I recently purchased a 22 pound recoil spring for my 4" 38 super Kimber pro carry to try with heavy handloads. That was way too heavy for reliable function with mid power loads to cycle the gun so I was wondering if I can get away with using this in a 4.25" Colt commander 45 acp. I haven't taken the commander apart yet to compare spring lengths. Thought I should see if anyone has already done this before I try it.
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Can I use 4" Kimber Pro Carry Springs in 4.25 Colt Commander?
- Thread starter rc
- Start date
Your on the right track, comparing lengths; but...and it's a big 'but'...it's the spring weight that counts. Jerry Kuhnhausen's definitive shop manuals on the .45 Gov't and Commander, says that 20# springs were supplied with the Commander but that 22# was better for use with hard ball loads or any load over 860 fps. The manual, The Colt .45 Automatic - A shop manual, gives those recommendations on pg. 90.
If the length is ok, I'd give it a try.
Best regards, Rod
If the length is ok, I'd give it a try.
Best regards, Rod
g.willikers
New member
It's always a good idea to check springs for their maximum working compression length.
That's to make sure they don't turn into solid cylinders instead of coil springs.
It's probably not going to be a concern here, since you will be using it in a longer gun, rather than a shorter one.
But it's still worth checking.
Just a thought.
That's to make sure they don't turn into solid cylinders instead of coil springs.
It's probably not going to be a concern here, since you will be using it in a longer gun, rather than a shorter one.
But it's still worth checking.
Just a thought.
Well, I did put the 4" spring in my 4.25" 45 commander last night and I believe the factory spring is around 18 pounds and much easier to pull back than this replacement. The 22 pound spring seemed like it was much stiffer even at the beginning of the cycle pulling back on the slide. The compressed weight seemed just right but I have to see if it cycles now withtypical ball 45 ammo. My 38 super kimber factory spring munched to a much shorter length than either the 22 pound Wolf or 20 pound wilson springs recommended for my 4" gun so the difference in length between the 4" and 4.25 inch springs didn't seem to be very significant. The Commander factory colt spring was only about 1/2 inch longer and seemed to have a flatter profile. Not sure if the XSE model I have used a better grade of spring or not but it's got a low round count so I'll be putting that aside for a spare. That may end up being the right one to try for my 38 super with a variety of loads but that may lead to problems as was pointed out. Whatever 14 or 16 pound spring kimber chose to install is really not a very durable one, but the colt spring seems decent......
Yup, works
Tried it today and it worked fine from what I can tell. I had one failure to feed that is probably magazine related but I ran about 20 rounds of blazer through the gun and it seemed to function normally. The gun was locking back just fine after the last round. How many rounds do you guys usually shoot between spring changes?
Tried it today and it worked fine from what I can tell. I had one failure to feed that is probably magazine related but I ran about 20 rounds of blazer through the gun and it seemed to function normally. The gun was locking back just fine after the last round. How many rounds do you guys usually shoot between spring changes?
g.willikers
New member
^^^
It depends on the quality of the spring as well as the number of rounds.
Occasionally check the relaxed length as compared to a new one to help decide.
Most folks recommend changing every 5K rounds.
But it might be like changing engine oil every 3k miles.
Just a suggestion.
It depends on the quality of the spring as well as the number of rounds.
Occasionally check the relaxed length as compared to a new one to help decide.
Most folks recommend changing every 5K rounds.
But it might be like changing engine oil every 3k miles.
Just a suggestion.
From Post 5:
Good question. I just replaced my recoil spring in a new Colt Commander .45 at 1700 rounds. It came to my attention due to a FTFeed/Failure to Return to Battery with no failures for the first 1600+ rounds. The used spring was ~0.5" less than a new one (~2.5 coils). I was comparing the stock spring to another Colt-brand spring, not a Wolff or any other brand.
I only have this one Commander with this one data point. I haven't yet selected any particular round count to change recoil springs or how long a particular brand lasts.
With a 5" 1911 .45, I might get somewhere between 2K-3K rounds using a chrome silicon spring. BTW, I have no idea what chrome silicon is vs. any other steel, but I heard spring made from this material are somehow better &/or may last longer.
Note, for my Commander, a new Wolff-brand spring is already shorter than a new Colt spring by ~1 coil or ~3/8". The new Colt-brand Commander spring with 300 more rounds on it hasn't lost any appreciable length yet compared to another new Colt-brand Commander spring.
"How many rounds do you guys usually shoot between spring changes?"
Good question. I just replaced my recoil spring in a new Colt Commander .45 at 1700 rounds. It came to my attention due to a FTFeed/Failure to Return to Battery with no failures for the first 1600+ rounds. The used spring was ~0.5" less than a new one (~2.5 coils). I was comparing the stock spring to another Colt-brand spring, not a Wolff or any other brand.
I only have this one Commander with this one data point. I haven't yet selected any particular round count to change recoil springs or how long a particular brand lasts.
With a 5" 1911 .45, I might get somewhere between 2K-3K rounds using a chrome silicon spring. BTW, I have no idea what chrome silicon is vs. any other steel, but I heard spring made from this material are somehow better &/or may last longer.
Note, for my Commander, a new Wolff-brand spring is already shorter than a new Colt spring by ~1 coil or ~3/8". The new Colt-brand Commander spring with 300 more rounds on it hasn't lost any appreciable length yet compared to another new Colt-brand Commander spring.
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dakota1911
New member
I usually watch where and how the pistol ejects the empties to get an idea of when to replace springs. That is with ammo or reloads I am used to shooting of course.