Gunsmith quack????

[scott99h]

I was at the range yesterday (50 degrees in Toledo Ohio) and there was this guy trying to sell everyone there new springs. I'am fairly new to shooting and guns so I thought I would ask you guys If this guy is knowledgeable or a quack. He racked my gun several times (.45 colt 1911) and said my recoil spring is too weak and I should put in a new spring. He was pushing these 20lb Wolf springs ($20.00). I said that I am trying to get into bullseye shooting and am shooting target loads only and do not need a 20lb spring. He said my gun was throwing the shells too far and a new spring would fix this. I told him that I thought that Colt sent out their guns with a 16lb spring and that since I'am shoot target loads I probably don't even need 16lbs. What am I missing here?? If you put a stronger spring in wouldn't it throw my brass even farther? Would my target loads (5.4 grains of Win 231 with 200gn LSWC)even work with a 20lb spring? Also, and this one has me concerned, he field striped my gun and pushed on the pin hold the barrel link and said it was loose and that it should not be able to be moved by hand. If I don't replace it immediately it will make the hole larger and eventually will not hold the link and I will need a new barrel. Is this true???? Of course he gave me his card and told me to call him and He'll "fix me up". I respect the opinion of you guys and would like some feed back on this.
Thanks,
Scott

[Pappy]

Hi and I'll just say that you can get Wolff springs from Wolff or Brownells for $7.95! I'll let the others rag on this 'smith...Pappy

[Hunter]

The 20 pound would be a bit much for a 1911 in .45 ACP that sounds closer to the 10 mm spring. The barrel link pin should be tight but simply staking it in place could do the trick. Mine got loose on one of my Colts a while back and tighten up the hole with a punch done the trick. I am not sure about having to replace the barrel because over sized pins can be had through Brownells as well as the Wolf springs for much cheeper as Pappy has already said. I have 4 Colts in .45 ACP and I believe they all have around a 16 pound spring and they all function very well. The stronger spring will beat the locking lugs on the top of the barrel and inside the top of the slide. If it was me when I needed some work done on one of my pistols I would find someone else. I know two great gunsmiths in my area and they have never had to go out and drum up business. That sounds a little unprofessional to me

[stans]

20 pound spring? Not in a Government model chambered in 45 ACP. 15 to 17 pounds is the sweet spot for most of them, with 16 being a convenient average, J.M. Browning was a pretty sharp cookie when it came to these things.

[1911Tuner]

If it walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck...it's probably a duck.

Either that, or he's makin' money sellin' springs.

[Joni Lynn]

Keep in mind that the slide stop pin takes a lot of abuse and a heavier spring than is needed isn't good for it or the frame where fits through. The holes on either side of the frame could possibly be stretched. On the other hand a spring that is too weak llows the slide to batter the frame, but that doesn't sound like a problem you're having.

[garrettwc]

I'm with the group here. Only time I have seen a 20lb spring in a 1911 was for a 10mm Delta Elite.

[warmrain]

Keep in mind that the slide stop pin takes a lot of abuse and a heavier spring than is needed isn't good for it or the frame where fits through. The holes on either side of the frame could possibly be stretched. On the other hand a spring that is too weak llows the slide to batter the frame, but that doesn't sound like a problem you're having.
Thanks Joni, for stating this so succinctly.

Remember Scott, that as a recoil spring natural weakens over time the brass will get thrown farther and that is a clue that you might need a new spring. But I think you need to know how far it throws brass with a new spring to make that determination...

Looking at the Kimber web site knowledge base they talk about this in relation to Kimbers...

[Frank]

I agree that 20 lb. is too heavy for "normal" .45 ACP. And $20 is way too much for something that sells just about everywhere for $7.95 (including a firing pin spring). The price he quoted alone would put me off him.

While 16 LB. is standard, I've been using Wolff 18.5 lb. variable springs for the last several years with good results for full power factory ammunition or major power factor handloads. (I read somewhere that Les Baer ships his 5 inch, .45 ACP 1911s with 18.5 variable Wolff recoil springs.)

You might want to check out the Wolff website (http://www.gunsprings.com/). They list 23 lb as standard for 10mm.

DVC

[1911Tuner]

20 bucks for a spring??? I missed that part.

Yeah...I'd say the guy had an agenda. I can get a 10-pack of 16 pound Wolff
springs from Brownells for about 35 dollars.

[bearandoldman]

20 bucks for a spring??? I missed that part.

Yeah...I'd say the guy had an agenda. I can get a 10-pack of 16 pound Wolff
springs from Brownells for about 35 dollars.

Sell them for 20 bucks a spring and use the profit to buy MARROW BONES, that shopuld get the pack talking in tounges and walking on their hind legs too.
Iy your porch cave in , how many dogs would it hit?

[scott99h]

Thanks for everyones input. His business card just went in the trash.
Scott

[1911Tuner]

Thanks for everyones input. His business card just went in the trash.
Scott

Scott...Call Brownells and order a catalog. At least you can see what reasonable prices are so ya won't be gettin' ripped up the sides by these travelin' parts salesmen that probably get theirs from Brownells...and probably with the discount.

People like that REALLY irk me.

[warmrain]

Scott...Call Brownells and order a catalog. At least you can see what reasonable prices are so ya won';t be gerttin' ripped up the sides by these travelin' parts salesmen.

People like that REALLY irk me.
Travelin' snake oil salesmen with rhumatis' medicine... ;)

[SW1911SC]

How did he manage to talk you into field-stripping your gun? :confused: