What recoil spring is in my 1911 Colt?

[JB357MAG]

I have a 1992 Colt Series 80 enhanced 1911 on layaway and
when I get it home is there any way to know what recoil spring is
in it?

Its 20 yrs old, who knows whats been done to it.

Jimmy

 

[rcmodel]

No way to tell if it has been changed or not.

If it is the stock spring it should be a 16 - 16.5 pound.

But there is no good way to measure that in pounds at home either.

A stock Colt GM spring should be 32 coils of .043 diameter wire.



rc

 

[JB357MAG]

Thanks for your answer.

Would it be a good idea to buy a stock spring from colt and put it in
when I get it home?

Thanks Jimmy

 

[rcmodel]

Couldn't hurt.

But I'd buy it from Wolff.

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/COLT/1911 GOV'T PISTOL/cID1/mID1/dID1

rc

 

[JB357MAG]

Very cool, thanks for your help RC!

For 8 bucks its allmost a no brainer.

Jimmy

 

[kyletx1911]

while you are at it id change the fps with wolf also

 

[JB357MAG]

kyletx1911 while you are at it id change the fps with wolf also

How hard is that to do? For backround the only thing I have done to a gun was
to fit a new hand and bolt in my 1851 navy colt and cut a loading ramp
for a kirst konverter-45 colt.


Jimmy

 

[rcmodel]

Pretty easy.

The Series 80 has a firing pin lock plunger & spring in the slide.

So take the slide off, just as if field stripping for cleaning.

Then use a small punch, or ball point pen, or something to push the FP in past the retainer plate and slide it off.

Then depress the FP lock in the bottom of the slide to release the firing pin & spring and catch it when it comes flying out.

Reassemble in reverse order.

But I really seriously doubt your FP spring needs to be replaced anyway, unless the gun has a lot of rounds through it, or has been dry-fired about a gazillion times.

And it doesn't need the extra power Wolff FP spring to prevent drop firing anyway, because it's already got a FP drop-safety lock.

rc