Heavy springs weights in 1911 style pistol.

1

12-34hom

New member
Is there a disadvantage to changing to a heavier pound spring [24 compared to 16 or 18] in a 1911 style pistol?

Would regular factory loads still cycle thru compared to "heavy" loads in 45acp?

I'm going to try Tritons "450SMC" thru my Para P-14 ltd. They call for a 24 or 26 pound spring to reduce the battering of the slide as compared to a regular 45acp round.

Thanks for any replies.

12-34hom.
 
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

A high energy round drives the slide back as hard as the bullet goes forward and an appropriate recoil spring is necessary to slow and control the slide before it reaches the stop.

A low power round will probably short cycle the slide and an FTF will result. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
 
I was under the impression that only certain pistols should use that round. In other words, it's not just a matter of the spring.
 
Most, if not all, heavy duty recoil springs come with an extra power FP spring, at least those from Wolff do.

I have a friend that uses 22# springs in his 1911s for everything and even the .22 conversion unit. He claims that he has no problems.

FWIW YMMV VWP NVIAS NWEI CCBS LS/MFT and TtttAF
 
I am currently running a 26lb spring on my 10mm Baer, and I think this may be to heavy. I think it pounds the gun to much, but now the ejected cases only go about 10 feet from the gun. I will back down to a 23lb or even a 21lb and just replace a lot of buffers to protect the fitting of the barrel to the slide.

Besides, the heavier springs are very hard to get back in the gun!
 
.450 SMC Converson Kit

Wolff www.gunsprings.com sells a conversion kit for .45 Super/.450 SMC. It consists of a 32# recoil spring, and a heavier firing pin spring. Costs $8!

I have used it extensively in my Wilson Built GM with NO problems. Suprisingly, my GM functions quite well with the 32# spring when firing my USPSA/IDPA loads (.225 gr Pb bullet @ circa 815 fps.)

As you may have noted, the .450 SMC uses a SMALL RIFLE PRIMER. This solves a problem which I encountered with the .45 Super, and cured by using LARGE RIFLE primers. If you have any problems, just ask.


Yr. Obt. Svnt.
 
I can't speak for .45 Super/.450 SMC, but in general using extra-heavy springs in a 1911 is a bad idea; it saves frame battering but beats the gun up in the other direction and can cause malfunctions with weaker ammo. Based on my experience with my Delta Elite I'd say a 20lb variable spring with a CP buffer works best for 10mm, maybe a little higher for .45 Super. A 32lb spring is psychotic.
 
I agree with castlebravo. I have been running to heavy of a spring and need to back down. It is easier to attack the frame battering problem then the fitting of the barrel to the slide. 23lbs is going to be my max for a 1911 with 10mm.
 
I run milspec. I can pick up any ol ammo off any shelf anywhere and it functions fine.

If I want bigger punch than my 45, I'll pick up a bigger gun than my 45.
 
>>I run milspec. I can pick up any ol ammo off any shelf
>>anywhere and it functions fine.

>>If I want bigger punch than my 45, I'll pick up a bigger gun
>>than my 45.

How refreshing. Simple philosophies sometimes work best.

justinr1
 
For the past 10-14 months or so, I have been using a 22# recoil spring in my full-sized 1911 and have never had a problem with short cycling even when shooting some powered down reloads. This is over the course of 15,000+ rounds. The heavier spring definitely takes the edge off the reward movement of the slide. One advantage of the heavier spring is that it seemed to have more power to get rounds into battery. Prior to the heavy spring, I had occasional failures to go into battery, the round hanging up between the ramp and chamber. This has nearly completely gone away (except for using IMI ammo).

There is an overall balance in semi-autos with the amount of force generated for recoil, the spring to counteract it and yet keep the gun functioning, and the proper amount of cycle time required to eject the spent case and load a new round. As long as you have all these working in harmony, things should be fine.
 
My data point

I have been using a Wolff 20 lb variable recoin spring in my full-sized 1911 for years without a problem. I think it slows the recoil impulse for better control, and it works great with military ball ammo. I believe it makes feeding more positive, but I can't really prove that.

The variable spring rate gives most of the advantage of a heavy spring, while still allowing the slide to unlock (in the "low" range of the spring) and start moving with even regular ammo. I haven't had any noticable wear in the slide/barrel lockup yet. Still, I have resisted the urge to got to an even heavier spring. the 20 variable seems to do it all from ball to +P CorBons without a hiccup.
 
I have not tried variable weight springs. I have tried springs ranging from light to heavy in weight. So far, I have found that heavy springs are necessary only if firing really hot loads, such as +P or +P+. Light springs are only needed if firing really light loads, such as starting loads in most reloading manuals. For the most part, I have found that the manufacturer's specification is within + or - 1 pound of the ideal weight for my guns.

I do have a TZ-75 that needed a really light spring for standard 9mm ammo. The factory spring was reliable only with +P ammo.
 
Thank you for all your replies.

Today, i was going golfing, but i've decided to spend some time on the local range, I've got rounds to shoot.....:)

12-34hom.
 
12-34: do your gun a favor and put in Shok-Buffs if you are going to shoot hot ammo. Brownells sells a whole assortment for 1911's. I have them in all six of my autos.
 
Pampers:

Wolff www.gunsprings.com sells a conversion kit for .45 Super/.450 SMC. It consists of a 32# recoil spring, and a heavier firing pin spring. Costs $8!
Click to expand...
32# ?! That sound sound suspiciously high. I called STI and asked them what spring they use in their .450 SMC Xcaliber, and they said 24-26#.
 
Hello

I went out Sunday and ran a box of BLazer FMJ 230 grainers thru my Para with a Wollf #24 Pound spring.

Nary a Hi-cup.... :)

Shot some of the 450SMC thru it also. I really like this round, but would prefer there 165 grain version if i could get some to try out.

Again, thanks for all the replies.

12-34hom.
 
12-34hom:

I went out Sunday and ran a box of BLazer FMJ 230 grainers thru my Para with a Wollf #24 Pound spring.

Shot some of the 450SMC thru it also. I really like this round, but would prefer there 165 grain version if i could get some to try out.
Click to expand...

So you used the same 24 pound spring for both rounds? Tell me more. I think it would be great if just one spring could work for both .45 and .450 SMC.
 
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