ismi springs

[bophi]

has any one used these ? they bind on the guide rod , they won't let the slide go all the way to the rear. had to cut off 4 rounds of spring to get it to
work.done as the inst. sheet said to do. it worked ,it is a 16lb,spring, short g/r ,5in colt frame.
also new firing pin (ed brown )is about 0.030 in. shorter than old one . is this ok ?? i fixed the binding on g/r. by sanding, on g/r. it fits flgr perfect. any
info on this would be helpfull , thanks

[wichaka]

With that shortened spring, you now have a whole new spring weight......it's no longer 16lbs.

I only use Wolff, never had a problem with them. never had to alter a guide rod either......

[1911Tuner]

At one time, ISMI springs were overlength to allow the installer to tune them. I haven't seen any of those lately, but it may just be luck of the draw. The last ones that I used had just a bit over 36 full turns. That's been about 5 years.

[John]

They are good springs, but indeed in the past, they were somewhat long. But they seem to be as good (if not better) than Wolff, as far as the spring metal is concerned.

[1911Tuner]

They are good springs, but indeed in the past, they were somewhat long. But they seem to be as good (if not better) than Wolff, as far as the spring metal is concerned.


As far as living long and enduring, they're probably a little better than Wolff...but the variations in loading tend to be a little wider.

It's odd...but the last few ISMIs that I've gotten have been shorter at 30 turns...compared to 32 for Wolff...and they seem to be a little lighter than Wolff springs of the same ratings. I do know that the wire diameter runs smaller across the board than Wolff for a given load rating. I can't tell any difference in "feel" between an ISMI 16-pound spring and Wolff 14-pounder. I have to wonder if ISMI rates the load at stacked compression instead of at full slide travel as installed in the gun.

[auto45]

Wolff now makes a chrome silicon spring also.

[George Smith]

Wolff now makes a chrome silicon spring also.

Now that is a tell.

If you have any problem what so EVER with ISMI call Marc. he is a good guy and cares about his products.

We switched over to all ISMI about 1 1/2 years ago. No dig on Wolf, they for a long time were the industry standard. But the ISMI last longer. peroid.
they are also into flat springs. the ISMI Flat spring in an officers size gun goes from replacment in 600 rounds to over 10 times that! that is big and Officers guns are for carry so this is an important improvment.

Marc Cosat and George Huning both applied what they learned from Indy cars to guns. Good for us. What they learned from Valve springs and other springs leads to longer and better service life. What he learned from US Military doc. was applied to SS springs. all good things.

Spring life in things like AR mags is much improved also with the new tech.

geo

www.egw-guns.com

[1911Tuner]

George...Never had any sort of problem with ISMI springs. I noticed that...in the past...they varied a little more from the package stated rating than Wolff's. That may not be the case now. I haven't used any for a while now, mainly because I can get Wolff's springs in 10-packs for less than 3 bucks a copy...and I go through springs like some people go through a pound of Unique.

They do last longer...no argument there. I'm a little curious about the change to 30 turns, though.

[saltydog]

If it means anything, Tripp uses ISMI springs in his magazine up-grade kit.

I had occasion to speak with Mr. Cosat a few months ago and he stated that he had recently sent 300 lbs of AR mag springs to the USN in San Diego.

I wish he offered BHP and Commander recoil springs. Too limited a market I guess.

salty.

[1911Tuner]

I wish he offered BHP and Commander recoil springs

Salty...If your Commander has a standard recoil system in it, you can cut a standard GM recoil spring down to work. I use 16-pound springs, trimmed to 24.5-25 turns.
Be sure to run a check for coil bind before you shoot it, and cut accordingly.

If it has a reverse plug/bushingless system in it...all bets are off.

This trick won't work with your Officer's Model.

[saltydog]

Hello John,

I kinda like the ISMI springs...I do not have any long term experience with them as far as recoil springs are concerned but firmly beleive Mr. Cosat builds a better mouse trap for magazine springs.

One of my perveted senses of logic that kinda convinces me of this is that Wolff offers three versions of springs...std, Plus 5%, Plus 10%.

Mr. Cosat offers only one.

Back in the days of Outdoor Pistol competition when mags were loaded with 5 rds of 185 or 200 grain SWCs at leisurely softball slide velocity, mag springs weren't considered all that important.

I seem to remember reading, somewhere :D , that good magazine springs are important in real world reliability.

If what is left of my brain cells are working correctly, I wonder why Wolff would offer 3 versions of mag springs?

I dunno.

But it does'nt make realistic sense to me to offer less than the best available for moving the ammunition stack up as quickly as possible.

salty

edit. The OM From Hello is resting nicely. I don't wanna wake it up or sell it. I don't know of anyone that I dislike that much.

sd

[1911Tuner]

If what is left of my brain cells are working correctly, I wonder why Wolff would offer 3 versions of mag springs?

To work with different follower designs and capacities.

The +10% spring is for standard, 7-round magazines with standard followers. The +5% spring works with 8-round magazines with the Devel-type folded follower. Dunno what the third one would be, unless it's designed to fit within the confines of a follower similar to...or exactly like...Metalform's rounded follower.

Hard to tell the players without a program.

Also...FWIW...The 7-round standard/Wolff spring and follower works in the OM-length magazines at 6 round capacity. 7-round OM magazines take the same follower and spring as the GM-length
8-round stick.


The OM From Hello is resting nicely. I don't wanna wake it up or sell it. I don't know of anyone that I dislike that much.

Is it misbehavin'...again? (Lord, tell me it's not.)

[saltydog]

I had to put it in 'time out'.

After two replacement (plus the original) sets of Series 80 stuff, I put S 70 hammer and a shim in the S 80 slot. :dead_hors

It'd occasionally put a weak dimple on the primer, but no 'Bang'.

Broke out an automatic center punch and tried as best I could to obliterate the S 80 logo on the slide. That was so much fun that I eventually broke the auto center punch.

As best I can tell, so far, it works well as a S 70...I'll never have any faith in it though.

Since I don't have an office, I have no need of a paperweight. Likewise, I do not own a boat.

Years ago, I had a bud who carried and competed with a OM Lt Weight.

I THINK that the OMs were either good to go as is, or so badly out of specs that a hammer mill and forge couldn't make them any worse.

If you remember, this one is a Colt replacement for one that was really screwed up.

You got it running, and for that I thank you muchly...the S 80 stuff just got to acting up.

salty.

[1911Tuner]

Salty...Sounds like you need a #2 plunger lever. Brownells only sells #1s...and I don't know if Colt will send you a #2. You've also probably got a damaged plunger...

[bophi]

They are good springs, but indeed in the past, they were somewhat long. But they seem to be as good (if not better) than Wolff, as far as the spring metal is concerned.
i cut off 5 coils of spring, i now have 29.5 coils/ full lenght it would not let the slide go atw/ to the rear , about 1/2 in. from going to rear, now w/ 29.5 coils it goes about 1/8 in. past slide lock. my spring now is 5 .5 in. long, i cut 1in. off. the close end was very tight going over the spring rod. but on a 2 pc. it was a good fit, it would hang up on g/r when supressed, also it didnot let the slide go into battery like it should , it made the sound as tuner says,
kachunk, alittle slow going into battery. now i have my old spring in it.
thanks guys..bobby

[slinkwc2k]

Can anyone comment on ISMI mag springs for hi cap .45 mags? I see that I can cut a 170mm down to fit in a 140mm mag... anyone have a pic?

[bophi]

i cut off 5 coils of spring, i now have 29.5 coils/ full lenght it would not let the slide go atw/ to the rear , about 1/2 in. from going to rear, now w/ 29.5 coils it goes about 1/8 in. past slide lock. my spring now is 5 .5 in. long, i cut 1in. off. the close end was very tight going over the spring rod. but on a 2 pc. it was a good fit, it would hang up on g/r when supressed, also it didnot let the slide go into battery like it should , it made the sound as tuner says,
kachunk, alittle slow going into battery. now i have my old spring in it.
thanks guys..bobby

e-mailed ismi twice , but no repley from them. i guess they don't care abouta two spring purchase person such as me. from now i'll buy wolff.

[1911Tuner]

Try Brownells. FWIW...5-inch pistols using 16-18 pound springs should easily accept 32 full turns. You cut your spring too short.

[Black_Talon]

e-mailed ismi twice , but no repley from them. i guess they don't care abouta two spring purchase person such as me. from now i'll buy wolff.

Call the 800 number and talk to Mark.

FWIW, I've been using ISMI 16# springs on all my 5" 1911s for years now, and have never had to cut one down, nor had any other issues with them. Maybe you've got the incorrect spring for your application. No matter what, Mark can help you.

[1911Tuner]

've been using ISMI 16# springs on all my 5" 1911s for years now, and have never had to cut one down, nor had any other issues with them.

Several years ago, they came with 35-36 turns. The more recent ones I've bought have had 30. Possible that bophi got one of the older ones.