Best Springs for a Kimber Compact Stainless with heavy loads?

B

Bennett Richards

New member
Hi,

I am shooting heavy loads in a Kimber Compact Stainless and it's time to replace the springs.

Who makes the best recoil springs and what weight should I get? Regular or variable rate?

What mag springs for Wilson Combat 7 round mags?

Thanks,

Rich
 
Wolff or ISMI

At these prices try a couple, in varying weights, and see which one your gun prefers.

Call (by telephone) Brownells and see if they can offer any specific advice........
 
From Wolff Gunsprings:

Kimber Compact & Pro Carry - 4" pistols

Kimber 4" pistols all use the same springs as the Colt Officers pistols.

Factory recoil spring are Colt Officers full-diameter 22 pounds (use Stock Nbr 490xx)
Factory hammer spring (mainspring) is rated at 23 pounds.
Magazine springs are the same as Colt.
All other misc springs are the same as the Colt Government
Click here to link to Colt Officers springs
Click here to link to Colt 1911 springs

Wolff Improved XP Recoil Spring
Wolff improved design recoil spring offers higher battery pressure along with a higher recoil rating, providing optimal functioning.
For all Pro Carry and Compact 4" Kimber guns only.
Stock No. 32725....$ 7.89ea
Click to expand...

COLT OFFICER'S MODEL .45 ACP(Series 80)
COLT 1991 Compact, .45 ACP
Also...
Kimber Compact, .45 ACP
Para-Ordnance P-12, .45 ACP
Springfield Ultra Compact & V10, .45 ACP
As Noted

RECOIL SPRINGS from W. C. Wolff Company for the Colt Officer's Model series 80, are a single recoil spring design which replaces the original dual springs. The single recoil spring offers superior performance over dual springs which have a normal tendency to bind against each other as well as having a "mushy" feeling. The single spring offers crisp and reliable operation not usually found in dual spring systems. As with all Wolff load-rated recoil springs an extra power firing pin spring is included.

Full Diameter recoil springs are also for use in the Kimber Compact, Para-Ordnance P-12 and Springfield Untra Compact & V10 and the Colt Officers with full diameter/full length guide rods

WARNING: Do not use shock buffers with these springs.

Reduced Power...: 18.5 and 20 Lb.
Factory Standard.: 22 Lb.
Extra Power.........: 24 Lb.
For use with:
Stock No. 423xx....Colt Officers only - standard factory guide rods
Stock No. 490xx.....Full diameter guide rods (.330" OD)
Above Recoil Springs.....$ 7.89 ea
Please Note: Replace the "xx" in the stock number with the pound rating of spring.


RECOIL CALIBRATION PAKS
Recoil calibration paks are offered to allow the shooter a choice of recoil springs to calibrate the recoil function when the correct spring rating is not known. These paks offer a savings of 20% over the same purchase of individual springs. The shooter starts with the strongest spring in the pak and works down until the desired recoil function is obtained.

FULL DIAMETER PAK
For use in:
Colt Officers, .45 ACP with full diameter/length recoil guide rods only
Kimber Compact, .45 ACP
Para Ordnance P-12
Springfield Ultra Compact & V10, .45 ACP

This pak contains 1 each of 18.5, 20, 22 and 24 pound recoil springs. These are direct replacements for Kimber, Para Ordnance and Springfield models listed above. For Colt Officers a full diameter (.330"/.332") rods must be used. Not for use with factory guide rods in Colt Officers Model. 3 extra power firing pin springs are also included.
Stock No. 13201.....$ 24.99

OFFICERS FACTORY GUIDE ROD PAK
For use in:
Colt Officers, .45 ACP with factory guide rods only.

This pak contains 1 each of 18.5, 20, 22 and 24 pound recoil springs. Springs have reduced ends to center on Colt Officers factory guides and replace the dual factory springs in the Colt Officers. 3 extra power firing pin springs are also included.
Stock No. 13202.....$ 24.99


PERFORMANCE PAK - contains 1 each 20 Lb. reduced power recoil spring, 24 Lb. extra power recoil spring, extra power firing pin spring and 21 Lb. reduced power hammer spring.
Kit is for use in Colt Officers Only with factory guide rod.
Stock No. 14085.....$ 13.99



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HAMMER SPRINGS (mainsprings)

For use in:
Colt Officers, .45 ACP
Kimber Compact, .45 ACP

Reduced Power...: 20, 21 and 22 Lb.
Factory Standard.: 23 Lb.
Extra Power.........: 24 and 25 Lb.
Stock No. 280xx - each.....$ 4.29
Stock No. 281xx - pak of 3 (1 rating)....$ 8.99
Stock No. 282xx - pak of 10 (1 rating).....$ 19.99
Please Note: Replace the "xx" in the stock number with the pound rating of spring.
HAMMER SPRING PAK - reduced power.
This pak contains 1 each of 20, 21 and 22 pound reduced power hammer springs described above, allowing adjustment of the firearm to individual requirements.
Stock No. 26522.....$ 9.00

HAMMER SPRING PAK - extra power.
This pak contains 1 each of 23 pound factory, 24 and 25 pound extra power hammer springs described above, allowing adjustment of the firearm to individual requirements.
Stock No. 26523.....$ 9.00



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MAGAZINE SPRINGS - Please see Colt 1911

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SERVICE PAK - Type I contains the following factory specification springs: recoil spring, firing pin spring (extra power), hammer spring, magazine catch spring, firing pin safety spring, plunger tube spring and sear spring.
Stock No. 69151 - Type I - Colt Officers.....$ 17.99 ea

SERVICE PAK - TYPE II contains all springs described in Type I pak above and a +5% extra power magazine spring.
Stock No. 69152 - Type II Colt Officers.....$ 23.29 ea
Click to expand...

MAGAZINE SPRINGS

Magazine springs for the above Colt pistols are available in a variety of load ratings to accommodate almost any shooting requirement. Extra power magazine springs are recommended for use with full power loads especially when using extra power recoil springs. Extra power magazine springs assure smooth feeding and proper cartridge seating. In addition to the traditional extra power magazine springs, reduced power magazine springs are available for Colt pistols. These springs are intended for use only with compensated pistols and/or with very light ammunition loads. Reduced power magazine springs lessen the cartridge pressure on the underside of the slide to improve functioning in low recoil energy situations. Use of reduced power magazine springs with full power ammunition will cause functioning problems. Please note: load ratings indicated are with the magazine fully loaded.

For use in:
Colt 1911, 1911A1, 1991, Government, MKIV, Gold Cup, Commander and Officer's Model series pistols - Select appropriate caliber.

Magazine Spring Ordering Note :
Colt magazine springs are available in paks of 1, 3 or 10 springs of the same rating and caliber. Replace the "x" on the end of the stock numbers below with the desired pak quantity as follows:
Pak of 1 Spring....x=1......$ 7.49
Pak of 3 Springs...x=3.....$ 17.29
Pak of 10 Springs x=4.....$ 47.99

.45 Cal. - 7 round 1911/Commander & 6 round Officers
6 Lb. Reduced power Stock No. 7132x
7 Lb. Reduced power Stock No. 7133x
8 Lb. Reduced power Stock No. 7134x
9.5 Lb. Factory standard Stock No. 7135x
10 Lb. Extra power Stock No. 7136x
11 Lb. Extra power Stock No. 7137x

.45 Cal. - 8 round 1911/Commander & 7 round Officers
Newer Government and Commander models have a standard factory capacity of 8 rounds. These 5% extra power magazine springs help improve feeding. Also used in Shooting Star 8 round .45 magazines.
Stock No. 71461...+5% XP - each.............$ 7.49
Stock No. 71463...+5% XP - pak of 3.......$ 17.29
Stock No. 71464...+5% XP - pak of 10.....$ 47.99

.45 Caliber - Extended Length Magazine Springs.
These extra long, extra coil magazine springs for Colt single stack magazines have a total of 18 coils. Springs are intended for repair of custom magazines. Fitting is required. Note: Not intended to increase the capacity of standard 7 round magazine to 8 rounds.
Stock No. 77461 - each.............$ 7.99
Stock No. 77463 - pak of 3.......$ 18.49
Stock No. 77464 - pak of 10.....$ 49.99
Click to expand...
 
ISMI Flat wire

For my Kimber Compact, I've tried every conventional spring arrangement...and have gone with the ISMI Flat wire spring and guide rod. ISMI warranties it for 25,000 rounds! I'm pleased sooo far.....
 
Springs...

I went with the conventional 18lb round wire spring from ISMI... I have to tell you that these springs are TOUGH! I tried to cut one coil off woth a big pair of wire sutters... no dice. Had to use a diamond cutting wheel!:eek:

Great springs!!!:D
 
These guns are undersprung anyway, and putting a 3.5" OACP spring in a 4" gun is not going to help. At a minimum, I would use the Wolff "Improved"

Wolff Improved XP Recoil Spring
Wolff improved design recoil spring offers higher battery pressure along with a higher recoil rating, providing optimal functioning.
For all Pro Carry and Compact 4" Kimber guns only.
Stock No. 32725....$ 7.89ea

ISMI does not www catalog their flat wire spring setup for anything but an OACP but if they will make it for a 4" Kimber as Will Fennell describes, you will be WAY ahead, this is a good setup. Call or e-mail them and discuss it.
http://www.ismi-gunsprings.com/

ISMI makes a suitable magazine spring, too, their SSCS2 although you might have to shorten it for a Compact magazine. Again, not on their www but if you call them up, they will talk to you about it. All they say is that it is for "plastic followers" because Wilson is very jealous over their brand name and are in bed with Wolff for springs, and even have them tied up so they cannot sell Wilson-specific springs direct to the customer.
 
yup, they have it...

Jim,
I hear ya, the ISMI website is not the most user friendly....but thier springs rock. I put another 100 rounds through my Garthwaite/Kimber Compact yesterday, and the guide rod/Flat wire system is great. I talked to Mark @ ISMI this morning regarding Flat wire springs for 5" guns, and he mentioned that KIMBER is thinking of putting his flat wire springs in the COmpact model from the factory.

Understand, it takes a smaller diameter guide rod[.250"] to run the flat wire spring. ISMI sells this as a package for the Kimber Compact for about $50. Call them to buy direct.

I'm currently running one of his flat wire springs also in a 5" 10mm, and everything is looking really good so far:)
 
Will,
Agree on all points, the ISMI site is way behind the times, with products not mentioned. Teddy J. says they are making AR springs now.
But their flat wire recoil springs are The Cure. My FLG was making them from scratch with Brown FLGR heads, skinny rods, and Glock springs before ISMI came out with theirs; I have such in two short guns.
Their SSCS2 magazine springs add a lot of twang to a Wilson magazine, too.
My next replacment conventional recoil spring is an ISMI whenever the Wolff takes a set.
 
ISMI Springs for 4 inch Kimber

Hi,

Marc at ISMI sent me one of his SS 18 pound springs that he said should fit my Kimber Compact. He was out of the flat assemblies at the time... but I didn't want to replace my normal guide rod as I have just gotten the whole gun back from Walter Birdsong with Black & Green T coating. I used ISMI spring in the mags also. I am still having a bit of a problem with some FTE's that I didn't have before the gun was finished Seems to happen on the second -to-last round... damnedest thing. But the springs are VERY different from the norm as far as power and they don't seem to lose height. I MAY have to cut another coil off this one... but the things are so frickin hard to cut!:eek:
 
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