Recoil Springs

[GTO]

What is the recommended spring rates for the various calibers, 9mm, 40S&W, 10mm, 45, 460 Roland , add any others. I think the 45 is 16-18 pound range, and the 10mm is 21-23 pound range, but what is recommended for other calibers ?

[Hawkmoon]

Should we assume you're asking about a 5" Government model size pistol?

[GTO]

Should we assume you're asking about a 5" Government model size pistol?
Yes, 5" Government, but the spring rates should be the same, or do the shorter barrels require different rate springs?

[1911Tuner]

or do the shorter barrels require different rate springs?

As a rule...yes. On a practical level...not always. Due to reduced slide mass, the spring has to partially compensate for that. A lighter slide is a faster slide. Faster slides hit the impact abutments harder...but not necessarily with more impact energy.

The main reason for more spring with lighter slides is for feed reliability. The lighter slide has less mass to overcome the resistance it encounters.

On to the "Not Always Required" part.

If the gun is set up to feed properly...the slide's mass becomes less important...and thus the gun can be run with a lighter spring...but that also has a limit because of the slide to frame impact.