Recoil spring and ammo question

[AA2015]

Hey folks I have have a question regarding recoil spring and what ammo can or should be fired with that spring. A few weeks ago I purchased a Coonan .357 and it came with 2 recoil springs .357 mag and .38 special. So I took the gun to the range and fired 200 rounds of federal hi power .357 mag not a single problem, she ran flawless. So I swapped to the .38 recoil spring and fired some Remington 125grain .38 special +p ammo , but to my surprise I had a lot (15+) of FTE or stovepipes.

Do you guys think I could get away with firing LAX ammo .357 magnum ammo with the .38 special recoil spring. I ask because I've shot lax ammo before and it seems very underpowered and I did some searching and it seems to be the same velocity as some of the specialty 38 +p loads such as buffalo bore, double tap, underwood ammo. Lax states 1004fps(926 for reloads) and the others are right around the same velocity but in 38 special +p . Buffalo bore even has one 38 special cartridge at 1250 fps. All the ammo I looked into all firing 158 grain bullet.

What are some of the potential problems that can occur in using too light a recoil spring and too hot of ammo.

[nedro]

Wondering if you have the springs wrong? Maybe you were actually using the 38 spring when shooting the 357?

[Blade Gunner]

Stress fractures in the fame would be the likely result of using too light a spring with hot loads.

[pacrat]

So I swapped to the .38 recoil spring and fired some Remington 125grain .38 special +p ammo , but to my surprise I had a lot (15+) of FTE or stovepipes.

The +P stuff may be to hot for the .38 spl spring. Try shooting standard velocity .38 spl ammo. Also shoot the 125 gr. +Ps using the .357 spring and see how it functions.

JM2c

[JTROKS]

But a GP100 or 686 Problem Solved!

Kidding aside I would say use the 357 spring first for any 357 mag ammo you're trying. If it short strokes then use the lighter 38 spring.

I checked the Coonan site and it seems they have several weights in recoil spring. It's a good idea to get extras and lightest weight for 38 special target shooting.

[AA2015]

Wondering if you have the springs wrong? Maybe you were actually using the 38 spring when shooting the 357?

It could have been a possibility , neither of the springs are marked nor are they color coded. I seen the springs on the website are color coded so I will probably just order a set of new springs. I don't want to run the wrong springs and do harm to the gun.

[AA2015]

But a GP100 or 686 Problem Solved!

Kidding aside I would say use the 357 spring first for any 357 mag ammo you're trying. If it short strokes then use the lighter 38 spring.

I checked the Coonan site and it seems they have several weights in recoil spring. It's a good idea to get extras and lightest weight for 38 special target shooting.

Haha i already got a sw 627 to go along with it, next time out I will have fresh springs and I will take a variety of ammo to see what feeds reliable.