recoil springs and ejection ports

[derfel 83]

ok so I'v got two questions yall.

first what is the real reason for the lowered/flared ejection ports ?
and second, after how many rounds should i start thinking about a new
recoil spring?

[toolman]

The story I heard, don't know if it's true or not, was that JMB originally designed the 1911 with the lowrered and flared ejection port. The Army ordinance dept. didn't like the new pistol throwing brass onto the adjacent shooters on the range and they had JMB change the ejection port to the GI style. When my Colt Series 70 was new it would throw the empty brass straight up into the air and back down onto the top of my head. I had a local gunsmith lower and flare my ejection port.

[niemi24s]

Other than allowing the cases to eject more to the right of the shooter, the lowering reduces denting when the case mouth hits the edge of the ejection port. The flare, I'm told, reduces dents farther back from the case mouth.

Handloaders are not fond of dents in their cases.

As for recoil springs, I'll let others say. My personal opinion is that a coil compression spring of good quality never needs replacement.

[derfel 83]

hmmmm thinks for the replys yall I was always told that it was done
for reliability, but that never made much sence to me becuase i'v never
had extraction issues with my springer GI

[Hawkmoon]

For a Government model (5" pistol), the recoil spring should be replaced approximately every 2000 rounds.

[log man]

Wolff states that the recoil spring should be good for 3000-5000 rounds MINIMUM. I check the weight of new springs at battery, mid-way and full recoil and make note of it in my spring journal ( which is apiece of note paper in the spring box). From time to time I have checked and find a no more than 4-6oz. difference from new. I find the need to change recoil springs only when I try a very different load or out of boredom. Three and four inch guns is a different story.

LOG

[gfavaron]

At the risk of being a contrarian, I must admit that I have never changed a recoil spring other than just for the fun of doing it, and as an experiment.

[niemi24s]

I was always told that it was done for reliability, but that never made much sence to me becuase i'v never had extraction issues with my springer GI
The reliability aspect comes up when and if the case being ejected strikes the ejection port in such a way that it fails to get out of the gun. The case can then get stuck between the breech face and barrel hood, preventing the slide from returning to battery.

But bear in mind that a gun with a standard (high) ejection port can be just as reliable if the extractor and ejector always get the spent case out of the gun - no matter where it goes after leaving the gun.

[52dragon1911]

As for recoil springs, I'll let others say. My personal opinion is that a coil compression spring of good quality never needs replacement.


BINGO...my local gunsmith told me the same thing.

[niemi24s]

BINGO...my local gunsmith told me the same thing.
Just because the two of us have the same opinion doesn't mean we're right.

Opinions are like bellybuttons - everybody's got one! ;)

Cheers

[52dragon1911]

a couple of minutes ago....i changed my supposedly 16# recoil spring(a little on the light side) to a new modified 18.5# (clipped 2 coils) Wolff spring....perfect weight IMHO.

[derfel 83]

thanks yall for all the input.
at least i found an answer to one question :)
as for the recoil spring i guess i might as well replaced it every so often
it aint like they cost that much.