1911 maintenance...

[FeuerFrei]

I replace firearms parts when they;
Break...
Wear out...
Cause malfunctions.
Need customizing for the hell of it.

My spare parts box is full of essential back up parts for the occasional/inevitable failure du jour. S_hit happens.

[SkyHawk]

Why are all these shooters jones-ing over replacing springs on pistols?

I should have been in the 1911 Spring business a long time ago. Sure, I'll sell you something you don't need. 10% off for cash. And then tell these same guys they should have a few extra parts for their 1911 and they go ape-sheet. "yer a rich guy, yer a rich guy".

Recoil spring replacement in a 1911 isn't make believe. I have seen enough peened vertical impact surfaces to know that. Wilsons new flat wire recoil springs are supposed to last a very long time though. And a $1 firing pin spring replaced at the same time might save your life or someone else's.

And I do run XP firing pin springs. It has no impact on mainspring performance at all. That is like saying going from one cotton ball to two, is going to make a huge comfort difference in an elephants shoe. It has zero impact on lock time or mainspring performance. Zero. It does however offer an added protection against accidental inertia firing.

[hambam105]

Ninety-nine percent of shooters know jack-didly about serviceable firearm springs.

And what kind of any, any firearm related integral part that only costs one dollar, has gone thru one-second of outside reputable quality control inspection?

The kind of quality control inspection process for firearms repair parts to be issued for life saving emergency situations B.Wilson only dreams about passing. Heck, he doesn't even submit his work for evaluation. And I'm going to be lectured on the importance using his products? Ain't happening.

[SkyHawk]

Ninety-nine percent of shooters know jack-didly about serviceable firearm springs.

And what kind of any, any firearm related integral part that only costs one dollar, has gone thru one-second of outside reputable quality control inspection?

The kind of quality control inspection process for firearms repair parts to be issued for life saving emergency situations B.Wilson only dreams about passing. Heck, he doesn't even submit his work for evaluation. And I'm going to be lectured on the importance using his products? Ain't happening.

Wilson Combat - don't trust them. Check.
Wolff Gunsprings - don't trust them. Check.
Hambam105 - lords over gunsprings. And tinfoil hats. He's a 1%'er, knows his didly. Trust this guy

Alrighty then. Hambam105 everyone....

[hambam105]

Trust in Wilson or your own lying eyes.

Go to a big USPSA or ICORE or IDPA match, see who's aftermarket products are working and those that aren't.

This isn't about me.

It is about your fellow Americans investing their hard earned money parts that actually work. Almost forgot, Check!

[hambam105]

Do you know these Wilson people?
Do you know how their family business got started or when it got stared?
Do you know who they first sponsored?
Have you been at the Hilton Bar after the shooting match was over and spoke with these people after they have had a few?
Do you know how they approach and do business with their subcontractors who make their parts?

Do you know how much Attorney fees costs to prove that what you say it is not slander because what you say is true?

That is what I thought.

[LowThudd]

Have one for me dude. I'm not drinking tonite.

[capistolero]

Yep, I'll go with drop safe please. i didn't get if your gun is a series 80 or not but if it is *and* you've taken out the firing pin block mechanism then I'd really think about going with the stiffer spring. I'm not sure what the drawback is other than possibly a worry about dry firing damage

So leave it.

You asked I answered. As long as the Main spring is up to par, there should be no problem with ignition and a HP FP spring. Use a standard A1 15# spring, 22# main spring and standard FP spring.

MANY people have no trouble with the many CA approved SA, Dan Wesson, RIA and other 70 series 1911s that use a heavy FP spring to make them drop safe. And have no trouble at all.

[teflondog]

I didn't know much about maintenance when I got my first 1911. I only changed the recoil spring and FP spring every 5k rounds. After about 15k my extractor broke. That's when I learned that it wasn't a drop-in part. When I had a new extractor fitted to my gun, I asked the guy to fit a spare extractor so I had a backup.

[omega]

Xtra power firing pin springs?

Recoil spring replacement in a 1911 isn't make believe. I have seen enough peened vertical impact surfaces to know that. Wilsons new flat wire recoil springs are supposed to last a very long time though. And a $1 firing pin spring replaced at the same time might save your life or someone else's.

And I do run XP firing pin springs. It has no impact on mainspring performance at all. That is like saying going from one cotton ball to two, is going to make a huge comfort difference in an elephants shoe. It has zero impact on lock time or mainspring performance. Zero. It does however offer an added protection against accidental inertia firing.

the original firing pin spring was never a problem in the M1911 design, they have been making these for over 100 years with a standard firing pin spring

to have an inertia fire accident on a M1911 is actually rare for that to happen, unless you hit it with a sledge hammer or something to force it.

[LowThudd]

the original firing pin spring was never a problem in the M1911 design, they have been making these for over 100 years with a standard firing pin spring

to have an inertia fire accident on a M1911 is actually rare for that to happen, unless you hit it with a sledge hammer or something to force it.

Actually, prior to WWII, Colt installed a firing pin block, because of the occasional drop fire. They went with the Swartz Safety, like Kimber uses. Seems they stopped before WWII because of the cost of production. https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=181423
Cool article on Colt Swarzt Safety. http://www.m1911.org/technic12.htm

It can, and does happen. But, rarely.

Here is a model that was delivered to the US Army Air Force. http://www.coltautos.com/1911a1_Super38_35475.htm

[Mayor McRifle]

Your hyperbole is ... unique. A couple of spring changes every time you spend $1.5K in ammo is like maintaining an Italian car?

It's just something Glock fans say to make themselves feel better about their choices.

[thetruecheese]

How does the swatrz safety 'stack up' on the trigger compared to a Series 80?

[LowThudd]

How does the swatrz safety 'stack up' on the trigger compared to a Series 80?

It doesn't affect the trigger at all. It is released by the grip safety. You won't even know it's there. Why Colt went with the system they did in the 80s series, I'll never understand.

[thetruecheese]

That is definitely a superior design. Maybe to err on the side of legal caution is all i could think of, or perhaps cost. I worked my colt's s80 trigger, but it still is inferior in overall feel to my old Rock Island! The plus side, is that drop or slam fires using heavy slide springs (23lb for .45 super, though i believe its a bit heavier than needed) are impossible.