SW1911 recoil spring question

[surfdesigner]

Are all 5" Government 1911 recoil springs the same diameter/length? Would like to go to a 15-16lb spring and couldn't find one online specific to a SW1911.

[FeuerFrei]

Full length 1911 clones take a standard size spring. 16# is a standard weight for 45 acp 230 grain ball ammo loading. Wolf or Sprinco make good springs for 1911 types.

[Mr. Blue]

Feuer is correct. What weight are you running now?

[surfdesigner]

Thank you both. It's a stock spring so maybe it's already 16lbs. I've always used 230gr ball and have never had any issues with any brand ammo I've used. It's tough to rack the slide compared to my other pistols though.

Since springs are cheap I'll get a Wolf Variable 14lb spring and see if it creates any feed issues. Probably also a 16lb one in case the stock one in there is 18lbs.

[TomReloaded]

A flat firing pin stop dramatically increases racking effort. You can get around that by cocking the hammer first. I'd check that before a spring swap, especially if the gun feels heavy to rack compared to other 1911's.

[surfdesigner]

Thanks Tom, cocking the hammer revealed the issue. With the hammer cocked the slide is pretty easy to rack (recoil spring likely 16lbs).

The firing pin stop has a large radius along the bottom (hammer contact area) though, not squared.

Any negatives to going with a lighter hammer spring weight?

[FeuerFrei]

Thanks Tom, cocking the hammer revealed the issue. With the hammer cocked the slide is pretty easy to rack (recoil spring likely 16lbs).

The firing pin stop has a large radius along the bottom (hammer contact area) though, not squared.

Any negatives to going with a lighter hammer spring weight?

It can induce weak hits on the primer. Failure To Fire. Better to leave that alone and enjoy reliable function. The more you shoot it the better the parts seat. Break in.

If you reload using softer primers/lighter bullets/lighter powder amounts you can introduce weaker springs as needed. IMO the springs should not be swapped unless there is a clear indicator of failures to strip rounds from the mag or weak primer strikes. Recoil spring/hammer spring.

[TomReloaded]

One of the first things I did was put an 18lb mainspring in mine. I've read a lot that it might cause light strikes, but there sure is a *lot* of people with 18 pound mainsprings and very high round counts. I've never had a light strike in my 18lb MS 1911. No shallow divots in primers or anything either.

[JTROKS]

I’ve used CCI, Win and Wolf rifle primers with my 9mm and 40 loads and they all shot fine with 18 lb mainspring. Nice primer strike, but I run an extended firing pin.

[Mr. Blue]

Thanks Tom, cocking the hammer revealed the issue. With the hammer cocked the slide is pretty easy to rack (recoil spring likely 16lbs).

The firing pin stop has a large radius along the bottom (hammer contact area) though, not squared.

Any negatives to going with a lighter hammer spring weight?

I recommend against changing spring weights to improve the ease of racking the slide. The slide is probably easy to rack once it breaks the initial barrel link up, right? You might consider consulting a gunsmith and see what they think. Have a few people rack the slide. If you use a lighter recoil spring weight, the slide could start slamming/banging the frame when cycling. Changing of a hammer spring might cause light primer strikes, and if done incorrectly, be a host of other issues. How many rounds through the gun? Has it been broken in? Any quality 1911 will have a VERY tight slide fit. Some custom 1911’s require the hammer to be cocked to rack. This is a result of the sub 1” groups the market demands. Best of luck.

[-hanko]

Correct answer.

Springs available from Brownells.com or Wolff Springs at gunsprings.com.

And it's Wolff Springs, with 2 f's.

[surfdesigner]

Appreciate all the feedback. I've got probably 1000rds through it, not sure if that would be considered broken in. The gun is awesome, very tight slide fit, super accurate. Not one FTF/FTE.

I've been doing a lot more reading and there are a lot of people running 18-19lb trigger springs without issues (light primer strikes, slide/frame battering-muzzle dip). Some are also running extended firing pins with stronger firing pin springs.

[surfdesigner]

More info I've been reading from the 1911Forum.com site (all .45 cal, 5" barrel)...

Ed Brown competition guns use a 19# hammer spring
Bill Wilson 19-21# mainspring, 18# recoil spring
Les Baer recommended 18# Wolff variable recoil spring, heavy duty firing pin, change every 2500rds, 21-23# mainspring

Lighter mainspring can result in a mushy/slow feeling trigger (15-17#), does lighten the trigger pull (hammer/sear modifications are better to lighten trigger pull, Neutral on sear crown, square the hook at 90 degrees and reduce to .020", 3.5# optimal accuracy/safety)

Standard ammo loads 14-18# recoil spring
Light ammo loads 12-16# recoil spring

Various posts:
15# recoil, 17# hammer, no issues
15# recoil, 19# hammer, no issues with most primers except Winchester
14# recoil, 20# hammer on wife's gun
12.5# recoil, 17# hammer have had for years IPSC matches, no issues
14# variable recoil, 17# hammer, OK for lighter loads
17# hammer, 1000's of rounds no issues
12# recoil, 17# hammer OK with Federal primers

Lightweight firing pins cause issues with spring changes, use HD steel, extended firing pins/heavier firing pin springs

For lighter springs use a Polyurethane recoil buffer to prevent slide/frame damage

Heavier magazine spring to compensate for faster slide cycling with lighter recoil/hammer springs

Federal primers best with lighter springs, then Winchester, CCI not recommended

Loading data:
3.2 grains Bullseye, 185 grain lbnswc, 12lb recoil, 15lb ISMI main spring
3.4 grains Bullseye, 185 grain lbnswc , 14 lb recoil, 16 lb main
3.6 grains Bullseye, 185 grain lbnswc, 14, lb recoil, 16 lb main
3.8 grains Bullseye, 185 grain lbnswc, 14 lb recoil, 19 lb main
4.0 grains Bullseye, 185 grain lbnswc, 16 lb recoil, 21 lb main
4.0 grains Bullseye, 200 grain lswc, 16 lb recoil, 23lb main
Pistol used was 5", Colt Combat Elite. I likely taper crimped these to .471. Could've crimped using FCD at .472. Crimp however you like, but crimp. Bullet is 185 grain lbnswc by Missouri Bullet Company. OAL @ 1.15. OAL range from 1.10 to 1.20.

[JTROKS]

For lighter springs use a Polyurethane recoil buffer to prevent slide/frame damage