Springs

[GCT00427]

Please give your opinion on the best gun springs for a 1911. I have used Wolff pretty much exclusively when replacing recoil, firing pin, and main/hammer springs. I would love to hear about others experience with various makers. It might turn us on to sometihing that we do not know. Let it rip. ;)

Chuck

[robertbank]

Wolff for my 1911's and CZ. When the product works why seek out others. Prices are reasonable, shipping is fast and they cover all the bases.

[1911WB]

I've tried others like Wilson, but Wolff is the best! :p

[E5MC]

I've been running ISMI spring's in my 1911's lately without any problems. I forgot what the guarantee was. With a little over 1500 round's through one of my Baer's, the spring is the same length as when I put it in. I usually run a 16lb recoil spring in a 5" 1911.

[MashBill]

I usually use Wolff, but I am trying a variable rate Sprinco right now. So far I like it.

[MC Peacock]

I have always stuck with Wollf springs, but on the recommendation of a friend, I'm going to try one of the ISMI recoil springs a try. They seem to have as loyal following as Wolff, so I felt compelled to try one. I'm sure I will be pleased. One thing though, ISMI does not carry all the various 1911 springs that Wolff does, so Wolff is still the best source for most springs.

[GCT00427]

Does anyone have a web site for the ISMI springs. I am going to order a 19lb hammer spring for my new Commander today and may just give them a try.

Thanks,

Chuck

[JimC]

Does anyone have a web site for the ISMI springs. I am going to order a 19lb hammer spring for my new Commander today and may just give them a try.

Thanks,

Chuck

This will work.

ISMI Springs (http://www.ismi-gunsprings.com/)

[GCT00427]

Thanks. Ordered two today.

Chuck

[wichaka]

I've used both ISMI and Wolff, both are top quality springs don't think you'll go wrong with either. Right now I'm using a 16.5 variable Wolff in my Colt SS GM, noticed a bit better function with it.

[John]

I'll go for ISMI, they seem to be well-worth it. After six months in the pistol and several hundrend rounds fired, they still are almost the same length as when installed. Check the "Products Tests" for a test of these springs.

Rgds

[GCT00427]

I got two main springs in the mail yesterday (one day delivery on priority mail). I have installed one and am well pleased. A 19lb main spring lowers the pull a bit and is very easy to install. I am happy so far and will probably order from them again when necessary. Thanks for the comments.

Chuck

[walangkatapat]

Another ISMI fan here.

[msmith]

I like ISMI too. :)

[readyfire]

I use wolff also,never had a problem!

[kwandukes]

Add me to the ISMI fan club as well.

[wakal]

ISMI makes great recoil springs and mainsprings.

However...their double-stack mag springs get too soft too fast, in the experience of my local IPSC club.

I recommend http://www.gramsengineering.com/ without reservation for mag springs, especially in an SxI platform. His new follower is fantastic, too.




Alex

[valor1]

Another vote for ISMI. I used to love Wolff but ISMI showed up.

[harytaint]

Les Baer Super Tac uses a variable 18.5 spring so i would like to try ISMI but i think wolf is the only one i kno wof that carries variable? I can try ISMI in my TRP though but if i hve to order from wolf and they have all the springs i need it would be easier to place one order.
Any suggestions?
A friend recommended a SpringCo, not sure what it is but the pic had a spring inclosed in a sleve or something that was fitted over the guide rod. You guys know about these?

[John]

Yes,

Sprinco is producing one of those recoil reducing devices. I have several of their springs, never got around trying them. As for their recoil reducing device, I've removed all these gizmos from my 1911s. Plain, short guide rods for me only.

Rgds

[Gammon]

Stay with the stock hammer (or main) spring. The pistol was designed to work with this weight spring, and changing it is more involved than you think. If you are attempting to reduce the weight of your trigger pull, take the pistol to a gunsmith, or learn how to do a proper trigger job.

[GCT00427]

Gammon,

I respectfully disagree. I have changed the mainspring on three or four 1911s with no adverse affects. A 19lb main spring is as low as I have used and have experienced no malfunctions of any kind. I have also used metal polish to slick up the trigger pulls also. I call this the poor mans trigger job. I took my Defender down to a perfect four pound trigger with this method. Others can chime in with their experience, but it is my understanding that changing the main spring is one of the things that the smiths use to reduce the trigger pull. Thank you for your response.

Chuck

[AHammer]

Have to agree with Chuck. He doesn't claim any expertise as a gunsmith, but does know a little something about fabrication. I bought a 1911 from him that he had put a new trigger in. Works beautifully.

When I bought my Randall wanted to change to a longer trigger. Chuck fit the new Videki trigger and replaced the mainspring with a 19 pounder. Have fired quite a few rounds of lots of differnt ammo. Even with CCI primers the gun fires reliably each and every time. The trigger is smooth and has a glass rod break.

Alvin

[1911Tuner]

Fascinating thread.

[Gammon]

You are much better off retaining the stock main spring and reducing the trigger pull the way the pros do it. Check out Kuhnhausen's book. Drawbacks of a lighter mainspring are: increased slide velocity and decreaseed stability in the hammer sear engagement.

[1911Tuner]

You are much better off retaining the stock main spring and reducing the trigger pull the way the pros do it. Check out Kuhnhausen's book. Drawbacks of a lighter mainspring are: increased slide velocity and decreaseed stability in the hammer sear engagement.

Bingo. When you dink around with the spring rates, you're changing more than you realize.

Kudos Gammon!

[GCT00427]

Gammon and 1911Tuner,

I am absolutely not a gunsmith. I am a tinkerer. I respect both of your comments. I have changed hammer springs (mainsprings) with no adverse affects that I know of, but then again, I don't shoot 1000 rounds a week. I would like to know more about how this change can affect the sear and hammer lockup.

I very much appreciate your comments and knowledge that far exceeds mine.

Sincerely,

Chuck

[1911Tuner]

Howdy Chuck...I'd be happy to...but it's gettin' late, and the full boat will take some time, so I'll get to it first thing tomorrow. I may make it into a thread.

Meanwhile, here are a few things to think about to prep ya for it:

The 1911 doesn't operate smoothly. It's actually pretty violent, and things bounce. Inertia is a big player. Think of Newton's Laws of Motion...or the Conservation of Momentum, as it's called nowadays. Lastly, always keep in
mind that whenever ANYthing is changed, it causes other changes in the function...and that goes double for spring rates. The pistol is recoil operated...but it runs on springs. Nothing means everything, but everything means something. One important thing to consider with the mainspring is that
reducing its tension has a very real and dramatic effect on the force required for the slide to cock the hammer, and thus a very real effect on the SPEED of the slide AS it cocks the hammer. Remember too, that springs work in both directions.

Stay tuned...If I do a thread, I'll call it "Spring Things"...unless I forget tocall it that...which, at my age is a distinct possibility. :rolleyes:

Tuner

[Gammon]

I won't try to give the ins and outs of spring changes; I think 1911Tuner will do a much better job. I, too, am a tinkerer. I became an amateur gunsmith as a result of a lot of competitive shooting; guns break and you can never find a gunsmith when you really need one. I will reiterate my suggestion to buy Kuhnhausen,s book, the Colt .45 Automatic, a shop manual. It is available from Brownell's and worth every penny.

[wichaka]

Fascinating thread.


I won't go below a 20lb main spring, and won't go any higher than an 18.5lb on the recoil.

All my personal owned guns have the original 23lb main & 16lb recoil, and the triggers are a crip-clean 5-5 1/2 on the break. Were talking duty use here..........

I've done some triggers for some IPSC-USPSA people and installed 20lb MS's for them, but I personally won't go any lower. If someone wants something lower, I tell them to take it somewhere else or do it themselves.

Good thread on springs Tuner, I've pretty much told my customers what you wrote, you've just got a better way of saying it.

Speaking of springs, Tuner what's your take on conventional vs. variable rate recoil springs? I'm running conventionals on all mine, but I stock a couple of variables for customers.

[1911Tuner]

Howdy wichaka,

Looks like we're still on the same page here... :cool:

I've just tried my first variable springs...a 16.5 and an 18.5 pounder...So
far, the only real difference that I can tell is that both make the slide
a little easier to rack at the beginning than their conventional counterparts,
and a little harder near the limit of their compression. If I was backed into a corner, I might admit that a variable spring would allow a little more leeway
in ammunition pressure/velocity levels than conventional springs...and probably would be a little more forgiving with magazine timing...but as near as I can tell with my limited experience, that's about it. A trick solution to a non-existent problem.

By the way...I've got a neat little formula to determine the spring rate for
different levels of bullet weights and velocities. Nothin' precise, but a good
ballpark guestimate. Be warned... It flies in the face of conventional wisdom.,
but it gets'em to run more often than not. I'll see if I can find it. It was here
somewhere....just the other day. :rolleyes:

More Spring Things comin' soon. Stay Tuned! (Pun intended)

[Gammon]

I stick to the stock main spring. Combined with a McCormick hammer and sear, I get a 3.5lb trigger on my P-16 Paras that I use for IPSC competition. Both guns have bull barrels so I only need 12lb recoil springs. I have a shock buff removed from one after approx 2000 rounds; it is barely worn.