Absolutely ridiculous .....no recoil spring

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IMTHDUKE

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I hear all about how Kimbers are not up to par with Colt from so many, yet Kimber does have parts available. I have a Colt Defender made in 1999....need a recoil spring....none available on third party sites like Brownells, Midway, etc. Call Colt and they essentially tell me too bad...they can't get one.

Ok....I ask if I can use a sub from a Kimber or other officers 1911. Of course, they don't know. So I need some help. Has anyone tried to use a Kimber or another recoil assembly in a Defender? Anyone have any advice on this issue. Thanks
 
To my knowledge Colt Defenders are 3" barrels...1911's / some models in .45 acp and at least one in 9mm....and I'm sure the springs are different for the .45 acp vs the 9mm in terms of weight.

Colt should be able to tell you what weight spring is installed or recommended in their guns / or this model in particular ...and then just do a search for 1911 springs in Brownells...and they will have some options - usually in a variety of spring weights.

You don't need a Colt spring for a Colt....or a Kimber spring for a Kimber... / personally I use either Wilson Combat or Brownells ( Wolf springs ) in all of my 1911's. You obviously have other 1911's ...so maybe I'm missing something...

I just did a search on 3" 1911 springs in Brownells...and they show some for the Colt Defender in stock...??
 
Brownells lists both an inner and an outer recoil spring for the Defender...but it doesn't say what spring weight is in online catalog...but you could call Brownells and ask them certainly. Since its for the Defender specifically ...I would think its worth trying ...

but up to you of course...
 
OK...Thanks so much....I HAVE FOUND ONE....at Wolf spring ....I call they were so nice and helpful.....Thanks for all the help.....
 
BTW...posted on several gun boards and by far...the Firing Line...overwhelmingly more helpful replies....this is my favorite board...thanks
 
"...Of course, they don't know..." Why would expect Colt tech people to know anything about Kimbers?
"...seemingly unconcerned Colt was..." Don't think there's much doubt Colt is unconcerned. They can sell everything they make just because of the name. Mind you, in my experience, the Colt sales reps are fabulous people. Let you play with their toys and sometimes provide the ammo too.
Anyway, like BigJimP says, you don't need a Colt spring for a Colt.
 
Wolf is a good mfg of springs...and a good source / so glad you found it.

Springs for 1911's shorter than 4.25" ...are more difficult to find...so that's why I suggested you buy more than one - so you have it.

Personally I keep 4 or 5 recoil springs ( whatever weight I like for each 1911 I have ...mostly 5" guns...but some in 9mm( 12 - 13#), some in .45 acp (16#) )...and 4 or 5 firing pins springs...and a few main springs ( hammer strut spring ). They aren't expensive / easy to store...
 
Colt does not sell parts directly -- they sell through the large gunsmith distributors such as Brownells. Brownells has the listing, but they are currently out of stock:

http://www.brownells.com/schematics/Colt-/1911-Defender-sid145.aspx

Note that for the Defender you don't buy a spring, you buy a complete assembly. That's not unusual -- the recoil assembly for Para-Ordnance 3" pistols is the same way.

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You probably can't use either springs or recoil assemblies for Officers ACP or any other 3-1/2" pistols. I would expect the spring to compress into a solid before the slide has fully retracted, and that has a tendency to break things.
 
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