On your 1911 how often do you change your recoil spring

Chris - "how long" is relative. Springs compressed for long periods of time will last longer than those that are continually actuated [from all I have read]. So, a person that shoots there 1911 a couple hundred times a year, could easily go 10 years. But, someone who shoots thousands a year will do so more often. I do not believe the intensity of the round has any bearing on longevity. In other words, how powerful your loads, or how heavy the bullet doesn't effect spring life. The spring travel in a very restricted range.

I purchased my Colt Gold Cup in 1985. I didn't do my first spring change until 2000. I've done them twice since then.

When you get light primer strikes and you have to manually cock the hammer back a second time to fire a round, or when your last round in the magazine won't lock the slide back - it's time. Some use the pencil test. Place an ordinary #2 pencil down the muzzle, eraser end towards the firing pin. Cock the hammer. Point the muzzle up, pull the trigger. If your pencil doesn't shoot the pencil out of the barrel - it's time.

I've used Wolf and Wilson. The spring kits are very inexpensive from MidwayUSA.
 
Northof50
My Colt isn't in the same ballpark as a Gold Cup . I try to shoot once a week 50 rounds , I could see putting 2000+ rounds through it per year. I'm getting alot of helpful information here , Thank You . I also order from MidwayUSA . I'm shooting a New Agent , Colt dropped it from their line , trench sights I guess didn't catch on. The Defender is the same gun with standard sights. 3" compacts compound the spring life I'm sure. I really like shooting the gun an want to keep it going. I'm sure I'm not finished picking your brain for more information. I always like having springs on hand . Will look on Midway. Thanks again.

Chris
 
My .45 1911's are 5" guns and I put 1000's of rounds through them before I change a recoil spring. I change shock buffs well before I change springs. I do run 18.5lb Wolff springs in them.
 
I installed an IMSI flatwire spring in my Officer's model, I doubt I'll ever have to replace the IMSI spring, but I had read that the original spring life was supposed to be 300-500 rounds. (!!!)
 
EGW advised me the IMSI Flat wire spring is rated for 7-10 thousand cycle's. I have a total round count of 700 , 150 on the new flat wire set-up. I clean after every firing 50 each range trip . Both assemblies ran pertty smooth . I do like the single flat wire assembly better from EGW .
 
HisSoldier said:
I installed an IMSI flatwire spring in my Officer's model, I doubt I'll ever have to replace the IMSI spring, but I had read that the original spring life was supposed to be 300-500 rounds. (!!!)
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And yet I have a friend -- a gunsmith -- who has put tens of thousands of rounds through his Officers ACP and never replaced the recoil springs.
 
This string got me thinking about springs so I ordered new 16lb springs from Sprinco, both for my 5" and my Commander. Each of the old springs was one inch shorter than the new ones. Each pistol has had many thousand rounds through them with many more through the full sized gun. Looking forward to shooting them.
 
cw308: said:
EGW advised me the IMSI Flat wire spring is rated for 7-10 thousand cycle's. I have a total round count of 700, 150 on the new flat wire set-up. I clean after every firing 50 each range trip. Both assemblies ran pertty smooth. I do like the single flat wire assembly better from EGW.
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If EGW and Wilson Combat are both advocating use of flat wire recoil springs in your 1911, then these are two excellent endorsements! I know the Wilson Combat FWRS setup works great in my 9mm STI Trojan, and I have no doubt that the IMSI setup from EGW will work as promised, as well. I used to live down the street from EGW’s original location in Doylestown PA, and then they moved up to Quakertown PA, and I visited both locations several times, and they did some work on my guns for me back when they still did gunsmithing and built guns for customers. George Smith of EGW is THE expert on the 1911!
 
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I have a 1911 made in 1919 and a 1911a1 produced in 1943, that is 101 and 75 years respectively. I shoot them often even though they have all original springs. I see no reason for changing springs in a perfectly functioning firearm and promise not to loose sleep over the debate.::D
 
Ibmilkey
If your 1911 is operating properly there is no need to change the spring as long as you know the signs when it's not. Just going bang every time isn't enough. Do you keep a round count if your shooting it often , I talk with the range officer where I shoot , he hasn't cleaned his 1911 only to run one patch through the barrel after shooting , he said in at least 2000 rounds. He hates cleaning , I didn't go any further with preventive maintenance. I guess you have to know your weapon , how it operates an be aware of any changes. I wouldn't want to find a crack on the frame and all I had to do was change a 8 dollar spring to prevent it .
 
CW 308, Yes I know my weapons, how do you do a round count on a pistol that was an Army issue for many years? I have never been inclined to do a round count other than by guesstimate of ammo I have shot and not the least bit inclined to do so with nothing other than bragging rights a result. I have been an active pistol (and rifle) shooter for about 55 years, in police competition, Bullseye competition and later Cowboy action shooting...I care for my weapons with great care and still rarely have need to replace a recoil or other spring unless a used pistol that some one has modified prior to my ownership.
As a police armored and rangemaster I shot far more than the average officer experiencing no need for recoil spring changes and as long as the pistol was left with factory parts failures were rare. It became necessary for me to initiate a dept. instruction prohibiting officers from changing springs with aftermarket when several such modified pistols had failures at inappropriate times.
 
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Mikey- some people just won't listen.
I have never had to change a recoil spring, unless it was rusted or in a fire.
Been screwing with guns 45+ years.
 
Ibmikey & Bill DeShivs . As far as round count I keep a record for rifle & handgun in a reloading log but that's just me . On used firearm how would you know I understand , doesn't take a brain surgeon , but I was talking of your round count. If you not doing a count fine , it's just one thing I do. I don't know if changing springs is right or wrong but if my 1911 starts acting up I will . I go by what I read here an in articles , as of yet I haven't had to replace a spring . I'm wrong , I did replace the firing pin spring on my Rem 700 308 . Haven't had many rounds through my 1911 an maybe I won't have to change a spring , we'll see. 50 rounds through my 1911 every week is alot to me , others shot much more , some shoot every once an awhile have their guns for many years. If your guns are in good working order , that's all that matters , nobody's right or wrong .
 
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