1911 Recoil Spring- Flat vs round coil

[Maddawg46]

If I have a flat wire recoil spring, can i replace with a round coil spring? Wonder why some Mfgs. use flat wire springs? My Sig 1911 has a flat wire spring. I was going to replace it with a heavier Wolfe round wire spring. Need some expert advice

[kcstott]

As long as your spring rate is the same or correct for your application there is no essential
difference between the two.

Now speaking from a specifically engineering stand point flat wire springs are used to get more coils in a given space therefore increasing your spring rate. They are also stiffer and tend not to flex and rub the shaft they are mounted on. meaning they tend to compress in a straight line not in a zig zag.

[Maddawg46]

What about the stacking issue? Can that hurt the frame and slide?

[Maddawg46]

What about the stacking issue? Can that hurt the frame and slide?

[Maddawg46]

What about spring stacking? Can that damage the frame?

[kcstott]

If you are using the correct spring rate for the load your shoot no damage will occur.
If you mean that the spring is bottoming out then you have an incorrect spring length for your weapon and a few shot will normally damage the slide. but damage may occur to the frame as well.

Checking for spring stacking is easy on pistols google it.

[wash]

SIG changed the design probably in an effort to increase the service life of the spring.

There is no reason why you can't change it back. You might have to replace your spring every 2,000 rounds or so to avoid loosing spring rate but that is standard 1911.

I'm going to build a 1911 with a flat spring but it's an Officers length, it has special needs.

The new MARSOC (I think) Colt 1911 rail gun made a switch to a flat wire spring to increase the service life closer to 10,000 rounds.

If you don't mind changing springs every once in a while, round is cheap and lots of weights are available.