1911Tuner]

Springy Stuff

Howdy Dorrin,

Yep, an oversprung slide can cause problems, not to mention that
your lower lug/slidestop pin take a beating. For the high-pressure
stuff, I'd say that a 12-13 pound spring would be about max..and
you'll probably do fine with about 10-11 pounds for general purpose
shooting with all types of ammo.

You can order Wolff springs from Brownells. Find them online and
search for Recoil Springs.

Good luck.

Tuner

 

[Dorrin79]

thanks, Tuner!

That's exactly the kind of information i was looking for.

 

[DMK]

Wolff's website is www.gunsprings.com

 

[Michael]

Dorrin,

Check out www.fnhipower.com as there are many folks who specialize in the care, handling, and feeding of BHP's and related clones (like the FM). Factory standard spring weight for a BHP is 17 pounds, I believe, and most users at that other site increase to 18.5 recoil springs with no problems.

Sincerely,

Michael

 

[1911Tuner]

Hi-Power??

Lord! I thought he had a 1911. Thanks for the heads up Michael.

Tuner

 

[PCRCCW]

As a general rule...if your gun is sending "most of the ammo" you shoot, whether +P or WWB, between 4-8 feet when its ejected...your recoil spring is tuned in where it needs to be.

You can have the best of both worlds very easily...even if the recoil spring doesnt fix the extraction/ejection problem...you can still tune it properly.

I run a 20# Wolff spring in my PCR and it functions with anything I can throw at it.......

Id check out the HP forum..they can help better there with the existing problem.

Shoot well.

 

[Michael]

Tuner,

No problem, sir. The little print on the screen runs together for me, also, from time to time.

Dorrin,

Your spring may not be the source of your problem. FTE's can be caused by dirty or improperly toleranced chambers, crud under the extractor claw or in its recess, defective ejector, etc. Check out these areas carefully. Also, try another ammunition brand. I have a BHP that not only ran perfectly for thousands of round before customization, but also following modifications from a nationally renowned 'smith. During a qualification shoot, I was using WWB for the basic runthrough and had a classic FTE that was almost assuredly due to an underpowered round. The pistol has run fine since that one and only failure. Again, go to www.fnhipower.com and search the threads, confer with others, etc. Best of luck, sir.

Sincerely,

Michael

 

[Dorrin79]

poking around some faqs and guides and product lists, I ordered a 15lb Wolff spring. should get it in friday.

Assuming that this fixes the problem (if not, i'll try the other remedies that have been suggested), is there any danger to the gun from the lighter spring in terms of excess wear/damage? I don't plan on feeding this gun a steady diet of anything other than WWB 115gr - I bought it for range use more than anything.

Thanks!

 

[BevrFevr]

Dorrin,

How many rounds have you fired through this gun?

When you take the gun apart are there any unusual signs of wear?

Do others that shoot this same gun have the same ejection problem?

How often do you clean and lubricate the gun?

Did you buy it new or used?

Do your ejected cases have any deep gouges, nicks, or scratches?

Have you carefully inspected the chamber?

I would look at all of these things first before I started replacing parts on a new gun.

good luck -bevr

 

[BevrFevr]

OOPS

I see you say it was milsurp.

Do the parts have matching numbers?

-bevr

 

[Dorrin79]

Bevr - all the parts have matching numbers

I have fired 200 rounds of WWB through the gun.

the finish is worn on the slide rails.

I haven't had anyone else shoot it yet.

I did not "thoroughly" clean/lube it before shooting it. I put some CLP on the rails / slide. Now it has been completely cleaned and scrubbed.

It's a FM Milsurp. I assume it was used before I got it, although it shows little signs of usage.

Ejected cases look normal.

The chamber looks ok to my eyes. It was pretty filthy when I cleaned it, but I don't know how much of that was the 200 rds I had just shot through it.

 

[BevrFevr]

I guess changing the recoil spring might not hurt.

What I was getting at is that a dirty gun, rough or dirty chamber, mismatched or worn parts, etc. could also cause ejection problems. Damaged cases could yield hints to the cause.

Sounds like you are on the right path. Wolf sells spring kits with 3 different weights of springs you may try and get one of those so that you can experiment up and down in wieght.

Good Luck! -bevr

 

[JNewell]

Does anyone know if the FN mil surp ammo might be hot? I have a faint recollection of SMG 9x19 being surplused by some countries. I wouldn't shoot SMG ammo in a pistol that I owned, if I had a choice. Of course, this may be regular pressure pistol ammo -- just a thought.